Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments – Southwest Florida
Protect Your Investment. Stay Compliant. Build with Confidence.
Before purchasing or developing any commercial or industrial property in Florida, a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is often required—and always a smart move. At Creek Engineering, we deliver thorough, fast, and reliable Phase I ESAs throughout Southwest Florida, helping you meet regulatory standards, satisfy lender requirements, and avoid costly environmental surprises down the road.
What is a Phase I ESA?
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a non-intrusive review of a property’s environmental history and current use, performed in accordance with ASTM E1527-21 standards and EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) rule. This report helps determine whether past or present activities may have led to soil, groundwater, or surface water contamination. It typically includes a review of both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property.
Our assessment team examines the property from every possible angle to help you make a wise investment decision. We dig up historical aerial photography and maps to review historical uses of the property, and look for any evidence of potential on-site contamination, such as dumping or landfilling. Investigate whether the site or surrounding land is being or has been used for agricultural land, tank storage, industrial/manufacturing, oil/gas exploration, chemical waste, or military installations.
Our assessments are frequently used in:
- Commercial real estate transactions
- Land development and permitting
- Environmental due diligence for lenders
- Brownfield assessment & redevelopment planning
What We Include in Every Phase 1 ESA
The purpose of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is to uncover any indication of hazardous materials or harmful substances that may be present on a site, as well as to identify any additional environmental risks. The findings of the Phase 1 ESA will be utilized to determine if further investigation, such as a Phase 2 ESA, is necessary, taking into account the collected data and results of the site examination.
Our licensed environmental professionals complete a detailed review that includes:
Site Visit & Visual Inspection:
On-site review of existing conditions, neighboring land use, and visible signs of environmental impact. A qualified environmental professional will conduct a walking inspection of the property to evaluate potential impacts.
Historical Research:
This involves a review of aerial photos, topographic maps, Sanborn maps, city directories, and historical land use records.
During this section, we review historical photographs and maps to evaluate historical uses of the property and look for potential on-site contamination, such as dumping.
Lastly, we investigate whether the site or surrounding land is being or has been used for agricultural, landfilling, industrial/manufacturing, oil/gas exploration, chemical waste, military installations or underground storage tanks.
Review Regulatory Databases:
The Creek team will review title information and Sanborn Maps to obtain information on past uses of the property related to the storage, treatment, or disposal of hazardous substances. This includes screening the federal, state, and local environmental database reports for reported spills, leaks, or violations. We collect and examine both federal and state databases for possible polluted locations.
Interviews:
Creek conducts interviews regarding present and previous uses of the property (and surrounding area) with current owners and occupants (when applicable). We’ll also reach out to state and local authorities to assess whether there have been any efforts to monitor, enforce, investigate, or address any environmental risks near the site. In some situations, industrial or waste water might be discharged into nearby surface waters.
Detailed Final Report:
When the assessment work is complete, you’ll get a professionally written and certified report that compiles our findings, photos, and clear conclusions. This final report will give you the official record needed and include recommendations if additional investigation is warranted (i.e., Phase II Environmental Site Assessment).
Who Needs a Phase I ESA in Florida?
The Phase I ESA can save you more money than shopping interest rates, since a Phase 1 Assessment can discover environmental problems before you purchase the property. The simple truth is that you don’t want to get on the EPA’s bad side (Environmental Protection Agency).
- Commercial real estate buyers seeking protection under CERCLA’s innocent landowner defense.
- Lenders requiring environmental due diligence before approving loans.
- Developers preparing for zoning, permitting, or site plan approvals.
- Investors purchasing foreclosed or formerly used industrial buildings.
Why Choose Creek Engineering?
Our Port Charlotte engineering team has over 30 years of experience working with builders in Southwest Florida, and we’ve provided inspections for over hundreds of successful projects. We’re a Florida-based engineering firm deeply familiar with Southwest Florida’s unique geology, land-use history, and permitting environment. Our team knows what to look for and how to communicate results clearly, helping you move forward with confidence.
- ✅ Fast Turnaround Times
- ✅ Experienced Environmental Professionals
- ✅ Local Knowledge of Southwest Florida land
- ✅ Trusted by Developers, Brokers, and Municipal Building Departments
Locations We Serve
We’re based in the city of Port Charlotte and service the entire area of Southwest Florida, especially the following counties:
- Charlotte County – Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Deep Creek, Rotonda West, Cleveland, Burnt Store, Charlotte Harbor, etc.
- Collier County – Naples, Everglades City, Naples Manor, Goodland, etc.
- DeSoto County – Arcadia, Ft. Ogden, Nocatee, etc.
- Hendry County – LaBelle, Harlem, Clewiston, Montura, etc.
- Hillsborough County – Tampa, Ruskin, Plant City, etc.
- Lee County – Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, etc.
- Manatee County – Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Bayshore Gardens, Palmetto, etc.
- Sarasota County – North Port, Venice, Sarasota, Arcadia, Englewood, Nokomis, etc.
The Creek Engineering Process
The Creek Engineering, Inc. team does our engineering work right—the first time! Our engineers won’t be the best fit if you don’t value top-shelf work. But, if you want an environmental engineering partner with a proven track record, decades of experience, and a bullet-proof process, then you might be a good fit for Creek Engineering.
Schedule Your Phase 1 Site Assessment
On-Site Investigation & Off-Site Research
Get Your Detailed Phase 1 ESA Report
Request a Quote Today
If you’re planning a land purchase or development in Southwest Florida, don’t move forward without a clear environmental picture. Contact Creek Engineering to schedule your Phase I ESA or request a quote for our environmental consulting services today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, the buyer purchases the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment. But sometimes the seller and buyer will share the cost. If this route is taken and the buyer backs out, the seller retains the rights to provide the Phase 1 report for another buyer.
Many banks no longer require a Phase I Site Assessment, because environmental regulations leave the burden of environmental responsibility on the property owner. Conducting a thorough Phase 1 review enables the purchaser to complete the necessary due diligence of the environmental information before purchasing the property.
If you buy a property without checking it thoroughly, and later find environmental problems, you will have to pay to fix them. As a potential purchaser, the evaluation of environmental issues on a property could be used as leverage for the seller to remediate the problem before purchase or could be used to negotiate the property’s value.
Most Phase 1 assessments cost under $2,000.00, much less than the cleanup costs of even minor environmental issues that might arise later. We advise clients to view the Phase 1 cost as a one-time insurance policy to make sure you’re not buying someone else’s problem.
Most environmental issues get found on Florida properties during the Phase 1 site assessment. This means when you go to sell the property, the potential buyer will likely complete a Phase 1 and might discover environmental issues. At that point, the responsibility now falls to you as the property owner to either fix the problem or drop the price of the property.
Many Florida landowners are now having a Phase 1 conducted to root out environmental contamination issues to prevent finding a surprise environmental issue when a buyer is found. You can also schedule a limited screening to include historical research for less money (without a full Phase 1).
Assuming that the lender is informed and the buyer is willing to take on the responsibility and expense of resolving the problem, the property can be purchased. However, the more important consideration is whether or not the issue should be addressed prior to purchasing the property.