by Laura Hengle
ASTM International has approved a revision to ASTM E 1527 concerning Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. The revised standard (ASTM E 1527-21) replaces the 2013 standard and was approved on November 2, 2021. The new standard will be incorporated into the EPA’s AAI Rule and will take effect upon the adoption of the new standard by the EPA.
The revisions are minimal, by past standards, but end-users should be prepared and made aware of them. The following are some of the highlights.
- Definitions of Recognized Environmental Condition (REC), Controlled Recognized Environmental Condition (CREC), and Historical Recognized Condition (HREC) have been clarified to reduce misclassifications of known or probable hazardous material product releases affecting the property.
- The addition of new definitions including “Property Use Limitation” (PUL) and “Significant Data Gap” that were formerly not defined by ASTM.
- Report requirements have been revised to ensure better consistency in the deliverable. Addressed items include the term “subject property”; identification of RECs and CRECs; inclusion of more items in the conclusion of the report; photos from site reconnaissance; and a site map.
- Addition of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the non-scope issues of the reporting standard.
The historical standard along with the above revisions will allow for more detailed and consistent reporting throughout the industry. Should you or your organization need assistance, you can contact us at 833.522.1685 or Environmental@NV5.com.