Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do I need a Phase I or an Environmental Site Assessment?

   Property buyers and owners, commercial lending institutions and developers realize the strict liability for cleanup and other costs associated with property contaminated with hazardous wastes. Under CERCLA, RCRA and state and local regulations, extensive cleanup costs, liability and damages can be assessed if proper action is taken.
   
   All-Phase Environmental Consultants (APEC) provides our clients with the information needed to make decisions on property conveyance and clean-up actions by providing multidisciplinary resources, extensive experience, leadership in the field and a history of successful results through the following specialized services:
   
   ** A visual inspection of the subject property and contiguous properties to identify areas of concern and/or potential problems concerning the storage, handling and disposal of hazardous substances.
   
   ** A review of historical public and private database listings to determine the historic use of a property. This often includes the review of local, state and federal government agency records, city directories and fire insurance maps.
   
   ** A review of local and regional geological parameters to provide data regarding expected ambient conditions on a property.
   
   ** Insightful, straightforward recommendations and concluding statement. This statement either specifies additional recommendations which the client can elect to perform to determine if a property is contaminated (Phase II ESA) or states that a property appears to be clear of environmental liability, this allowing an individual to conclude a transaction offered under SARA.

2. I want to buy a property that used to be a gas station, what course of action should I take?

   Contact an environmental consulting specialist from All-Phase Environmental Consultants. Our staff will provide you timely and honest advice on what course of action is best suited for your needs.
   
   Our usual recommendation is to do historical research of the property to find out if the underground storage tanks (UST’s) or above ground storage tanks (AST’s) were removed. We then proceed by requesting tank removal documentation from the environmental company or contractor that performed the excavation.
   
   If state regulated procedures were met and soil testing was done then we can perform a simple Phase I environmental Site assessment to assess if any surrounding properties have potentially affected the Site. If proper documentation was not filed or if sampling was not conducted at the time of the investigation we would then recommend a limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment which includes the following:
   
   ** A Phase II (ESA) defines the nature and extent of areas of concern identified in the Phase I (ESA) in order to more clearly evaluate the true liability associated with the property. These investigations may include soil-sampling, installation of groundwater monitoring wells or perhaps further research into records and uses of property.
   
   ** All-Phase Environmental Consultants Inc. has full service Phase II capabilities. The firm can perform quality services to acquire accurate results in an expedient matter. State of the art equipment allows for fast, efficient sample and data collection.

3. I have several symptoms that may be due to possible mold in my house, what should I do?

   You wouldn’t believe this but mold is becoming a growing concern not only in semi-arid climates but all over the world. Several cases of mold-related illness have been identified in the state of Colorado in just the past year. If you are experiencing certain symptoms such as wheezing, or runny nose and eyes, you may have been exposed to a mold that you are allergic to. But not all allergies are caused by mold problems.
   
   Molds give off toxins or poisons which some associate with many non-allergic symptoms, including fatigue, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.
   
   Potential signs and mitigating factors of a mold problem include:
   
   ** Stained ceiling tiles (you may be very surprised as to what may be growing underneath) or walls.
   
   ** Musty, earthy, or urine scented odor.
   
   ** Black, brown, orange, pink, or green speckled walls or around any plumbing grout or tile.
   
   ** Deficient siding, siding that is not covering a building adequately, or certain types appear to be more prone to mold
   
   ** Wood not weather protected in lumberyards and prior or during construction, and the wood becoming moist due to water intrusion, humidity, etc. This is known as "lumberyard mold." (More information on this below).
   
   ** Wood siding where the paint has cracked and water has intruded (poor maintenance).
   
   ** Mild to severe unexplained illness, see symptoms, in combination with any other building problems listed on this page.
   
   ** Swollen or crumbling walls or buckling floor boards.
   
   ** Sewer backup which has caused water damage.
   
   ** Leaky roof or flashing installed improperly.
   
   ** Flood damage.
   
   ** Leaky window or door.
   
   ** Washing machine overflow, washing machine leaks such as drain valve flanges, leaky gaskets, etc.
   
   ** Leaky toilet seal or bathtub drainage problems.
   
   ** Lack of ventilation.
   
   ** Relative humidity over 55%.
   
   ** Damp basements.
   
   All-Phase Environmental Consultants has qualified staff to verify the indoor air quality of your house. We will help identify the type of mold and what remediation steps should be taken to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

4. What are the benefits of an Energy Rating/Audit?

   Some of the major benefits include:
   
   **Federal and/or state tax credits that either a builder or homeowner can take advantage of through the Energy Star program. Not to mention programs available through several utilities including Xcel; Atmos, Source and Colorado Natural Gas; and the Governor’s Energy Office.
   
   **Improved comfort and lower utility bills are benefits any current homeowner or prospective homebuyer can appreciate.
   
   ** An energy-efficient home can provide these and other advantages, such as improved home durability.
   
   ** In addition, an energy-efficient home has less of an impact on the environment, i.e. reduced carbon emissions as compared to a typical house.
   
   Certified RESNET HERS Energy Raters evaluate existing and new homes and recommend energy efficiency improvements. Homeowners and homebuyers can order an Energy Rating which is a good starting point for determining the areas of a home to be improved.
   
   
   Energy Efficient Mortgages give new homeowners more purchasing power by taking into account the added value of an energy-efficient home, while Energy Improvement Loans allow existing homeowners to roll the costs of improving the energy-efficiency of their older home into their home improvement loan.
   
   There are now federal and in some cases state tax credits the homeowner can utilize when making energy improvements to their homes. Visit www.energystar.gov or www.irs.gov.

5. Why would I hire a certified radon measurement professional to test my home instead of doing it myself?

   The data you get from conducting your own radon test with a device purchased locally or provided by a local health department may be precise and accurate enough to satisfy your needs.
   
   The data you get from hiring a certified radon measurement professional to collect your sample and have it analyzed will provide you with additional peace of mind about the reliability of the data. Throughout the course of the year, All-Phase’s radon measurement professional will submit additional samples to the contract laboratory (at no cost to you) to ensure the precision and accuracy of the data from the lab. All-Phase will also make sure the collection device is properly placed, is the best type of sampling device for the application, and is only analyzed if the test conditions for the building meet the requirements for the facility use and for the length of the test period.

6. Can All-Phase conduct a radon survey of a large business or government building?

   Yes, All-Phase has conducted radon surveys of entire school districts. We cater our reports to the needs of our client, so you can present the data as one large report or smaller reports for each building/location.

7. My company had an SPCC Plan prepared a few years ago. Why would we need to revise it?

   The EPA currently requires all SPCC Plans to be reviewed and recertified either every 5 years or whenever “there is a change in the facility design, construction, operation, or maintenance that materially affects it potential for a discharge” (whichever occurs first). All SPCC Plans are written to specifically address the current conditions and operational procedures at a facility. A change in the construction or operation of a facility may result in a facility putting itself at risk to releasing oil products to surface water bodies. In some cases, changes at a facility result in less stringent requirements in the SPCC Plan.