This is the fourth installment in our series on sale-leaseback transactions, a real estate financing mechanism growing in popularity. For a recap, check out part one on sale-leaseback fundamentals, part two on reverse...more
Owners, lenders and investors in real property have long relied on ASTM E 1527-21, a product of ASTM International, in connection with Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. This product is used to establish that “all...more
Buying a commercial or industrial property can be a great opportunity—but it can also be fraught with financial peril and regulatory risk if you don’t properly assess environmental liabilities. Join us for an in-depth...more
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a category of several thousand human-made chemicals, have been used for decades in consumer and industrial applications. As more is learned about them, including their resistance to...more
On July 8, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Final Rule in the Federal Register officially designating Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) as “hazardous substances” under...more
We have been closely monitoring the progress of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed rule to designate perfluorooctanic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”), two per- and...more
On December 15, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Final Rule, entitled "Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries," updating the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment...more
Purchasers of contaminated property are often familiar with obtaining a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) in the hopes of maintaining the CERCLA bona fide prospective purchaser defense, but sometimes they overlook...more
On December 22, 2022, EPA authorized use of the latest version of the ASTM standard for performing Phase 1 environmental site investigations—E1527-21, as an option for satisfying Superfund’s all appropriate inquiries (AAI)...more
The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (“ESA”) is the quintessential environmental diligence tool for transactions involving real property. A Phase I ESA includes a site inspection and review of current and past uses and...more
Last month, I had the pleasure of participating in a roundtable discussion regarding “Transactional Real Estate and Environmental Due Diligence” co-hosted by Primerus and Association of Corporate Counsel. I don’t know about...more
For many years, it has been standard practice for prospective purchasers and even tenants to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (“ESA”) before acquiring a new property interest. This is for two important reasons:...more
Join Ulmer for a Live Webinar on the New Phase I ESA Standard and Solving Environmental Problems During Real Estate Transactions - The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) released an update last November to the...more
First established back in 1993, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments have become a ubiquitous component of environmental due diligence supporting most commercial and industrial real estate transactions in the United States....more
When it comes to pre-acquisition environmental due diligence, a properly prepared Phase I ESA is the ounce of prevention that is worth a pound of cure. Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (“Phase I ESA”) are a routine due...more
Live Webinar: A Deeper Dive into Environmental Due Diligence - Join Ulmer attorney David A. Meyer for a live webinar on Wednesday, September 15, at 2 p.m. (ET), as he continues the conversation on environmental due...more
Environmental risks are inherent in the transfer of real property. Phase I Environmental Site Assessments are an effective risk mitigation tool, but only if prepared in accordance with the current ASTM Standard E1527. This...more