Phase I Environmental Site Assessment

Virginia Environmental Professionals, LLC (VEP) completed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of a property located in Richmond, Virginia. The Phase I ESA was completed in accordance with the newest American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice E1527-21.  The Phase I ESA was completed as part of the due diligence process prior to the purchase of the property by a private investor.

The subject property is approximately 0.97 acres and is located as an outparcel to a local shopping mall. The property was formerly a part of the mall parcel, but was recently divided out into its own parcel. The property is currently vacant and is in the preparation stages for the construction of popular chicken finger restaurant. The property is surrounded by a construction security fence and has had some light grading completed. The subject property is located in a commercial area of Richmond, Virginia.

A data failure was encountered and included historical sources not available at five-year intervals dating back to 1940. The presence of this data failure did not affect VEP’s ability to identify conditions indicative of a release or threatened release of hazardous substances to the subject property and does not have a material impact on the conclusions of this report. No significant data gaps were noted.

Site reconnaissance did not identify the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products on the subject property. A portable dyed diesel fuel tank was observed on the parent shopping center parcel behind an adjacent building. This is assumed to be for the construction of the restaurant on the subject property. The diesel tank is double walled and showed no indications of leaks or spills.

According to historical information, the property has been vacant grassed and wooded land until the adjoining shopping center was constructed in 1980. The western end of the southern wing of the shopping center was located on the subject property.  In 2013 the southern wing of the shopping center was demolished and in approximately 2019 the adjoining building was constructed in its place. Historical information including aerial photographs, topographic maps, and city directories did not identify any uses that would be of environmental concern to the subject property.

Local agency contacts did not identify any environmental concerns for the subject property. 

Results of regulatory database reviews did not identify any regulatory listings for the subject property.

One (1) adjoining property was listed in the regulatory databases reviewed and is identified as a former dry cleaner (EDR HIST CLEANER, DRY CLEANER) and retail clothing store (RCRA VSQG), both located in the shopping center. Due to the clothing store being a retail clothing business, is not an environmental concern to the subject property.

Fifty (50) additional vicinity properties were listed in the regulatory databases. Based on VEP’s review of available information, nature of listing, distance, and/or topography in relation to the subject property, none of the vicinity listings were considered to be of environmental concern to the subject property.

Previous Phase I ESA reports were completed for the  shopping center in 2013, 2017, and 2019, which included the subject property as part of the shopping center parcel at that time. The reports identified the former dry cleaner and adjoining leaking underground storage tank sites as recognized environmental conditions (RECs). Phase II ESAs were completed in 2017 and 2019 to evaluate the RECs identified. Soil, groundwater, and soil gas samples were collected and the results indicated that contamination was not detected at concentrations exceeding the commercial use criteria for the property. No additional action was recommended in the latest Limited Phase II ESA report completed in 2019.

Based upon our observations and information gathered during the Phase I ESA, VEP has not identified the presence of any recognized environmental conditions (RECs), controlled RECs (CRECs), or historical RECs (HRECs) on the subject property as defined by ASTM Standard practice E1527-21.

No additional actions are recommended at this time.

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