Frequently asked questions
Is this a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment?
No. A Phase I ESA is a professional investigation performed by an Environmental Professional under ASTM E1527-21, including a site visit, historical research and interviews. This site is an automated pre-screen of public government databases. It does not satisfy All Appropriate Inquiries (40 CFR Part 312) and gives no CERCLA liability protection. If your lender or deal requires a Phase I, hire an Environmental Professional.
Sources: 40 CFR 312.11 (ASTM E1527-21 referenced by the AAI rule) | 40 CFR 312.21 (inquiry by an environmental professional)
What does the free check search?
Within 1 mile of the address point: EPA Superfund sites (including National Priorities List status), RCRA Corrective Action facilities, Brownfields properties, leaking underground storage tank releases, facilities with recent compliance violations in EPA ECHO, and Toxics Release Inventory reporters. At the point: USFWS mapped wetlands and the FEMA flood zone. The free answer shows counts and the nearest three records per list; the paid report lists everything with distance, status and links.
Sources: EPA Cleanups in My Community | EPA ECHO | EPA UST Finder
Why 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mile?
ASTM E1527-21 sets minimum search distances for standard environmental record sources: for example 1 mile for NPL and RCRA Corrective Action sites, and 0.5 mile for leaking storage tanks and many state cleanup lists. We report every list in those rings so you can see what is close and what is farther away.
Sources: ASTM E1527-21 (standard page)
How much does a real Phase I cost?
Published price ranges from environmental firms put a typical commercial Phase I at roughly $1,800 to $3,200, with complex or large sites reaching $6,500 or more; a 2023 industry benchmark (LightBox EDR, as reported by Compyle Environmental) put the average around $3,083 and 16 business days. See our Phase I cost guide for the sources.
Sources: Phase I cost guide (this site) | GeoForward: Phase I cost
Does a site near my address mean my property is contaminated?
No. A nearby record means something was reported or regulated near the property. Whether it matters depends on what was released, whether it was cleaned up, the distance, and which way groundwater flows. That judgment is what an Environmental Professional makes in a Phase I.
Do you check PFAS in drinking water?
Not yet. EPA's UCMR 5 PFAS results are published by public water system, and there is no free public service that maps a street address to its water system, so we do not guess. Ask your water utility for its Consumer Confidence Report or search your system in EPA's PFAS Analytic Tools.
Sources: EPA PFAS Analytic Tools | EPA UCMR 5
How current is the data?
We query the agencies' live public services at the moment you search; every answer and every PDF shows the fetch time for each source. The agencies update their own data on their own schedules, and some records are years old or have imprecise locations.
Sources: EPA FRS data quality notes
Who is this for?
Home buyers who want to know what is on record nearby, small commercial buyers deciding whether a Phase I is worth ordering early, brokers and lenders doing a first look. It is a screening tool, not a substitute for professional due diligence.