CHANGING INVESTIGATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS

Environmental site assessments or property assessments have developed as a result of environmental legislation enacted by both the federal a nd state governments in the United States. Activities relating to asse ssments focus on past practices and current conditions in regard to en vironmental conditions of property. This paper discusses and presents some current changes that are occurring in this industry. In addition, estimated costs for various phases of assessments are provided along with a new methodology that has been published in the literature to ev aluate or determine the degree of hazard exhibited by property (soil a nd water) using a microbial toxicity test.