Why Clients Choose ESE Partners
Lender-Approved Reports
Our Phase I ESAs are prepared in full compliance with ASTM guidelines and accepted by national banks, SBA lenders, and CMBS servicers.
Fast Turnaround, No Surprises
Standard Phase I ESAs delivered in 5–10 business days. Expedited options available. We keep you informed at every milestone.
Offices Across Major Markets
With offices in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, we provide boots-on-the-ground service across the Sun Belt and beyond.
Experienced, Credentialed Team
Our team includes licensed Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, and EPA-recognized Environmental Professionals with decades of experience.
Our Environmental Due Diligence Services
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESAs)
ESE provides lender approved ASTM Guidelines and similar Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and related transaction screens which are often required when a property is externally financed. The purpose of a Phase I ESA is to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) associated with a parcel of commercial real estate with respect to the range of contamination within the scope of CERCLA and petroleum products.
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESAs)
A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is often warranted when a Phase I ESA identifies a Recognized Environmental Condition, requiring further investigation. The purpose of a Phase II ESA is to confirm or deny the presence of chemicals of concern in the environment. The Phase II ESA involves the sampling and laboratory analysis of multiple medias, often including soil, soil gas, and groundwater. The analytical testing results are compared to regulatory limits and criteria established by the applicable government agency. Further remedial action may be warranted based on the results of the Phase II ESA.
Property Condition Assessments (PCAs)
Costs for replacement or repair of major systems, components or equipment at a property can blindside buyers. ESE provides Property Condition Assessments (PCAs) on a variety of commercial structures to educate a buyer or lender with valuable insight regarding costs to remedy physical deficiencies. PCAs are conducted in accordance with the ASTM E 2018-15 guidance document and are often conducted concurrently with a Phase I ESA.
Get Your Environmental Due Diligence Assessment Started
Every day of uncertainty in a transaction costs time and money. ESE Partners provides fast, accurate, lender-approved environmental due diligence services across Texas and nationwide. Our team is ready to scope your project, explain your options, and get your assessment underway. Request a proposal or contact us today to speak with an environmental due diligence consultant.
Additional Environmental Due Diligence Services
Beyond Phase I and Phase II ESAs, ESE Partners provides a full spectrum of environmental due diligence services tailored to the specific demands of each transaction:
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Transaction Screens – A cost-effective alternative to a full Phase I for lower-risk properties
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Record Search Risk Assessments (RSRAs) – Historical records research to assess environmental risk
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Desktop Reviews – Preliminary risk evaluations based on existing data
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Pre-Acquisition Assessments – Comprehensive risk reviews for buyers evaluating complex acquisitions
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Oil & Gas Pre-Drill Assessments – Baseline documentation and risk identification for energy sector transactions
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Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. – Jurisdictional determinations in connection with natural resources consulting
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Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) Surveys – Visual and sampling-based ACM assessments through our Building Sciences team
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Lead & Lead-Based Paint Consulting – Lead paint assessment for commercial transactions and renovations
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Indoor Air Quality Services – Indoor air sampling and analysis for commercial properties
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Aerial Drone Services – High-resolution aerial imaging for site evaluation and documentation
Environmental Due Diligence for Real Estate Transactions
Commercial real estate deals carry significant environmental risk. Contaminated properties can expose buyers to CERCLA liability, delay financing, and erode asset value. ESE Partners works with commercial developers, investors, CMBS lenders, and real estate attorneys to clear the path for clean transactions or surface liabilities early enough to renegotiate terms.
Our environmental due diligence team has assessed projects ranging from master-planned residential communities in the greater Houston area to multi-block downtown redevelopment sites in San Antonio. We understand states’ regulatory frameworks, geology, and petroleum storage tank history, and we know that local knowledge shapes every assessment we produce.
Environmental Due Diligence for Oil & Gas Acquisitions
The oil and gas sector demands a different level of scrutiny. ESE Partners has assessed portfolios of well pad sites across thousands of acres in preparation for oilfield asset purchases, identifying environmental conditions that directly affect deal terms. Each ESE environmental due diligence consultant understands upstream, midstream, and downstream risk factors, and we structure each assessment to match the pace and complexity of energy transactions.
Why Choose ESE Partners for Environmental Due Diligence Consulting Services?
ESE Partners is a Texas-founded firm with deep roots in the markets we serve. We bring scientific rigor and transaction awareness together in a way that many national firms cannot replicate at the local level. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Lender-Approved Reports — Our Phase I and Phase II ESAs meet the standards required by major lending institutions, ensuring your financing process stays on track.
- ASTM E1527-21 Compliance — We conduct Phase I ESAs in accordance with the most current standard, reflecting the latest regulatory expectations, including the updated definition of a recognized environmental condition.
- Texas-Specific Regulatory Expertise — We know TCEQ requirements, petroleum storage tank regulations, and the environmental conditions unique to Texas, from the Gulf Coast to the Permian Basin.
- Full-Spectrum Due Diligence Services — From a desktop review to a multi-site oilfield assessment, we scale our services to fit the scope and timeline of your transaction.
- Integrated Remediation Capability — If a Phase II ESA identifies a problem, our remediation team is ready to move to the next steps with no handoffs or learning curve.
- Multi-Discipline In-House Expertise — Our Building Sciences, natural resources, and compliance teams work alongside our environmental due diligence consultants, so complex transactions get a complete environmental picture from a single firm.
More Services
Remediation
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Compliance
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Natural Resources
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Cultural Resources
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Building Sciences
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Sustainability
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Renewable Energy
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Our Environmental Due Diligence Projects
Phase I and II for residential Home Developer in Flushear, Texas
ESE performed a Phase I ESA on approximately 143-acre property in a future master-planned community in the greater Houston area.
Pre-Acquisition Due Diligence in Downtown San Antonio
ESE performed pre-acquisition due diligence for two contiguous city blocks in downtown San Antonio, Texas with development history dating back to the late 1800’s.
ESE Oilfield Portfolio
ESE assessed a total of 276 well pad sites located within 1,940 acres on an existing oilfield as part of a due diligence effort in preparation of a purchase of oil field assets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Environmental Due Diligence
What triggers the need for environmental due diligence?
Environmental due diligence is most commonly triggered by a commercial real estate transaction, an oil and gas acquisition, or a lender’s financing requirements. Under CERCLA, buyers who fail to conduct appropriate due diligence before purchasing a property can be held liable for pre-existing contamination, even if they had no involvement in creating it. The innocent landowner defense and the bona fide prospective purchaser defense both hinge on completing a Phase I ESA that satisfies the All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) standard.
How long does a Phase I ESA take?
Most Phase I ESAs are completed within 10 to 20 business days from authorization and receipt of site access. Turnaround time varies based on property complexity, the availability of historical records, and site access logistics. ESE Partners works to fit the timeline of your transaction and can discuss expedited options when deal timelines require them.
Does my lender require a Phase I ESA?
Most commercial mortgage lenders, including CMBS lenders and agency lenders such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, require a Phase I ESA as a condition of financing. Many also require the report to be addressed directly to the lender or to meet specific lender overlays beyond the ASTM standard. ESE Partners produces lender-approved reports and is familiar with the specific requirements of major lending institutions.
Texas Firm with a
National Reach.
Discover featured projects from across ESE Partners’ disciplines: Due Diligence, Building Sciences, Remediation, Compliance, and Natural & Cultural Resources.
Contact Us
Thank you for your interest in ESE Partners. We look forward to answering your questions and discuss how we can help your organization.
