McAlister GeoScience is a well-rounded environmental and geotechnical consulting firm with an array of services to suit your needs. We work with clients to provide timely, reliable and cost-effective results for the necessary components of real estate transactions, development, redevelopment, and environmental regulatory site remediation leading to site closure. Have a contaminated site? Relax, McAlister GeoScience is there every step of the way to ensure the site is responsibly remediated. Our firm works closely with professionals in all industries we provide services for and no matter what your request may be, McAlister GeoScience is there to work FOR YOU. Please contact us should you have any specific questions about a service we offer.

Phase I Environmental Site Assessments

Phase I environmental site investigations are routinely conducted to support pre-development property transactions, developed property transfers, and site closures. Lending institutions, realty corporations, landholders, and private individuals must consider environmental contamination as a potential risk when considering properties for acquisition. Purchase of a contaminated property can result in assumption of significant cost for cleanup. To address this issue, purchasers of real estate consider an environmental assessment as a routine component of an acquisition.

McAlister GeoScience maintains very low overhead and straightforward contracting terms to accelerate turnaround times and reduce contracting headaches all at extremely competitive pricing.

Phase II Environmental Site Assessments

Phase II environmental site investigations are performed to delineate horizontal and vertical extent of volatile organics, metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and other chemicals of concern should a Phase I ESA find the potential for contamination. McAlister GeoScience has effectively managed field activities, coordinated with analytical laboratories, evaluated data, and prepared reports associated with ongoing groundwater monitoring programs in addition to more basic studies of shallow contaminated soils.

Site Remediation

Technically sound and legally defensible solutions performed in a teaming fashion to meet regulatory requirements, schedule, and budget. If a property comes up dirty, McAlister GeoScience is there alongside you to ensure the problem is remediated. We have relationships with teams ready to assist you every step of the way from drilling, laboratory work, system installation & operation to regulatory compliance. At McAlister GeoScience we work for you and want to assist in turning a dirty problem into a clean solution.

Technical Memorandums

For many properties, a full Phase I Assessment is overkill or otherwise not necessary.  A Technical Memorandum can be developed in an expedited time-frame at minimal cost to summarize the numerous information sources available.

Transaction Screen Assessment

A Transaction Screen Assessment (TSA) is a more cost-effective form of environmental due diligence. TSAs are essentially a less-involved Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. By scaling back the scope of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment to a site visit, government database review, knowledgeable persons interviews, and limited historical research (aerials, fire insurance maps, and city directories), TSAs can be completed for less cost and with a quicker turn-around-time than a standard Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. TSAs are typically completed for properties considered to be “lower” in risk.

Not sure what the proper environmental due diligence option is for a property you are involved with? Feel free to give McAlister GeoScience a call and we would be glad to discuss your options.

Records Search with Risk Assessment

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) allows for a Records Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA) as an alternative to the standard Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for low risk properties. The RSRA is less costly than a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and can be provided with quick turn-around times. McAlister GeoScience performs RSRAs that are compliant with SBA SOP 50 10 5(K), Lender and Development Company Loan Programs, which can be downloaded here. A RSRA report includes:

  • A review of government databases and historical records,
  • The Subject Property’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, and
  • A completed Environmental Questionnaire to identify environmentally sensitive operations at both the Subject Property and nearby properties.

An environmental professional will evaluate all available data and determine if the Subject Property is “low risk” or “high risk”. If the environmental professional determines the Subject Property is “high risk” for environmental impacts, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment must be completed by the lender as required by the SBA.

Asbestos / Lead-Based Paint Surveys and Abatement

Surveys and abatement performed by licensed experts in a teaming fashion.  All services provided on a turn-key basis with one point of contact for ease of management.

Geotechnical Investigations

Planning a development? McAlister GeoScience provides geotechnical investigations necessary prior to the development of buildings, highways, dams and other structures. These include soil/rock, fault and bedrock properties that lie on the surface and within the subsurface. McAlister GeoScience is there to support the multiple phases of development from preliminary design through completion of the structure. As your consultant, we are there to make professional judgments and advise developers with necessary information regarding structural safety of the development as it relates to the soil conditions and economic feasibility of the project.

Property Condition Assessments

Property Condition Assessments (PCAs), also known as Property Condition Reports (PCRs), are due diligence reports prepared to inform clients about the condition of a property that they may be purchasing, leasing, financing, or maintaining. A PCA report consists of insight into the building’s structure, roofing systems, mechanical systems, electrical systems, plumbing, interior elements, etc. The report includes immediate costs of elements in need of repair and estimated costs for elements to be repaired or replaced at a later time.

Vapor Intrusion

Vapor intrusion poses a threat to indoor air quality when volatile organic chemicals, or VOCs, present in the property’s subsurface soil or groundwater seep into the building.

If a property is potentially impacted by vapor intrusion, several phases of investigation and remediation may be required.  During the initial due diligence phase of most commercial real estate transactions, a Phase I ESA, is performed to identify potential environmental impacts at the property, including indoor air quality. If a potential risk is identified such as a leaking underground fuel tank at or near the property, the recommendation is made to perform a Phase II ESA.

Each site is different and requires different engineering controls to mitigate subsurface vapors, such as a site using more modern concrete slab-on-grade construction techniques. It is imperative to hire a qualified environmental professional that can implement different methods depending on the building.

Another useful step is to collect subsurface soil gas and indoor air samples. However, this becomes challenging because fresh paint or carpet in the building can lead to false positives in the samples. If there are VOCs in the breathing zone of the building from subsurface contamination, we can implement building engineering controls, such as a venting system similar to what you would see to mitigate radon gas.

Methane Surveys

Several development and / or building and safety departments in the cities and local municipalities in California require a methane investigation prior to development of a structure.  These investigations are usually highly prescriptive from the agency and include several subtle details requiring familiarity and experience in performing this type of work.  McAlister GeoScience knows the ins and outs of these requirements, many times, we have learned these lessons the hard way.  Please let us help you get it right the first time and avoid learning these lessons the hard way also.

State of WA Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) Heating Oil Tanks

McAlister GeoScience is ready to provide heating oil tank decommissioning services for your property as a certified service provider with the State of Washington Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA).  Once properly decommissioned, McAlister GeoScience provides copies of all certification and documentation required by your local governing agencies.  As a certified provided with PLIA, McAlister GeoScience can help you work within their system to access the insurance funds  available if your heating oil tank has leaked.  These funds come from a surcharge paid on every gallon of heating oil purchased over the years and are intended to cover the costs of investigation, cleanup, and sometimes even part of your HVAC system upgrade.

Location:

235 E. Broadway, Suite 1040
Long Beach, CA 90802

800 5th Avenue, Suite 101-313
Seattle, WA 98104

Call:

Long Beach: (562) 489-7908
Seattle: (425) 271-5629

Contact:

Via our contact form:
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