Phase II ESA Confirms No Soil Impacts at Former Manufacturing Site
Long Beach, CA
Background
In early 2026, McAlister GeoScience was retained by the Client to conduct a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) at a commercial property located at 1360 Newport Avenue in Long Beach, California.
A prior Phase I ESA identified a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) associated with two historical underground storage tanks (USTs) listed in the City of Long Beach database. Due to the absence of documented sampling or closure data, the former USTs represented a potential environmental risk requiring further evaluation.
The objective of the Phase II investigation was to assess whether historical site uses, including prior soap manufacturing operations, had resulted in impacts to subsurface soils.
Targeted Investigation
McAlister GeoScience designed and executed a focused soil sampling program to efficiently evaluate site conditions while minimizing disruption to the property.
Five boreholes were strategically advanced in the central portion of the site to a target depth of approximately five feet below ground surface. Soil samples were collected and field screened for indicators of contamination, including odors and photoionization detector (PID) readings.
All samples were submitted to a certified laboratory for analysis of:
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), including BTEX
- Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)
- Metals
Environmental Assessment
Laboratory analytical results further supported these observations:
- VOCs, including BTEX and fuel oxygenates, were not detected above laboratory reporting limits
- Petroleum hydrocarbons (gasoline, diesel, and motor oil ranges) were not detected above laboratory reporting limits
- Metals were detected at low concentrations, all below applicable Environmental Screening Levels (ESLs)
These findings indicate that neither the historical USTs nor prior manufacturing operations have resulted in measurable soil impacts at the Subject Property.
Key Findings
- No VOCs or petroleum hydrocarbons detected above laboratory limits
- No field evidence of impacted soil (odor, staining, or elevated PID readings)
- Metals concentrations below regulatory screening thresholds
- No evidence of releases associated with historical USTs
Outcome
Based on the results of this
Phase II ESA, McAlister GeoScience determined that subsurface soils at the property are not impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons, VOCs, or metals related to historical site uses.
No further investigation or corrective action is warranted at this time. Field observations did not identify any visual or olfactory indicators of contamination. PID readings remained within expected background levels across all sampling locations.
For lenders, brokers, and property owners, this outcome provides a clear path forward: eliminating environmental uncertainty and supporting confident transaction and redevelopment decisions without the need for additional environmental constraints.