Phase I ESA · ASTM E1527-21
A Phase I ESA your lender and counsel can close on
Environmental due diligence for CRE agents, lenders, and buyers — one closing-ready report, authored to ASTM E1527-21.
Understanding Phase I
What is a Phase I ESA?
A Phase I ESA is the standard environmental due-diligence report for commercial real estate. It identifies recognized environmental conditions (RECs) through historical research, regulatory records review, site reconnaissance, and stakeholder interviews. No physical sampling.
SAGE is owner-operated: Brenda has personally authored Phase I ESAs across the Intermountain West for more than twenty years, every one to ASTM E1527-21 — the standard accepted by lenders, the EPA AAI Rule, and state regulators. Most deliver in roughly ten business days.
- years of ESA experience
- 20+
- ASTM standard followed
- E1527-21
- typical Phase I delivery
- 10d
- states of coverage
- 5
Included in our scope
What a SAGE Phase I includes
01
Records & title review
Historical land-use research from city directories, maps, aerials, and chain of title, plus federal, state, and local environmental records for the property and adjacent sites.
02
Site reconnaissance
On-site reconnaissance with photographic documentation of the property’s current and past conditions.
03
Interviews & questionnaires
Interviews with owners, occupants, and local officials, plus the three ASTM-required user questionnaires.
04
REC determination report
One closing-ready report with clear REC conclusions and recommendations, and every map, photograph, and regulatory record appended.
Local expertise
Why local knowledge matters here
Across Idaho and the Intermountain West, historical land uses like rail spurs, dry cleaners, agricultural chemical storage, and mining legacy shape what a Phase I turns up. Recognizing these regional patterns is what separates a defensible assessment from a checklist.
SAGE covers the Treasure Valley and all of Idaho, extending to Northern Utah, Eastern Oregon, and Western Montana. Familiarity with local conditions keeps each Phase I on the tight timelines commercial closings demand.
How it works
Four steps from intake to closing.
Step 01
Submit your project details
Fill out our intake form with your property information and project needs.
Step 02
We review and respond
We’ll review your submission and follow up promptly to discuss scope, timeline, and pricing.
Step 03
We get to work
Our team conducts the assessment and delivers a thorough, ASTM-compliant report.
Step 04
You close with confidence
Use our findings to move forward in your transaction with full environmental clarity.
Next steps
After a Phase I: the next phases
If a Phase I flags a recognized environmental condition, a Phase II confirms or rules it out and a Phase III plans any remediation. We also offer hazard sampling.
Common questions
Phase I ESA — questions & answers
- What is a Phase I ESA, and when is it needed?
- A Phase I ESA is environmental due diligence that identifies recognized environmental conditions before a commercial property purchase or loan. Lenders and investors typically require it.
- How long does a Phase I take?
- A typical Phase I ESA is delivered in roughly ten business days.
- Does a Phase I include sampling?
- No. A Phase I is records review, site reconnaissance, and interviews. Physical sampling happens in a Phase II if a recognized environmental condition is found.
- What areas do you cover?
- Boise, the Treasure Valley, all of Idaho, Northern Utah, Eastern Oregon, and Western Montana.
Request a quote
Ready to move on
your environmental scope?
Share the property address or parcel number and your timeline. We’ll reply within one business day with scope, fee, and a target delivery date.
Project intake