ASTM E5127-13, the standard practice for Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments, is due for an update by 2021, but modifications could be approved and enacted as early as late 2019. Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments are a key part of obtaining prospective purchaser liability protection for past contamination by ensuring certain steps for environmental due diligence are followed (“All Appropriate Inquiry”). The EPA is reviewing ASTM E5127 to ensure it has adequate guidance related to newer trends in the industrial and commercial sectors.
