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The conduct of a Phase I ESA is a fundamental component of the due diligence process for projects undergoing CEQA review. A Phase I ESA ensures that hazardous soil or groundwater conditions do not exist that would pose a risk to construction workers or neighboring residents upon development. Phase I ESAs are commonly included in CEQA documentation to identify hazardous waste issues that may pose a risk to the public, workers, or the environment and which may require further investigation, including environmental sampling and cleanup. Any conditions identified as hazardous in the Phase I should be addressed through mitigation in a revised EIR Addendum. Standards for performing a Phase I ESA have been established by the US EPA and the American Society for Testing and Materials Standards (ASTM).' Phase I ESAs are conducted to identify conditions indicative of releases of hazardous substances and include: • a review of all known sites in the vicinity of the subject property that are on regulatory agency databases undergoing assessment or cleanup activities; • an inspection; • interviews with people knowledgeable about the property; and • recommendations for further actions to address potential hazards. Phase I ESAs conclude with the identification of any "recognized environmental conditions' (RECs) and recommendations to address such conditions. A REC is the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products on a property under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material threat of a release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products into structures on the property or into the ground, groundwater, or surface water of the property. If RECs are identified, then a Phase II ESA generally follows, which includes the collection of soil, soil vapor and groundwater samples, as necessary, to identify the extent of contamination and the need for cleanup to reduce exposure potential to the public. Consistent with professional due diligence procedures, a Phase I ESA, completed by a licensed environmental professional is necessary for inclusion in a revised Addendum to identify recognized environmental conditions, if any, at the proposed Project site. A Phase II ESA should be conducted if the Phase I indicates a recognized environmental condition. Any contamination that is identified above regulatory screening levels, including California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's Soil Screening Numbers', should be cleaned up in coordination with the California Department of Toxics Substances Control(DTSC). ' http://www.astm.orx/Standards/E1527.htm 2 htto://oehha.ca.aov/risk/chhsltable.html