A Phase I could identify a condition like this; containerized liquid waste with stained pavement resulting from some type of spill or leak. This situation would prompt a property owner to move forward with a Phase II soils testing. The testing would identify extent of any underlying soil contamination.

During a Phase II, Ellis will develop a strategic sampling plan. We coordinate all work with the client, Dig Alert, appropriate agencies and other involved parties. Based on Ellis' sampling scheme, we will collect samples from numerous boring locations to represent the entire property. At each location multiple samples can be collected at specific depths to determine extent of vertical contamination, if any.

When an initial Phase I environmental assessment (ESA) identifies potential hazardous substances on a site or within a building, a Phase II ESA, which always includes materials testing of some sort, is usually conducted to confirm or deny the presence or absence of that substance. Ellis has performed numerous Phase II ESA's to test for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants. Testing can determine extent of any contaminant both horizontally and vertically (down to the water table depth). We work closely with the Department of Toxic Substance Control, Regional Water Board and other agencies to insure that both protocol and results of our site testing will be accepted.