Proposed changes to Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments may increase user costs and delay report delivery times, according to GlobeSt.com.
The American Society for Testing Materials is currently updating the industry’s Standard Practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments as it tries to make such tests reflect recent changes in the due diligence world, GlobeSt.com reports.
The standards are undergoing final changes, and will be subject to approval by the EPA. Barring any hiccups the standards should be available in the summer, the website reports.
GlobeSt.com expects the updated standards, called ASTM E1527-13, to differ on only a few key points from its 2005 predecessor, but says certain provisions such as changes to vapor risk and stronger rules for regulatory file reviews could add cost and lengthen report delivery times.
The new standards are likely to create a greater emphasis on assessing contamination migration risk, expanding the definition of contamination to potentially cover vapor rather than just soil and groundwater. Any extra work load would, of course, increase costs.
A strengthening of the recommendation for conducting regulatory file reviews could increase the number of reviews of properties adjacent to sites. Depending on the agency you are dealing with, it may also add to report production time.
GlobeSt.com expects the EPA to vote on the proposed changes at the end of this summer. Changes will go into effect one year from the EPA approval date.
New regulations aimed at increasing chemical hazard awareness and understanding will mean extra work for chemical manufacturers, according to a white paper by compliance products firm Labelmaster.
The new regulations are in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration aligning its 2012 Hazard Communication Standard with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System framework.