environmental due diligence meth labs & underground storage tanks
TRANSCRIPT
Environmental Due Environmental Due Diligence Diligence Meth Labs &Meth Labs &
Underground Storage TanksUnderground Storage Tanks
Environmental Due DiligenceEnvironmental Due Diligence
… is the process of inquiring into the environmental condition of the real estate to determine the presence of contamination from hazardous wastes and petroleum products, and to determine what impact such contamination may have on the market value of the property.
Why do Environmental Due Why do Environmental Due Diligence?Diligence?
Preserve the continued marketability of the property (Salability)
Protect the health and safety of the occupants (Safety)
Protect the security of the property (Security)
Note: Environmental Due Diligence NOT required under WEP
Due Diligence Requirements:
Direct Single Family At Loan Making (See HB 3550 Attachment 5-B Single Family Housing Site Checklist) and Before Foreclosure).
Guaranteed Single Family by Lenders per HUD Form VC (Valuation Conditions) or “home inspector deemed qualified.”
5
.
Safety During Site Inspections:
Note general site conditions Note materials clearly labeled Do NOT handle materials Maintain safe distance from materials Stay out of unventilated, confined spaces Leave final determinations on materials to experts Report concerns to your SEC
4
TakeawayElevate hazmat issues to the RD National
OfficeInvolve OGC early in the processDo NOT get personally involved in
environmental compliance, investigation or cleanup decisions
Don’t make agreements with buyers without consideration of environmental risks
Key Agency RisksRisk of Direct Liability to RD
When taking a security interest in the property
Risk of the Loan Package Liability of borrowerImpairment of collateral
Liability RisksFederal and state laws impose liability on
owners and operators of contaminated property – even if they did not cause or contribute to the contamination
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) is the best-known cleanup law affecting loan-making and servicing
CERCLA LiabilityCosts can be quite high:
InvestigationCleanupOperations and maintenanceLand Use ControlsNatural resource damagesDefense costs
II. Risk of the Loan Package
If borrower faces significant compliance or cleanup costs, its ability to repay the loan may be at risk
Similarly, environmental contamination affecting the collateral creates a material financial risk in the event that the borrower is unable to repay the loan
Minimizing Financial Risk Associated with Hazmat Issues
Why due diligence is important:Crucial informational and decision-making toolLegal benefits in certain instances
Timing of due diligence:Prior to any decision on a loan or guaranteePrior to any decision to foreclose
Minimizing Financial Risk
RD AN No. 4617 refers to two types of environmental due diligence:Transaction Screen (ASTM E 1528-06)Phase I ESA (ASTM E 1527-05)
Other more extensive due diligence efforts may be warranted in particular circumstances (e.g., non-scope issues, Phase II sampling)
Agency GuidanceAgency Guidance AN 4621 (1940-G) Environmental Due Diligence, February 9, 2012
AN 4673 (4279-A, 4279-B, 4279-C, 4280-B, and 4287-B) Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan, Biorefinery Assistance, and Rural Energy for America Programs Transaction Screen Questionnaire and Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
AN 4673
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, considers the use of the: (1) initial investigation using the Transaction Screen Questionnaire (TSQ); and (2) environmental professional evaluation using the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) sufficient to conduct environmental due diligence. The TSQ and Phase I ESA standards are published by ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials).
Transaction Screen Questionnaire Transaction Screen Questionnaire (TSQ)(TSQ)
ASTM E-1528-14 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Transaction Screen Questionnaire”
Preparation of TSQ by Agency OnlyShould be done for those projects where there
is low probability of previous environmental contamination
If TSQ concludes a Phase I ESA is not needed, provides documentation but does not meet the “all appropriate inquiries” established by EPA for CERCLA lender liability exclusion
Concerns During Site Inspections:
Distressed Vegetation Stained soils & UST fill pipes Drums and other containers Leaking containers Odors Current & past land use Transformers, abandoned vehicles & machinery
6
Environmental Site Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)Assessment (ESA)
TSQ Issues: Proceed to Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA, not to be confused with Agency EA)
Preparation by professional environmental consultants
Funding of contract from Program Loan Cost Expenses for REO Property
ESA’s vs. EA’sESA’s vs. EA’sEnvironmental Site Assessment (ESA)
Is the property “clean” or “dirty”?Comprehensive Environmental Response and
Liability Act (CERCLA)Environmental Assessments (EA)
Primary purpose is to determine whether or not a proposed action could have significant environmental impacts that would require an Environmental Impact Statement be prepared
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
RequirementsRequirements
When is a Phase I ESA Necessary?- When RD is taking a security interest in the property (direct loan, foreclosure, title transfer)
When contamination is suspected to be on the property
When banks require onePart of NEPA review? Yes, discuss and disclose findings and conclusions
RequirementsRequirementsWho does a Phase I ESA?
Environmental Professionals – possess training and experience to conduct site visit and interview then develop conclusions regarding recognized environmental conditions Registered Engineers
Registered Geologists
Registered Environmental AssessorsHow to do Phase I ESA?
ASTM E-1527-13
ESA’s
Complete TSQ
PossibleContamination?
Perform Phase IESA
Perform Phase II ESAOr Site
Characterization
ConfirmedOr Suspected
Contamination?Decision Time!
IsContamination
Extensive?
NoSTOP!
Proceed with loan
STOP!No
Yes
Proceed with loan
Yes
No
If there is contamination, remediationmeasures may need to be discussed prior to proceeding with the loan
Yes
Yes
9
Due Diligence ResourcesEPA: “Enviromapper”http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/em/index.html HUD: Environmental Maps “E-Maps”http://egis.hud.gov/egis/ then click on “Map
My Community”
11
Methamphetamine Labs
Guidance provided in AN 4718 (1940-G) “Safety In and Around Illegal Methamphetamine Laboratories and Associated Environmental Cleanup”, May, 2013.
13
“Safety First”RD employees are not trained as “first
responders” in a meth lab situation. This is a major personal safety issue. If you encounter a lab, leave the property and contact your local environmental protection or law enforcement agency.
14
Production of Methamphetamine
Relatively easy to produce.Highly addictive central nervous system
stimulant.Meth “cooks” prefer rural areas to avoid
discovery.
15
Signs of a Potential ProblemLoan payments are not being made.
(Occupant may be in jail!).Find “Police Line Do Not Cross” tape
when approaching a structure.Chemical odors or lots of garbage,
empty containers on the property.
16
What Does a Lab Look Like?
17
AN 4718
If the Agency owns the property, we either have to 1) clean it up and sell it 2) disclose it is contaminated, or potentially contaminated, and sell it as is or 3) demolish it and call it a loss.
Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
Any tank that has at least 10 percent of Any tank that has at least 10 percent of its volume undergroundits volume underground
Includes the tank, underground piping, Includes the tank, underground piping, all ancillary equipment, and containment all ancillary equipment, and containment systemsystem
40 CFR Part 280 applies to USTs that 40 CFR Part 280 applies to USTs that
store petroleum products or hazardous store petroleum products or hazardous
substancessubstances
Unregulated USTsUnregulated USTsFarm or residential tanks holding 1,100 Farm or residential tanks holding 1,100
gallons or less of motor fuel used for non-gallons or less of motor fuel used for non-commercial purposescommercial purposes
Tanks storing heating oil used on the Tanks storing heating oil used on the premises where it is storedpremises where it is stored
21
Unregulated USTsUnregulated USTsNot required, but consideration must be
given to closure of USTsIndividual States can make policy to have
abandoned unregulated USTs closedEventually, all USTs will leak
How long depends on subsurface conditions
22
What to look for…What to look for…
Soil stainingVent/fill pipesPetroleum odorDistressed
vegetation
23
Effects of USTs on RD Programs
Regardless of regulatory status Regardless of regulatory status the concern is whether a leak has the concern is whether a leak has occurredoccurred
• Effect on health and safety Effect on health and safety of applicants, adjacent of applicants, adjacent ownersowners
• Negative effect on Negative effect on property security valueproperty security value
USTs in RD ProgramsIf the UST is regulated:If the UST is regulated:
Verify installation documentation Verify installation documentation
Copy of the permit Copy of the permit
Ensure proper reporting and Ensure proper reporting and monitoringmonitoring
USTs in RD Programs• If not actively regulatedIf not actively regulated
- Determine to either remove or close - Determine to either remove or close in placein place
- Removal usually best course- Removal usually best course• State regulations will govern process for State regulations will govern process for
closure or removalclosure or removal
Emergency SituationsEmergency SituationsReport spills to the National Response Center Report spills to the National Response Center
(NRC)(NRC)NRC is sole federal point of contact for reporting oil, NRC is sole federal point of contact for reporting oil,
chemical, radiological and biological releaseschemical, radiological and biological releasesAvailable 24/7 365 days/year Available 24/7 365 days/year
(800)-424-8802 or (202)-267-2675 (800)-424-8802 or (202)-267-2675
26
SummaryDue Diligence should be done before a property
is secured, foreclosed, or transferred (don’t make agreements with buyers)
A TSQ doesn’t satisfy the lender liability exclusion under CERCLA while a Phase I ESA does
A Phase I ESA should be done by qualified environmental professional
NO and OCG should be consulted early whenever there are hazmat issues (need for Phase II, etc.)
Do NOT get personally involved in environmental compliance, investigation or cleanup decisions
Environmental Due DiligenceAN No. 4487
Required in loan making and servicing actions, particularly servicing actions that may lead to foreclosure.
Servicing Actions1. Actions Leading to Foreclosure on Real Estate
Security (for all programs).2. Actions Involving Real Estate Owned (REO)
Properties (after foreclosure).Transaction Screen Questionnaire Form (TSQ)Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I )
(ASTM E 1527)
EnviromapperEnviromapper
39
EPA EnviroMapperEPA EnviroMapper
Doing a better jobDoing a better job
……fasterfaster
……more accuratelymore accurately
40
EPA EnviroMapperEPA EnviroMapper
RD Environmental Due Diligence:RD Environmental Due Diligence:Superfund (NPL) SitesSuperfund (NPL) SitesBrownfieldsBrownfieldsEnviroFactsEnviroFactsWater QualityWater QualityClean Ups Clean Ups
Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice
Please note that NEPAssist also provides another Please note that NEPAssist also provides another platform to access all of the Enviromapper data. platform to access all of the Enviromapper data. Formats are different, however.Formats are different, however.
41
http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/em/index.html42
Facility
43
44
45
46
For DemographicsClick here
47
48
49
Questions??Questions??
50
Email or call with any comments or questions on this webinar [email protected] or 202-205-8242