RockyHill-PineGrove-ASTM E1527-13 Phase I Questionnaire-WF10-10-19ASTM E1527-13
User Questionnaire
Site Name and Address: 309 Easthampton Road
Northampton, Massachusetts
Owner:
Occupant:
Form Completed By:
Date:
Representing:
In order to qualify for one of the landowner liability protections (LLPs) offered by the Small
Business Liability Relief and Brownfield Revitalization Act of 2001 (the “Brownfields
Amendments”), the user must conduct the following inquiries required by 40 CFR 312.25,
312.28, 312.29., 312.30 and 312.31. These inquiries must also be conducted by EPA Brownfield
Assessment and Characterization grantees. The User should provide the following information to
the environmental professional. Failure to conduct these inquiries could result in a determination
that “all appropriate inquiries” is not complete.
(1.) Did a search of recorded land title records (or judicial records where appropriate1) identify
any environmental liens filed or recorded against the Property under federal, tribal, state or local
law? If “yes”, please list all that apply.
Not yet. We will do a title search before we close on the property.
(2.) Did a search of recorded land title records (or judicial records where appropriate1 ) identify
any Activity and Use Limitations (AULs), such as engineering controls, land use restrictions or
institutional controls that are in place at the Property and/or have been filed or recorded against
the Property under federal, tribal, state or local law? If “yes”, please list all that apply.
Not yet. We will do a title search before we close on the property.
1 In certain jurisdictions, federal, tribal, state, or local statues, or regulations specify that environmental liens and
Activity and Use Limitations (AULs) be filed in judicial records rather than in land title records. In such cases judicial
records must be searched for environmental liens and AULs.
(3.) Do you have any specialized knowledge or experience related to the Property or nearby
properties? For example, are you involved in the same line of business as the current or former
occupants of the Property or an adjoining property so that you would have specialized
knowledge of the chemical and processes used by this type of business? If “yes”, please
explain.
The city of Northampton owns the adjacent Rocky Hill Greenway and we know that
property. We have no specialized knowledge of golf courses or the management
practices on this property.
(4.) a) Does the purchase price being paid for this property reasonably reflect the fair market
value of the property?
Yes.
b) If you conclude that there is a difference, have you considered whether the lower purchase
price is because contamination is known or believed to be present at the Property?
(5.) Are you aware of commonly known or reasonably ascertainable information about the
Property that would help the environmental professional to identify conditions indicative of
releases or threatened releases? For example:
Not applicable (no difference)
Do you know of past uses of the property? If “yes”, please list.
Yes, the property has been a golf course for several decades.
Do you know of specific chemicals that are or once were present at the property? If “yes”,
what kind of chemicals?
No, we have no knowledge of what chemicals were used.
Do you know of spills or other chemical releases that have taken place at the property? If
“yes”, please list.
No
Do you know of any environmental cleanups that have taken place at the property? If “yes”,
please list.
No
(6.) Based on your knowledge and experience related to the Property are there any obvious
indicators that point to the presence or likely presence of releases at the Property? If “yes”,
please explain.
No.
In addition, certain information should be collected, if available, and provided to the
environmental professional conducting the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. This
information is intended to assist the environmental professional, but is not necessarily required
to qualify for one of the LLPs. The information includes:
(1.) The reason why the Phase I is being performed;
The city wants a Phase I ESA to ensure that there is not contamination which would
threaten our planned uses or endanger the environment or the public. The city is
purchasing the property as a greenway, with plans to restore most of the site as a
natural system, restoring wetlands, drainage and forest, and probably about ten acres
for farmland.
(2.) The type of property and type of property transaction, for example, sale, purchase,
exchange, etc.;
The city will be purchasing the property in fee.
(3.) The complete and correct address for the Property (a map or other documentation showing
the property location and boundaries is helpful);
Pine Grove Golf Course, Old Wilson Road, Northampton
(4.) The scope of services desired for the Phase I (including whether any parties to the property
transaction may have a required standard scope of services or whether any considerations
beyond the requirements of practice E1527 are to be considered);
Any necessary services to provide the city with an understanding of risks and
challenges to our planned use of the land and to provide us with innocent
landowner protection.
(5.) Identification of all parties who will rely on the Phase I report;
City of Northampton (as fee holder of the property) and the Massachusetts Audubon
Society (as conservation restriction holder of the city property).
(6.) Identification of the site contact and how the contact can be reached;
Gil Verrillo (property owner) at gilvpg@comcast.net or Ed
Etheredge (owner's attorney) at Ed@noholaw.com, 413-584-1600.
(7.) Any special terms and conditions which must be agreed upon by the
environmental professional; and
No special terms or conditions.
(8.) Any other knowledge or experience with the property that may be pertinent to the
environmental professional (for example, copies of any available prior environmental site
assessment reports, documents, correspondence, etc., concerning the property and its
environmental condition).
No other known conditions or documentation.