Environmental site assessment

Intent

To ensure that the site is assessed for environmental contamination and if contaminated, that the environmental contamination has been remediated to protect children’s health.

Requirements

Conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (as described in ASTM E1527-05) to determine whether environmental contamination exists at the site. If contamination is suspected conduct a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (as described in ASTM E1903-97, 2002). Projects outside the U.S. may use a local equivalent to ASTM E1527-05 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and ASTM E 1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment.

Schools sites that are contaminated by past use as a landfill are ineligible for LEED certification. If a site is otherwise contaminated, it must be remediated to meet local, state, or federal EPA region residential (unrestricted) standards, whichever is most stringent. Documentation from the authority (such as EPA’s “Ready for Reuse” document)must be provided to prove that safe levels of contamination have been achieved. Because the remediation process leads to significant environmental benefit, 1 point in SS Credit 3: Brownfield Redevelopment can be achieved for successful documented remediation of the site.