Hazardous Material Assessment Criteria

The University System of Georgia requires that a hazardous material assessment be conducted for all acquisitions with improvements and any renovation project.

A qualified environmental professional should provide these services and institutions should generally avoid conducting these assessments. Assessments should be conducted with the upmost safety precaution in mind, especially in an occupied building. Judgment should be used when determining the need for evasive or non-evasive sampling. The need for real-time or bulk samples should be at the discretion of the environmental professional in consultation with the institution or institutions representative.

1. (Revised 2013) In addition to the minimum requirements referenced in the US EPA’s AAI Rules and/or ASTM E1527-13, the ESA shall include a detailed assessment of other potential environmental/property conditions associated with on-site structures or improvements as outlined below:

   • Asbestos-Containing Materials in any on-site structure or improvement constructed before 1980
   • Lead-Based Paint (or other lead contamination) in any on-site structure or improvement before 1980
   • Other materials (eg. chemicals, hazardous waste, PCB caulk, & mercury)
   • Visible water leaks, mold, or mildew in and on any on-site structures that will not be demolished or replaced

2. If based on the above assessment there is compelling or obvious evidence of asbestos-containing materials, lead-based paint or other lead contamination, and/or mold or mildew contamination, the ESA shall include remediation recommendations and cost estimates for remediation of such contamination. Any such abatement/remediation recommendations and cost estimates shall be based on collection and analysis of a scientifically and legally defensible number of samples from the subject property. Broad consultant disclaimers regarding characterization of building materials, soil or groundwater contamination and remediation cost estimates shall not be acceptable for BOR ESAs.

NOTE: All proposed sampling plans shall be approved by the institution’s designated representative prior to proposal acceptance. Building material and soil and groundwater samples shall not be collected if there is no compelling or obvious reason to believe such concerns exist at the site. If a sampling plan is approved for the project, the consultant’s lump-sum, not-to-exceed proposal must include costs for the collection and laboratory analysis of any planned samples.