Environmental Due Diligence: The Transaction Screen Process

Target Audience:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service realty specialists, refuge staff, contaminants biologists, appraisers, and all others who will conduct, oversee, review, or approve Transaction Screens as part of the land acquisition process. Open to Service employees/affiliated personnel only.

Summary and Objectives:

The course is specifically designed for non-environmental professionals to conduct a Transaction Screen for a property using the ASTM Standard Practice E1528-14 for the Limited Environmental Due Diligence: Transaction Screen Process. The process involves a site visit, owner and occupant interviews, a search of specific government records, and historical land use inquiries. The course will help participants understand the purpose of the Transaction Screen and present a practical approach to obtaining and interpreting records, performing and documenting observations, and conducting interviews that yield relevant information. Participants will gain valuable insight into the distinctions between the Transaction Screen process and a full Pre-Acquisition Environmental Site Assessment (ASTM E1527-13 and E2247-08) and important decision making criteria for deciding what level of due diligence is appropriate for a given property and how to respond to findings. The course will include a multiple-choice final exam on the third day. To pass this class, participants will need to receive an 80 percent or better on the final exam.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Use the E1528 Questionnaire and Guide.
• Properly identify and characterize a property and adjoining land.
• Apply techniques and principles for conducting interviews.
• Find and interpret historical and government records.
• Recognize the applicability and limitations of the Transaction Screen.
• Identify triggers for consulting a qualified environmental professional.
• Identify environmental issues of concern outside the scope of E1528.

Competencies Addressed: 

Environmental Compliance - Basic, Reading - Basic, Research - Basic, Lands and Realty Management - Awareness, Visual Identification - Basic