Environmental Due Diligence Services for Real Estate & Business Acquisitions
Ramtox provides comprehensive environmental due diligence services to support real estate transactions and business acquisitions across California. We assist buyers, investors, lenders, and legal teams by evaluating environmental regulatory compliance, permit status, and potential liabilities prior to closing, helping reduce risk and support informed decision-making.
Our due diligence services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experienced environmental scientists, engineers, and regulatory specialists. With deep technical expertise and practical industry knowledge, our team ensures each assessment is thorough, defensible, and aligned with applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
Our reviews focus on facilities subject to environmental regulation, including industrial, chemical, manufacturing, fuel, and stormwater-regulated operations. We assess existing permits, regulatory filings, and compliance history to identify open violations, unresolved corrective actions, permit gaps, and future compliance obligations that may impact property value, financing, or operational continuity.
Industry Sectors We Support
Ramtox has extensive due diligence experience across a wide range of regulated industries, including:
- Chemical and specialty chemical facilities
- Industrial and hazardous waste management operations
- Stormwater-regulated industrial sites
- Real estate transactions requiring Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
- Manufacturing and processing facilities
- Data centers and technology facilities
- Hospitals and healthcare centers
- Steel manufacturing and fabrication
- Electronics and circuit board manufacturing
- Aerospace manufacturing
- Metals and mining operations
Purpose of Environmental Due Diligence
Environmental due diligence is conducted to:
- Identify existing and potential environmental liabilities associated with a property or business
- Protect buyers from unforeseen cleanup costs, penalties, and enforcement actions
- Satisfy lender and insurer requirements during financing and underwriting
- Preserve eligibility for CERCLA protections, including Innocent Landowner and Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser defenses
- Support accurate transaction pricing, or require corrective action and remediation prior to closing
Meet Our Experts
Ramtox’s environmental due diligence services are supported by a highly qualified leadership and technical team:
- George Sarkiss Zoumalan — CFO, Director of Environmental Services & Health and Safety Program Manager; NREP Certified Registered Environmental Property Assessor
- Charleen Ternian — CEO, Ramtox Corporation; Director of Operations
- Marina Petrosyan — Stormwater Compliance Program Manager; SPCC and APSA Specialist
- Bianca Golpashin — Stormwater Compliance, CERS, and SMARTS Specialist
- Thomas Hall — Underground and Aboveground Petroleum Tank Compliance Specialist
- Tony Kiani — UST/AST Compliance and AQMD Testing & Inspection Specialist
- Amy Ablakat — Environmental Impact Consultant; Land Development Specialist
- Victor Duran — UST/AST Removal and Installation Specialist; Regulatory Compliance with Local Fire Departments and CUPAs
- Don Keller — Registered Geologist; Phase I & Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Specialist
- Yonan Benjamin — Certified Industrial Hygienist; Occupational Health and Safety Specialist; Certified in Asbestos, Mold, and Lead
- Scott O’Canner — Licensed Civil Engineer; Site Development, Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Regulatory Reporting; CEQA Support
- Kamal Sadeghi — Civil and Professional Structural Engineer; Structural Design, Analysis, and Safety Evaluation
Regulatory Framework for Environmental Due Diligence
Environmental due diligence for real estate and business acquisitions is governed by a combination of federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Understanding these requirements is critical to identifying potential liabilities, qualifying for statutory protections, and ensuring regulatory compliance before and after closing.
Ramtox guides clients through this regulatory landscape as part of our environmental due diligence services.
Federal Environmental Due Diligence Requirements
CERCLA & All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI)
Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), property purchasers must complete All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) to qualify for liability protections such as Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser and Innocent Landowner defenses.
AAI is typically satisfied through a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) conducted in accordance with ASTM E1527 standards. A Phase I ESA includes:
- Review of historical and regulatory records
- Site reconnaissance
- Interviews
- Environmental database searches
To remain valid for CERCLA protections, a Phase I ESA must be updated within 180 days prior to closing.
Phase I & Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
A Phase I ESA identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs)—indicators of potential contamination.
If RECs are identified, a Phase II ESA may be required, involving soil, groundwater, and/or vapor sampling to assess contamination levels and regulatory exposure.
Federal environmental liability can be strict, joint, and several, meaning purchasers may be held responsible for contamination without proper AAI documentation.
Other Federal Laws Affecting Property Use
Environmental due diligence may also involve compliance with:
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) — hazardous waste generation and management
- Clean Water Act (CWA) — permits for discharges to waters of the U.S.
- Clean Air Act (CAA) — air permitting for stationary emission sources
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) — chemical reporting obligations
California Environmental Regulatory Framework
California imposes environmental requirements that are often more stringent than federal standards.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
CEQA requires public agencies to evaluate environmental impacts of discretionary projects. While property acquisitions alone do not trigger CEQA, redevelopment, expansion, or permitting actions frequently do.
CEQA review may include:
- Initial Study
- Negative Declaration or Mitigated Negative Declaration
- Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
CEQA compliance can affect project timelines, permitting, and mitigation requirements.
CalEPA Unified Program & CUPAs
California’s Unified Program consolidates hazardous materials and waste programs under local Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs).
Key elements relevant to acquisitions include:
- Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) filing via CERS
- Hazardous Waste Generator compliance
- Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank programs
- Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) requirements
Water Quality – Porter-Cologne Act
The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act governs discharges affecting state waters.
Facilities may be subject to:
- Industrial Stormwater Permits
- Groundwater and surface water protections
- Monitoring and reporting obligations
Air Quality – State & Local Districts
Air emissions are regulated by CARB and local Air Quality Management Districts (e.g., South Coast AQMD).
Permitting may be required for generators, boilers, coating operations, solvent use, and other stationary sources.
Land Reuse & Cleanup Programs
California’s DTSC oversees site cleanup and Brownfield programs, which may require investigation or remediation prior to redevelopment or change of use.
Local (City & County) Environmental Requirements
Local agencies may impose additional obligations, including:
- Zoning and land-use environmental restrictions
- Local hazardous materials ordinances and fire department review
- Municipal stormwater and public works requirements
- Environmental mitigation fees or redevelopment conditions
Transaction Risk Management & Compliance Strategy
Ramtox supports clients through every stage of acquisition risk management.
Pre-Acquisition
- Coordination with environmental counsel
- AAI-compliant Phase I ESA review
- Evaluation of regulatory obligations (stormwater, air, water, hazardous materials)
If RECs Are Identified
- Phase II ESA coordination
- Regulatory agency engagement (DTSC, Water Boards, CUPAs)
Contractual Risk Management
- Support for environmental indemnities, escrows, and holdbacks
- Coordination with environmental insurance providers
Post-Acquisition Compliance
- Establishment or updates of HMBPs and CERS filings
- Permit acquisition and compliance planning
- Ongoing audits, reporting, and regulatory coordination