Residential & Commercial Enviromental Consulting
Laporte, Indiana

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is the starting point for almost every commercial real estate transaction — and the document your lender won’t close without. It’s a records-and-site review that identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs): indications that contamination may be present or has been present on the property. No sampling is involved. The goal is to determine whether the site’s history raises red flags before money changes hands.

Aegis Environmental produces Phase I ESAs in compliance with current ASTM standards — the form lenders require and courts recognize. Our reports are written to satisfy commercial lenders, SBA loan officers, and legal due diligence requirements. We work efficiently because we know your deal has a clock on it.

A complete Phase I ESA covers five core components:

• Historical records review — aerial photos, fire insurance maps, city directories, and prior environmental reports tracing the property’s land use back to its original condition
• Regulatory database search — federal and state environmental databases checked for spills, permits, violations, and known contamination in the area
• Site reconnaissance — a physical walkthrough of the property and adjoining properties to identify current and historical uses, staining, distressed vegetation, drums, and other visual RECs
• Interviews — owner, occupant, and local government contacts to gather site-specific knowledge not captured in records
• Written report — a clear, professionally prepared report identifying RECs and any data gaps, delivered in a format your lender will accept

Most commercial lenders require a Phase I ESA before closing. SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs mandate Phase I ESAs for most commercial real estate transactions. Conventional lenders and portfolio banks follow similar requirements. If your lender just told you that you need one — or if you’re the buyer conducting your own due diligence — Aegis Environmental is ready to get started.

La Porte County properties that frequently trigger Phase I requirements include former gas stations and service stations, dry cleaning operations, automotive repair shops, rail-adjacent industrial properties, agricultural chemical storage sites, and any site with a history of bulk fuel storage.

When a Phase I ESA identifies a Recognized Environmental Condition, the next step is a Phase II investigation. This is where sampling begins. Soil borings and groundwater monitoring wells are installed to collect samples, which are then analyzed in a laboratory. The results tell you whether contamination is actually present, where it’s located, and how extensive it is.

A Phase II investigation doesn’t always find contamination — and when it doesn’t, that’s a clean result that moves your deal forward with confidence. When it does find contamination, you need a firm that can handle what comes next.

Aegis Environmental manages the full Phase II site investigations and remediation process: investigation design, sampling, laboratory coordination, regulatory reporting, and — when cleanup is needed — remediation plan development and execution. Because we handle both Phase I and Phase II in-house, you’re not starting over with a new contractor when things get complicated. The same team that identified the issue manages the solution.

In La Porte County, Phase II investigations commonly target petroleum hydrocarbons from fuel storage and dispensing operations, chlorinated solvents from dry cleaning and industrial processes, and heavy metals associated with historic industrial activity. Remediation approaches are site-specific — Aegis develops the right plan for the specific contamination, site conditions, and regulatory requirements.

Underground storage tanks are one of the most common sources of environmental liability for commercial property owners in La Porte County. Aging tanks — whether from former gas stations, heating oil systems, or agricultural fuel storage — corrode over time. A slow release can contaminate soil and groundwater for years before anyone realizes it’s happening. By the time it’s discovered, the cleanup cost can be substantial.

Aegis Environmental is a certified specialist in Underground Storage Tank removal and closure. We handle the full range of UST services for commercial and industrial clients across La Porte County, from routine tank closures on operating properties to full release investigations and remediation on sites with confirmed contamination.

When a UST is taken out of service — whether due to age, regulatory requirements, or property sale — it must be properly closed in compliance with Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) regulations. Improper closure leaves the property owner exposed to future liability. Proper closure protects you.

Aegis Environmental manages the entire UST closure process: coordinating the physical tank removal or closure-in-place, collecting confirmation soil samples, completing IDEM documentation, and providing the closure report you need for regulatory sign-off. We also handle above-ground storage tank (AST) closures using the same thorough process.

If a UST release is suspected or confirmed — through a failed tightness test, a sudden drop in product inventory, or visible contamination during closure sampling — Indiana regulations require prompt notification to IDEM and a structured investigation. Aegis Environmental guides property owners through this process from initial IDEM notification through release investigation, corrective action planning, and site remediation. We know the Indiana UST regulatory framework and we’ll make sure your response meets every requirement.

Additional Commercial Environmental Services

Phase I, Phase II, and UST work are our primary focus for La Porte County commercial clients, but Aegis Environmental’s commercial capabilities go further:

• Environmental Risk Assessment — formal risk evaluation for industrial facilities, development sites, and investment portfolios needing a clear picture of regulatory and health-risk exposure
• Commercial Asbestos & Lead Assessment — pre-demolition and pre-renovation surveys for office buildings, industrial facilities, and warehouses built before 1980
• Solid & Hazardous Waste Management — compliance consulting for businesses that generate or handle regulated waste under IDEM and EPA requirements
• Natural Resource Evaluation — wetlands and ecological resource assessment for development and permitting
• Funding Environmental Liabilities — guidance on state and federal funding mechanisms available to offset cleanup costs for eligible properties

Residential Environmental Services in La Porte, IN

Commercial work is what brings most of our La Porte clients to us — but we also serve homeowners throughout the area.

If you own or are buying a home in La Porte and have concerns about asbestos, lead paint, radon, mold, indoor air quality, water quality, or a decommissioned heating oil tank, Aegis Environmental handles all of it. La Porte’s older housing stock makes these concerns very real — many homes in the area were built before 1978, and Indiana’s elevated radon risk applies here just as it does across the state.

Our residential services in La Porte include asbestos testing and assessment, lead investigation and testing, radon investigation and testing, mold investigation and testing, indoor air quality testing, water testing and analysis, heating oil tank closure, and meth lab inspection and remediation.

If it’s your home, give us a call — we’ll make sure your family’s environment is as safe as your investment deserves.

Why La Porte Businesses Choose Aegis Environmental

Environmental consulting firms are not all the same. Here’s what separates Aegis:

• 25 years in Indiana — we know IDEM, we know the regional geology, and we’ve worked on sites just like yours
• BBB-accredited with a consistent record of professional service
• Full-service capability — Phase I through remediation, one firm, no handoffs, no finger-pointing
• Lender-accepted Phase I reports — our reports are written to satisfy commercial lender requirements and hold up under scrutiny
• UST specialists — we handle tank closure, release investigation, and remediation in full compliance with IDEM regulations
• Certified and credentialed — NRPP, MSECA, IDEM, EPA Lead-Safe certified, ENERGY STAR, ISNetworld

When your deal is on the line or your site has a problem, you need a team that delivers. Call us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Phase I ESA required for commercial real estate loans in Indiana?

Yes — for most commercial transactions. SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs require Phase I ESAs on virtually all commercial real estate collateral. Conventional commercial lenders and portfolio banks typically require them as well. Even if your specific lender doesn’t mandate one, a Phase I ESA is standard practice for any buyer who wants to understand what they’re acquiring. If your lender or attorney has asked for one, Aegis Environmental can get started right away.

How long does a Phase I ESA take in La Porte, IN?

Phase I ESA timelines depend on the complexity of the site’s history and the speed at which historical records are available. Contact Aegis Environmental to discuss your specific timeline — we communicate proactively throughout the process and understand that commercial transactions have deadlines.

What happens if my Phase I ESA identifies a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC)?

A REC is not a deal-killer — it’s information. It means further investigation is warranted. A Phase II site investigation is the next step: sampling to determine whether contamination is actually present. In many cases, Phase II results come back clean and the transaction proceeds. When contamination is found, Aegis Environmental manages the remediation process. Having the same firm handle Phase I, Phase II, and remediation keeps your project moving efficiently.

Who is responsible for UST cleanup in Indiana?

Under Indiana law, the owner or operator of a UST system is responsible for cleanup when a release occurs. IDEM must be notified promptly, and a structured corrective action process must be followed. Aegis Environmental guides UST owners through every step — from initial IDEM notification to corrective action completion and site closure documentation.

Does Aegis handle Phase I, Phase II, and remediation, or just assessment?

Aegis Environmental handles the full scope — Phase I, Phase II, and remediation — under one roof. We don’t hand off your site to a subcontractor when the work gets complicated. From initial due diligence through regulatory site closure, our team manages it all.

Talk to Environmental Expert

La Porte County’s commercial and industrial market needs an environmental partner that knows the territory. For 25 years, Aegis Environmental has delivered accurate, lender-accepted, IDEM-compliant environmental services across Northern Indiana.

Whether your next step is a Phase I ESA to close a deal, a Phase II investigation to understand what a REC means for your property, or a UST closure to retire an aging tank — Aegis has the experience and the certifications to handle it.

Call (317) 833-9000 or contact us online.