C1. Environmental Questions to Consider for Nonprofit Development

Environmental Checklist / Questions to Consider for Nonprofit Developers:

Do we need an environmental assessment?

If you are doing substantial rehabilitation of existing single family houses, you should check for the presence of hazardous material such as lead based paint, asbestos, and possibly underground fuel tanks. This would not require the service of an environment engineer. If you are developing a piece of property on which to build new houses, it is highly recommended that a complete Phase I environmental assessment be completed to confirm that the site is either environmental "clean" or that the cost to remediate environmental issues is within your allotted budget. In most case, the lender will require as a minimum, a Phase I environmental site assessment prior to the start of a new construction project.

Select the best method of obtaining this information/report

If you know the history and ownership of a property, it may be possible to identify the recognized environmental conditions through interviews, first hand observation, and information available through public record. Doing this will save the cost of having an environmental engineer perform the same work for a fee.

  Negotiate the scope of the Environmental Assessment with your funder and/or lender

If you administer a scattered-site purchase / rehab program you may want to consider developing an environmental assessment that would limit the assessment to tracing the following:

Lead Asbestos Fuel tank leakage Radon gas

Seek out an environmental inspection firm approved by your lender and/or funder who would do such an inspection for a flat per-house fee.

Next: C2. Resources for Lead Certification in Ohio

OHIO CAPITAL CORPORATION FOR HOUSING