ECG Midwest: Chicago Phase 1 ESA & Industrial Hygiene

Q: What documents should I have ready when requesting a quote?

For an ALTA survey: a copy of the title commitment (Schedule B is needed for the surveyor to plot exception items), the legal description, prior surveys if available, and your lender's required Table A items list. For a Phase 1 ESA: the property address, parcel ID, current and historical use information, lender-required scope, and any prior environmental reports.

Q: What if the assessment identifies an issue?

For Phase 1 ESAs, identifying a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) typically triggers a recommendation for Phase 2 ESA sampling, which costs $5,000-$25,000+ depending on scope. For ALTA surveys, identifying an encroachment, easement issue, or boundary discrepancy typically opens negotiation with the seller or title company. The 2026 ALTA/NSPS standards' new Table A Item 20 (encroachment summary table) makes these findings clearer and easier to act on.

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About Environmental Consulting Group (ECG)

Environmental Consulting Group (ECG) is a Chicago-based environmental consulting and industrial hygiene firm with 20+ years of experience serving commercial, institutional, and public-sector clients across the Greater Midwest. The firm holds a 4.9/5 Google rating from 19 reviews — one of the highest review-to-volume ratios among regional Midwest environmental consultants on apprais.ai’s directory.

The most distinctive feature of ECG’s profile is its published client roster of Chicago landmark properties and major institutions:

Wrigley Field — Chicago Cubs ballpark
Merchandise Mart — historic Chicago commercial property
Union Station — Chicago Union Station
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
General Services Administration (GSA) — federal buildings
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Mercy Hospital (Chicago)

For Chicago-area CRE buyers, this kind of authority signal — published, verifiable, landmark institutional clientele — is a strong indicator of the firm’s standing with both public-sector procurement and institutional risk-management teams.

Services Offered

Environmental Due Diligence

Phase I ESA (ASTM E1527-21, AAI-compliant)
Phase II ESA — soil, groundwater, soil-vapor investigation
Due diligence site assessments for CRE transactions

Industrial Hygiene (a primary practice area)

Asbestos inspection and removal oversight — particularly relevant for Chicago’s significant pre-1980 building stock (Loop, near-North, historic neighborhoods)
Lead testing — for pre-1978 residential and certain commercial properties
Mold and moisture assessment
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) testing — including LEED IAQ certification testing

Compliance & Safety

Hazard communication programs (HazCom / GHS)
Safety audits for industrial and commercial operations
OSHA compliance support
Environmental remediation oversight

Why Chicago-Specific Expertise Matters

For Chicago-area CRE transactions, three regional factors make a Chicago-based consultant valuable:

Pre-1980 building stock — Much of Chicago’s commercial and institutional inventory predates modern asbestos and lead regulations. AHERA-compliant asbestos surveys are routinely required for due diligence on Loop office buildings, historic warehouses (West Loop, Fulton Market), and near-North properties.
Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Illinois EPA — Both have their own regulatory nuances around asbestos abatement, indoor air quality, and brownfield enrollment.
CTA and Metra adjacency — Many Chicago commercial properties have rail-corridor adjacency that introduces specific contamination considerations.

Service Area

ECG is Chicago-headquartered and serves the broader Midwest, with primary density in:

Illinois (primary market) — Chicago and suburbs, plus statewide
Indiana — Northwest Indiana, Indianapolis
Wisconsin — Milwaukee, Madison
Michigan — Detroit, Grand Rapids
Iowa — Eastern Iowa
Missouri — St. Louis area

Best For

Chicago-area CRE transactions — Loop office, Fulton Market, near-North, suburban Cook County, DuPage, Lake, Kane counties
Public agency / institutional clients — established CTA, GSA, healthcare track record
Landmark / historic commercial properties — Wrigley Field, Union Station, Merchandise Mart client roster
Healthcare facility CRE — Northwestern Memorial, Mercy Hospital experience
Pre-1980 buildings requiring asbestos/lead surveys — full Industrial Hygiene practice
LEED certification projects requiring IAQ testing — credentialed for LEED IAQ
Combined Phase 1 ESA + IH + asbestos engagements — single firm, single PM

Request a Quote

Contact Environmental Consulting Group (ECG) directly:

Visit: ecgmidwest.com

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Common Questions

How long does a Phase 1 ESA take?

Standard turnaround for a Phase 1 ESA is 2-3 weeks; for an ALTA survey, 2-3 weeks for fieldwork plus 1-2 weeks for the final plat. Rush turnarounds (typically 5-7 business days or faster) are available from most providers at a 30-50% premium. Confirm timeline expectations with Environmental Consulting Group (ECG) during the quote process — small property size and clean title history typically support faster turnarounds.

What documents should I have ready when requesting a quote?

For an ALTA survey: a copy of the title commitment (Schedule B is needed for the surveyor to plot exception items), the legal description, prior surveys if available, and your lender’s required Table A items list. See the ALTA Table A Configurator to identify lender-required items.

For a Phase 1 ESA: the property address, parcel ID, current and historical use information, lender-required scope (some lenders specify additional scopes beyond ASTM E1527-21), and any prior environmental reports.

What if the assessment identifies an issue?

For Phase 1 ESAs, identifying a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) typically triggers a recommendation for Phase 2 ESA sampling. Phase 2 ESAs cost $5,000-$25,000+ depending on scope. Budget for this possibility on properties with industrial history, gas station / dry cleaner adjacency, or pre-1980 operations.

For ALTA surveys, identifying an encroachment, easement issue, or boundary discrepancy typically opens negotiation with the seller, title company, or neighboring property owner. The 2026 ALTA/NSPS standards’ new Table A Item 20 (encroachment summary table) makes these findings clearer and easier to act on.

How do I verify a provider is licensed?

Cross-check the provider’s state license number with the appropriate state regulatory body. For land surveyors, this is the state’s Board of Professional Land Surveyors (sometimes combined with Engineers). For environmental consultants, most states do not require a specific Phase 1 ESA license but the consultant should have a relevant credential (P.G., P.E., or CIH) and the firm should be on lender pre-approved lists where applicable.