Case Study: Environmental Due Diligence for Waterfront Property Transfer

Client: Former Georgia-Pacific Bellingham Operations Location: Bellingham, WA Contact for environmental projects: Doug Hillman

Project Background & Challenges

Georgia Pacific negotiated a purchase and sale agreement to transfer 137 acres of industrial waterfront property to the Port of Bellingham. Because of the nature of the operations conducted at this site, the agreement mandated a comprehensive, pre-transfer evaluation of environmental conditions.

Solution

Aspect Consulting helped GP complete a Phase1 / Phase 2 evaluation of potential environmental liabilities associated with upland areas that were not already addressed under formal regulatory agreements. Specific activities included reviewing historical files and aerial photographs, interviewing employees, developing a work plan for soil and groundwater quality sampling, and expediting this work plan. Our successful implementation allowed GP to transfer the property under the tight time frame prescribed in the purchase and sale agreement.