{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-consultant","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/environmental-consultant","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"environmental-consultant","term":"Environmental consultant","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"An Environmental consultant is a specialist who assesses potential environmental risks associated with a property. They identify issues like contamination that could affect the property's value or create future liabilities for you.","what_it_means":"If your deal involves real estate, especially industrial or commercial properties, the SBA requires an Environmental consultant to perform an Environmental Questionnaire or a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. Undisclosed Recognized Environmental Conditions can halt your deal or create significant post-closing liabilities.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-consultant","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"environmental-questionnaire","term":"Environmental Questionnaire","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-questionnaire"},{"slug":"phase-i-environmental-site-assessment","term":"Phase I Environmental Site Assessment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/phase-i-environmental-site-assessment"},{"slug":"recognized-environmental-condition","term":"Recognized Environmental Condition","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/recognized-environmental-condition"},{"slug":"liability","term":"Liability","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/liability"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if the departing partner remains involved as a consultant after buyout?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-departing-partner-remains-involved-as-a-consultant-after-buyout"},{"question":"What if the seller remains as an employee or consultant after the acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-seller-remains-as-an-employee-or-consultant-after-the-acquisition"},{"question":"What if the seller remains as a paid consultant or employee for a period after closing?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-seller-remains-as-a-paid-consultant-or-employee-for-a-period-after-closing"},{"question":"If a seller takes a fully subordinated note, can they remain an employee or consultant after acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-a-seller-takes-a-fully-subordinated-note-can-they-remain-an-employee-or-consultant-afte"},{"question":"Can an exiting partner remain on the payroll as an employee or consultant after an SBA-financed buyout?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-exiting-partner-remain-on-the-payroll-as-an-employee-or-consultant-after-an-sba-fin"},{"question":"How does the SBA handle situations where the seller desires to remain as a paid consultant post-closing?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sba-handle-situations-where-the-seller-desires-to-remain-as-a-paid-consultant"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Environmental consultant","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-consultant","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}