{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-risk-assessment","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/environmental-risk-assessment","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-risk-assessment","term":"Environmental risk assessment","group":"Reading the business","definition":"This is a review of a property to identify potential environmental contamination or hazards. It's required for commercial real estate transactions and SBA loans involving real estate.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires an environmental investigation for properties securing a loan. You'll typically get an Environmental Questionnaire, and if red flags appear (Recognized Environmental Condition), a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, or even a Phase II, will be required. These protect you from inheriting costly clean-up liabilities and are non-negotiable for real estate collateral.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-risk-assessment","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":"phase-ii-environmental-site-assessment","term":"Phase II Environmental Site Assessment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/phase-ii-environmental-site-assessment"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Is an environmental assessment always necessary for real estate acquired with an SBA loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-an-environmental-assessment-always-necessary-for-real-estate-acquired-with-an-sba-loan"},{"question":"When a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) identifies a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC), what are the lender's subsequent responsibilities?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-a-phase-i-environmental-site-assessment-esa-identifies-a-recognized-environmental-con"},{"question":"If a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), what are the next steps for a lender?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/if-a-phase-i-environmental-site-assessment-esa-identifies-recognized-environmental-conditi"},{"question":"When is an Environmental Questionnaire (e.g., Form 1081) sufficient for real estate collateral, without requiring a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-an-environmental-questionnaire-e-g-form-1081-sufficient-for-real-estate-collateral"},{"question":"Under what conditions is a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment required for 7(a) loan collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/under-what-conditions-is-a-phase-ii-environmental-site-assessment-required-for-7-a-loan-co"},{"question":"Is a separate environmental assessment required if real estate is part of the SBA 7(a) acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-a-separate-environmental-assessment-required-if-real-estate-is-part-of-the-sba-7-a-acqu"}]},"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 risk assessment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-risk-assessment","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}