{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ground-disturbance","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/ground-disturbance","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":"ground-disturbance","term":"Ground Disturbance","group":"Reading the business","definition":"Any activity that involves breaking or moving the soil, which can trigger environmental review, especially if hazardous materials are present.","what_it_means":"If the business involves Ground disturbance or has in the past, your lender will likely require an Environmental Questionnaire or a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. This is critical to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions that could pose liabilities or affect loan approval.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ground-disturbance","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"}],"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":[]},"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 — Ground Disturbance","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ground-disturbance","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}