An assessment of the environmental condition of a site (both land and improvements), often performed by an engineering consulting company. It would include: (1) A review of historical documents showing past ownership and use of the site. (2) Interviews with those who may have knowledge of past use. (3) A physical inspection of the site and adjoining properties. (4) A report which summarizes the findings and recommends any necessary action or recommends further investigation. Phase I may, but usually does not, involve sampling.