Environmental · Defined
All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI)
The federal environmental inquiry process relevant to certain CERCLA liability protections when acquiring property. A qualifying assessment is one part of a larger set of requirements.
Why it matters
The environmental professional’s work and the purchaser’s responsibilities are not interchangeable. Timing, required information, and obligations after acquisition also matter. An assessment should identify its intended use; legal counsel evaluates eligibility for a liability protection.
In practice
A project example
A buyer receives a prior assessment but still needs to confirm whether its timing, reliance arrangements, and scope meet the current transaction’s requirements.
Technical references
General educational guidance from KOW Building Consultants. Examples are illustrative, not project records. The applicable contract, standard, program, and jurisdiction control the requirements for a specific assignment.