What does a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment primarily focus on?

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is primarily concerned with evaluating potential contamination risks associated with a property's historical and current use. This assessment involves a thorough investigation of the site’s history and practices that may indicate potential environmental hazards, such as the presence of hazardous substances or activities that could lead to contamination.

The process includes reviewing historical records, conducting interviews, and performing a visual inspection of the property and surrounding areas. The goal is to identify any recognized environmental conditions that might pose a risk to human health or the environment. This proactive approach helps determine whether further investigation, such as a Phase II assessment, is necessary.

The alternatives are focused on aspects that do not align with the primary focus of a Phase I assessment. For instance, lab tests and airborne sampling are more relevant to later phases or different types of environmental assessments. Identifying potential buyers, while important in real estate transactions, falls outside the scope of environmental evaluations. Thus, the focus of a Phase I assessment is distinctly on the evaluation of contamination potential, making that the correct answer.