Hazardous Waste Considerations in Real Estate Transactions

Buyers and sellers of real estate in the state of Washington will benefit from this fact sheet, put out by the Washington Department of Ecology. The guide advocates for environmental site assessments prior to purchasing property, but it also describes for buyers what to do if they get stuck with a contaminated piece of real estate. Liability rests with the buyer or the property owner at the time of hazardous-waste release. The fact sheet also lists resources for property assessment and clean up and gives a list of questions prospective buyers should ask.