All Appropriate Inquiry

All appropriate inquiry is a term often used in conjunction with Environmental Site Assessments, which are often performed to assess the liability associated with a commercial property and its potential sale. The United States Environmental Protection Agency established the "All Appropriate Inquiry Rule" to help develop a standard for certain landowners to and potential purchasers to abide by when applying for eligibility of the CERCLA and Brownsfields Laws.

All Appropriate Inquiry, or AAI, is an EPA-derived Federal Standard that defines the amount and type of inquiry required to determine the previous ownership and uses of a property for the purposes of meeting the all appropriate inquiries provisions necessary to qualify for certain landowner liability protections under CERCLA. This standard is primarily used by persons or businesses seeking to both purchase commercial real estate and avoid potential CERCLA liability. The requirements of this standard are most commonly met through the appropriate completion of ASTM Practice E1527-05: Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process. For the complete AAI Final Rule, please see 40 CFR Part 312: Standards and Practice for All Appropriate Inquiries; Final Rule.