The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently initiated its Water Testing Modification Effort to assess and ensure the quality of drinking water in properties currently under lease with GSA. GSA began issuing unilateral lease amendments (ULAs) to landlords in February 2024, requiring the landlord to conduct one-time drinking water testing within the leased space and building common areas. Per GSA, the Water Testing Modification Effort is in response to water stagnation concerns, and especially the potential for legionella bacteria amplification. Importantly, landlords must complete the water testing pursuant to a prescribed scope of work provided with the ULA, and report the testing results to GSA within 90 days of receipt of the amendment.

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Photo of Paul R. McIntyre Paul R. McIntyre

Paul R. McIntyre is a Shareholder in the firm’s Environmental Practice. He represents leading private equity funds, institutional investors, and real estate developers and managers in the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of environmental risks and liabilities. Primarily a transactional attorney, Paul possesses a

Paul R. McIntyre is a Shareholder in the firm’s Environmental Practice. He represents leading private equity funds, institutional investors, and real estate developers and managers in the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of environmental risks and liabilities. Primarily a transactional attorney, Paul possesses a reputation for helping to craft practical, business-oriented insights that help mitigate risk and enabling deals to close.

Paul represents clients in the acquisition, development, financing, and sale of commercial real estate. He also provides clients with environmental counseling in corporate mergers and acquisitions, and similar business transactions. Paul has worked on the environmental aspects of more than 1,000 deals during his career, and is known for being a responsive, professional, and courteous practitioner. He regularly advises clients as to the practical and potential impacts of environmental conditions on site development plans, financing terms, and exit sales. His work involves:

  • Assisting clients in developing environmental diligence, regulatory compliance, and remediation strategies and protocols.
  • Engaging project-specialized consultants and contractors on behalf of clients under preferred terms.
  • Drafting and negotiating environmental provisions in service contracts, purchase & sale agreements, and loan documents.
  • Navigating state and federal cleanup programs to obtain regulatory closure and releases of liability.
  • Placing environmental insurance to help secure environmental obligations and mitigate potential risks.

While rooted in Philadelphia, Paul’s practice is multi-jurisdictional and global in scope, supporting clients acquiring, operating, and selling property and facilities across U.S. gateway markets. He also regularly assists clients conducting environmental diligence in support of the acquisition of commercial property and operating industrial facilities in the United Kingdom, European Union, and Asia. Paul’s work also extends to climate risk assessments and corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in corporate transactional matters.

Paul frequently presents at seminars and conferences on environmental topics pertaining to environmental diligence, remediation strategies, and environmental insurance.

Photo of Michael P. Canavan Michael P. Canavan

Michael P. Canavan is a member of the Environmental Practice at Greenberg Traurig. He focuses his practice on providing counsel on environmental issues associated with real estate and corporate transactions. Michael represents private equity firms, real estate opportunity funds, commercial and residential real…

Michael P. Canavan is a member of the Environmental Practice at Greenberg Traurig. He focuses his practice on providing counsel on environmental issues associated with real estate and corporate transactions. Michael represents private equity firms, real estate opportunity funds, commercial and residential real estate developers, and companies in highly-regulated industries in connection with environmental due diligence, contractual allocation of associated risks and liabilities, insurance procurement, and regulatory compliance. Clients rely on Michael for his ability to quickly identify and evaluate environmental issues arising from the acquisition, financing, ownership, and sale of real property, and he draws on his experience having assisted with hundreds of real estate transactions in the majority of U.S. states, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan.

Photo of Travis Coon Travis Coon

Travis Coon is a member of the Environmental Practice in Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office. Travis’ practice focuses on environmental issues associated with corporate and real estate transactions. He also represents and counsels clients in environmental regulation matters.