Contracts define the relationship between the user and the environmental professional (EP). A contract is an agreement by both parties that defines mutually agreeable duties and responsibilities. The contract is a disclosure document that identifies numerous issues that may arise during the course of the Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (Phase II ESA) and describes the approach that will be used to resolve those issues. The contract also describes fees and payment obligations of the parties involved. Lastly, the contract also identifies the scope of work, sometimes by a detailed description of the tasks by reference to the Standards and work plans or any combination thereof. All of the issues discussed in the previous chapters on scope and application of the Standards must be considered during the contracting period of the Phase II ESA.