Environmental Site Assessment
Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) addresses contaminated property issues concerning parties involved in real estate transactions and construction on undeveloped land. Environmental Site Assessment is generally conducted in two stages: Phase I and Phase II leading to remediation if determined to be necessary after the completion of both phases.
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
The purpose of the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) report as defined in the CSA Z768-01 Standard or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) environmental site investigation procedures for mortgage loan insurance is to identify actual and potential site contamination through a process of collecting current visually accessible evidence. Phase I Environmental Site Assessments typically consist of four tasks:
- Historical Research and interviews; Geology and Hydrogeology
- Regulatory Research; preparing a report that identifies existing and potential sources of contamination on the property.
LAW Environmental Consultants is also qualified to carry-out Phase I ESAs to the new Ministry of the Environment Regulation 511/09 requirements, which substantially amend Record of Site Condition (RSC) Regulation 153/04.
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
If the result of a Phase I ESA determines the need for further site investigation, i.e., the need for any type of intrusive sampling and analysis or may indicate that further investigation is not warranted. The Phase II ESA focuses on gathering specific information as required about the property and can include the following tasks:
- Soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment and/or vapour samples;
- Site surveying for establishing groundwater flow direction;
- Chemical analysis of samples for potential contaminants of concern; and
- Interpretation of data, qualitative risk assessment, or development of a Conceptual Site Model
For more information please contact LAW Environmental Consultants for FREE no obligation quote.