A Phase I Environmental site Assessment (ESA) is the systematic process by which a Site Assessor seeks to determine whether a particular property contains contamination. A Phase I ESA does not normally involve significant intrusive procedures such as sampling.
Phase I ESA’s may be used to make informed decisions about property transactions, establish baseline environmental conditions, assist in meeting regulatory requirements, and as an initial step in a site clean-up.
Phase I ESA’s may assist in reducing uncertainty about potential environmental liabilities and may be a basis for further investigation of the property. The Phase 1 study typically involves no intrusive testing and relies on background (historical) data plus visual inspections of the property.
The four principal components of a Phase 1 ESA are:
(a) a Records Review
(b) a Site Visit
(c) Interviews; and
(d) Analysis and reporting
Environmental Site Assessments (ESA's)
A century of industrial development has left a legacy of contamination and toxic real estate. Many industrial lands, strategically located at the core of cities, are valuable for continued industrial use, or for commercial or residential development.
However, problems arise because many industries utilized their premises for disposing waste created by their manufacturing processes. Also, spills or similar incidents may have occurred, thus creating what is referred to as "toxic real estate".
ESA's are often conducted as part of the purchaser's due diligence evaluation, prior to finalizing a real estate transaction.
ESA's are commonly required by lending institutions as part of their due diligence process, prior to financing a property transaction.
ESA's are also required by some municipalities, as part of the pre-development application process.
Continue reading to learn about Phase 1 and Phase 2 ESA's
The purpose of a Phase 2 ESA is to confirm and delineate, or to demonstrate the absence of, contamination. A Phase 2 ESA generally involves intrusive testing procedures such as sampling and laboratory analysis. Generally, a Phase 2 ESA is performed following completion of the Phase I investigation. However, it is not essential that a Phase I ESA be completed prior to conducting a Phase 2 ESA. In some instances, sufficient information exists regarding potential contamination to proceed directly to a Phase II ESA. In other cases, a Phase 2 ESA may be undertaken to establish a quantitative baseline for environmental conditions at a site. Typically, Phase 2 investigations are undertaken prior to clean-up activities if serious contamination problems are found.
A Phase 2 Environmental Site assessments (ESA) is conducted as a more detailed investigation in situations where a Phase 1 study has determined that there is a significant risk of potential contamination.
Field sampling and analysis programs must be developed on a site-specific basis by the Assessor supervising the Phase 2 study. The sampling and analysis program may include elements such as:
a) soil drilling and/or test pitting
b) geophysical surveys
c) soil vapour probe installations
d) surface water sampling
e) groundwater sampling
f) sampling of local flora & fauna
A Phase 2 ESA may itself proceed in phases, depending on the outcome of each stage. Phase 2 ESA's may commence with screening surveys and coarse sample spacing. More detailed sampling is frequently necessary to delineate areas of contamination and to define parameters essential for rish assessments or remediation / clean-up programs.
