The Environmental Site
Assessment (ESA)
has become a standard tool for
the protection of property investors, owners, and managers, from
environmental liability. It is particularly useful prior to a
financial transaction in connection with ownership. For control
of environmental liability, buyers, lenders, investors, or
insurers should demonstrate their due diligence in inquiring into
the environmental condition of the property by using an ESA.
An ESA is further advisable as a
baseline assessment, so that future assessments may by
comparison, demonstrate maintenance of good environmental
condition and practices.
Fisher Environmental
routinely conducts ESA of properties
ranging from small residential, through multi-tenant commercial
plazas, to medium size light industrial operations. The company
has conducted all ESA phases, as well
as remediation, groundwater treatment, storage tank removal, etc.
What is Phase I, II and III?
Fisher Environmental's
approach to a comprehensive environmental assessment can be
summarized as follows:
Phase I
is an information search, (identifying pertinent regulations,
reviewing records; literature; maps; and conducting
interviews), as well as a survey of the surface of the site.
It is sometimes necessary to include limited sub-surface
investigations in Phase 1. The aim is two-fold: firstly, to
collate information relevant to past and present
environmental condition and liability; and secondly, to
identify areas of concern that may require further
investigation in a Phase II survey. In order to achieve
consistency in each Phase I survey, Fisher Environmental has
developed a Phase I procedural check-list. While this is
confidential, it can be made available for review upon
request.
In Phase
II all necessary sampling and testing is conducted in
order to establish the nature, quantity, location and extent,
of any material, substance, or event, that is considered to
be of environmental concern, as defined by the pertinent
regulations identified in Phase I. Firstly, areas of concern
identified in the Phase I survey are confirmed, and then
additional sampling or other investigations are conducted in
order to determine the extent of the contamination.
'Contaminants' can be present in soil- surface or
sub-surface; surface water or ground water; or within the
construction of site buildings and plant. Based on the
finding of the Phase II investigation, recommendation for
remediation of environmental concern are made, if necessary.
Phase III
is an assessment of the information gathered in Phases I and
II, in the light of risk assessment, with the objective of
developing an appropriate remedial action plan.
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Scope
of ESA
Assessment Phases I and II
will include a selection of the following services as appropriate
to the project scope:
Visual
inspection and survey
Monitoring wells
Follow-up site
visits
Soil/ water
sampling
Services
stakeouts
Soil density
testing
Site History
review
On-site chemical
screening
Construction
materials testing
Full range
laboratory analysis
Building
structural survey
Liaison with
regulatory authorities
Soil drilling/
Test-pits/
Full analytical/
Interpretive report
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Environmental
Regulations
In all Phases of the assessment,
it is important that the relevant environmental regulations are
understood and accessible for reference. The survey is conducted
and interpreted in the light of these regulations. Fisher
Environmental bases its approach to Environmental Site
Assessments on the guidelines set out in the following
documentation:
CCME National
Guidelines for Decommissioning Industrial Sites
CCME Interim
Canadian Environmental Quality Criteria for Contaminated
Sites
CCME Guidance
Manual on Sampling, Analysis, and Data Management for
Contaminated Sites
(December 1993), Volumes I
and II.
Guidelines
for the Decommissioning and Cleanup of Sites in Ontario
Interim
Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of
Petroleum
Contaminated Sites in Ontario, 1993
Ontario
Ministry of the Environment Regulation 347
Risk
Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Volume 1, Part A
Supplemental
Guidance for the above
Understanding
Superfund Risk Assessment
Tables #1 to
#9 on Contaminated Sites
US EPA
Superfund Public Health Evaluation Manual
Ontario Reg.
645/85- Reg. respecting Asbestos on Construction Projects and
in Buildings Repair
Ministry of
Labour - Designated Substances in the Workplace, (Asbestos)
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