Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)

The Phase I ESA is a non-intrusive historical investigation revealing past activities at and around the site, and may suggest certain areas of the site may be contaminated.

• Historical research of the site and identification of present activities
• Visit and visual inspection of the site with photos taken
• Informal interviews with the parties involved
• Methodology used in accordance with the requirements of Standard CSA Z768-01
• If the Phase 1 assessment identifies potential for contamination, the recommendations will state to move on to a Phase 2 ESA with preliminary intrusive site characterization (soil and groundwater testing)
• All of our interventions are supported by a team of qualified environmental professionals

A Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is the first intrusive step in site characterization. The purpose is to confirm, or to demonstrate the absence of, contamination. A Phase II ESA involves intrusive testing procedures such as sampling and laboratory analysis.

• Site visit and establishment of a preliminary soil and groundwater characterization program
• Exploratory soil drilling and/or test pitting
• Soil and groundwater samplings and laboratory chemical analyzes
• Analytical parameters defined according to the type of contamination and the existing or apprehended risks.
• The results obtained are compared to criteria A, B and C of the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques (MELCC).
• Methodology used in accordance with the requirements of Standard CSA-Z769-00
• If the study reveals contamination that exceeds the limits of the criteria of the MELCC, the recommendations will state to move to a comprehensive intrusive site characterization (Phase 3 ESA).
• All of our interventions are supported by a team of qualified environmental professionals as well as certified laboratories

A comprehensive Phase 3 ESA includes extensive sampling to fully characterize the extent of contamination, in area and depth, so that cleanup costs can be estimated.

• Additional exploratory soil drilling and/or test pitting
• Additional soil and groundwater samplings and laboratory chemical analyzes
• Sampling carried out according to the source of the contamination, the type of contaminant, the potential migration pathways, the different mechanisms of pollutant dispersion, as well as the characteristics of potential receptors.
• Additional analyzes on samples already taken during the Phase 2 ESA.
• Methodology used in accordance with the requirements of the standard of the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques (MELCC).
• All our interventions are supported by a team of qualified environmental professionals as well as certified laboratories