What Is a Phase 2 ESA?

We are often asked the question what is a Phase 1 ESA and what is a Phase 2 ESA?
To begin with ESA means Environmental Site Assessment.
Today we will be touching on what a Phase 2 ESA is but you will only require a Phase 2 ESA if you have undertaken a Phase 1 ESA and it is likely the property is contaminated or could be impacted from contamination from neighbouring properties.

If you have not had a Phase 1 ESA completed yet and do not know what this is we advise that you start off by reading the article What is a Phase 1 ESA? and also check out When do you need a Phase 1 ESA?

So you have read the articles above or already know that a Phase 1 ESA is due diligence taken before the purchase or lease of a property to ensure that the said property is unlikely to have contamination that protects you from liability down the road.   So what happens if contamination is suspected? This is where a Phase 2 ESA would come into play.   A Phase 2 ESA  report is a much more thorough and detailed study and will include sampling and laboratory analysis.  What is analyzed will depend greatly on the type of contamination that is suspected but can include sampling of soil and groundwater, mould, air, asbestos and lead.

Phase 2 ESA report is a more in depth and thorough examination of the property so this process is longer then a Phase 1 ESA and does cost more but when there is a strong likelihood that the property is contaminated that extra time for sampling and analyses is essential to ensure the property is safe and if you are borrowing money to buy your property the bank will insist this is completed if the Phase 1 ESA comes  back with a negative outcome.