Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (Phase 1 ESA)
Protect the value of your property
Anderson Environmental Inc specializes in providing Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I ESA’s) for a wide array of clients in the industrial, commercial, real estate, agriculture, mining, and upstream oil and gas sectors across Alberta. Recognizing the critical importance of identifying hazardous substances or the potential for environmental liens early in the evaluation process is extremely important before you purchase property and many banks will insist that a phase 1 esa is carried out before they will give you a mortgage. Our contaminated site assessments are pivotal in managing risk effectively. Our services extend throughout Alberta, including major cities like Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and areas such as Fort McMurray, Athabasca, and Peace River, emphasizing thorough environmental site assessment details to ensure comprehensive risk management.
Our assessments cover a broad spectrum of sites, including gas stations, industrial buildings, metal smelters, and agricultural land, with a keen focus on environmental diagnostics to identify any signs of environmental contamination. Conducted in strict adherence to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) document Z768-01 (2012) Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and the Alberta Environmental Site Assessment Standard (March 01, 2016), our methodology includes an overview of phase one to ensure all environmental site assessment requirements are met, with a specific emphasis on groundwater analysis and the potential concern of environmental conditions.
The Alberta Environmental Site Assessment standard covers Phase I ESA’s, Phase II ESA’s, and Remediation, our approach follows Tier 1 and Tier 2 Guidelines, including guideline modification and human health-based risk assessment where appropriate. As Certified Environmental Site Assessors for both Phase I and Phase II, our team adheres to the strict rules and regulations set forth by the Associated Environmental Site Assessors of Canada (AESAC National Certification Programme), ensuring that our ESA assessments and ESA reports are of the highest standard.
The role of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment extends beyond mere regulatory compliance; it is a crucial step in environmental response planning, aimed at reducing uncertainty about potential environmental liabilities and facilitating informed decisions in property transactions. Our due diligence reports, which serve as a record of site condition, provide a baseline of environmental conditions before any development occurs, highlighting any areas of environmental concern.
This meticulous process, which involves record reviews, interviews, site inspections, and detailed reporting, is essential not only for regulatory compliance but also for securing environmental insurance, as many lenders require a comprehensive Phase I Environmental Site Assessment before approving loans. Our commitment to providing detailed assessments ensures that you are well-informed about any environmental liabilities, including potential contamination or environmental issues, which might impact your investment.
The four core components to a phase one assessment include the following:
- Record Reviews: A thorough records review is undertaken which includes: county or city records, fire department records of spills, underground storage tank registrars, ERIS Report, aerial photographic interpretation, topographic and geological/soils mapping, well records, and evaluation and searches of other records where appropriate to reveal any former uses of the property could have caused environmental damage or site contamination.
- Interviews: Abundant information regarding the actual uses and on-site activities can often be gained by interviewing past and current tenants of the property. Interviews are undertaken where possible of current property owners, neighbours and other parties such as county officers, city officers, or fire department officers to gain further background information.
- Site Inspection: A detailed site inspection is undertaken to determine any signs of potential or actual contamination.
- Reporting: A detailed report is provided which outlines in detail the potential for contamination on the site and identifies potential risks.
As experienced Environmental and Biological Consultants, Anderson Environmental Inc offers a range of services designed to address the specific needs of our clients throughout Alberta. Our dedication to being client-focused and cost-effective ensures that our comprehensive services, from environmental diagnostics to the development of ESA reports, meet the highest standards of quality and regulatory compliance.
What doesn’t a Phase ESA 1 include?
A Phase I ESA does not include the collection and analysis of physical samples, such as soil and water samples. This is carried out in a Phase 2 ESA.
View Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment
