Phase II and Phase III Environmental Site Assessment - CMG Engineering

Phase II and Phase III Environmental Site Assessment

A Phase II environmental site assessment (Phase II ESA) confirms whether contamination is actually present on a property, and how much. It is ordered when a Phase I ESA identifies a higher-risk area of potential environmental concern - for example a former fuel tank, a dry cleaner next door or historic industrial use. CMG Engineering Services Corporation carries out Phase II ESAs in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and is registered with AESAC.

What a Phase II ESA involves

We follow the CSA Z769-00 standard for Phase II environmental site assessment. The scope is set by the Phase I findings and can include:

  • Drilling boreholes or test pits and collecting soil samples to screen for petroleum hydrocarbons, metals and other chemicals
  • Installing monitoring wells and sampling groundwater, and where relevant surface water
  • Soil vapour or indoor air sampling, for example near former dry cleaners or fuel sources
  • Air sampling for contaminants such as stack emissions, mould or asbestos fibres
  • Laboratory analysis by an accredited lab and comparison with the applicable provincial standards

Provincial standards we report against

Results are compared with the clean-up standards that apply where the property sits: the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation in British Columbia, the Alberta Tier 1 and Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines in Alberta, and the site condition standards under Ontario Regulation 153/04 in Ontario. Federal guidelines are used where they apply. Standards change over time and often become stricter, so a site that met the standards years ago may need a new Phase II to confirm it still does.

Phase III: delineation and remediation

If the Phase II shows a significant problem, or a regulator or the responsible party asks for clean-up, a Phase III ESA follows. Phase III work can include detailed site characterisation to map the extent of contamination, a risk assessment, a remediation plan, oversight of the clean-up and confirmatory sampling until results are below the applicable federal, provincial or municipal standards.

Cost

Phase II costs depend almost entirely on the number of sampling locations, the depth of drilling and the laboratory analysis required, so we quote each site individually once we have reviewed the Phase I. Phase III costs depend on the type and extent of contamination and cannot be estimated until the Phase II results are known. Small, contained problems can sometimes be resolved for far less than a full remediation program.

Why use CMG

Because we also complete building condition assessments, one team can cover the building and the ground underneath it. We carry the insurance lenders require for environmental work.

To get an estimate, contact CMG with the property address, the property type and your timeline. We normally reply within one business day.

Frequently asked questions

When do I need a Phase II ESA?
When a Phase I ESA identifies an area of potential environmental concern, or when a lender or regulator asks for sampling to confirm whether contamination is present.

Which standard do you follow for a Phase II ESA?
CSA Z769-00, with results compared against the applicable BC, Alberta, Ontario or federal standards.

What is a Phase III ESA?
The follow-up to a Phase II that finds significant contamination: delineation, risk assessment, remediation planning and confirmatory sampling until the site meets the applicable standards.