Phase Two (Phase II) Environmental Site Assessment

A Phase Two (Phase II) Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is part of the systematic process of Environmental Due Diligence. The goal is to determine whether contamination is present on a property, and involves an intrusive search into surface and subsurface soil, surface water, groundwater, and sediment conditions. The purpose of conducting a Phase Two (Phase II) ESA is to identify and mitigate risks associated with environmental liabilities associated with a property.

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• Soil samples can be collected via test pit excavation (ie. with a backhoe or excavator) or using a licensed drilling contractor to advance boreholes into the soil;

• Groundwater samples are typically collected from monitoring wells that are installed into the boreholes on site;

• Sampling locations are selected based on areas of potential environmental concerns that have been identified on site by a environmental professional, likely from a Phase One (Phase I) ESA previously conducted on the site.

The purpose of a Phase Two (Phase II) ESA is to determine whether to soil, groundwater, surface water etc. at the subject property meet the appropriate Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) criteria, and whether any remedial action is necessary if concerns are identified.