Phase I · II · III
Environmental site assessments for commercial property worldwide
We conduct environmental site assessments to the international ASTM standards, completed on their own or married with a commercial building condition assessment. An ESA tells lenders and buyers whether the soil and groundwater under a property carry contamination risk.
Phase I ESA
A Phase I ESA assesses the likelihood of contamination based on the site’s current use and the activities of nearby properties. No sampling is conducted; if contamination is likely, a Phase II is recommended. The international reference standard is ASTM E1527-21; in Canada the Phase I follows the closely aligned CSA Z768-01. Study radius is the one part that is genuinely local:
- British Columbia
- 250 m and 500 m study radii
- Alberta
- 300 m from the property line
- Ontario & rest of Canada
- 250 m CSA study radius
- Outside Canada
- Per ASTM E1527-21 and the local regulator — confirmed before we quote
Phase II ESA
Once a Phase I identifies a likely contamination source, a Phase II drills boreholes to sample soil and groundwater, sent to a laboratory under chain of custody. The reference standard is ASTM E1903-19, with CSA Z769-00 as the Canadian equivalent. If contamination is found, a plume diagram identifies the extent of any off-site migration, and a filing to the environmental regulator — a Record of Site Condition (RSC) in much of Canada, its equivalent elsewhere — is generally required.
Phase III ESA
Once a Phase II identifies contamination, stakeholders decide how to proceed. Risk mitigation is common for retail fuel outlets; higher-contamination situations involve managing soils and, sometimes, barriers to prevent migration — carried out in communication with the environmental authority holding jurisdiction over the site.
Pair it with a building condition assessment
Most lenders want both. Order once and receive coordinated reports.
Building condition assessmentCommon questions
What is a Phase I environmental site assessment?
A Phase I ESA assesses the likelihood of soil and other contamination on a site based on its current use and the activities of nearby properties. No sampling is done in a Phase I; if contamination is likely, a Phase II is recommended. Internationally the reference standard is ASTM E1527-21; in Canada the equivalent is CSA Z768-01.
What happens in a Phase II ESA?
A Phase II ESA drills boreholes to sample soil and groundwater, sent to a laboratory under chain of custody. The reference standard is ASTM E1903-19, with CSA Z769-00 as the Canadian equivalent. If contamination is found, a plume diagram is prepared, and the local regulator may require a filing such as a Record of Site Condition.
Can I get the ESA and the building assessment together?
Yes. Phase I ESAs are often married with a commercial building condition assessment under one engagement.
Request a proposal
Order an ESA on its own, or alongside the building report
Send us the property address and a contact. We normally return a free proposal within one business day.