The most common question we are asked regarding the Environmental Site Assessment process is: “How much will an ESA cost for my property?”.

Phase 1 ESA Cost Breakdown:

The Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) includes a review of available historical information for the site and surrounding area, the completion and analysis of a site owner’s survey, and a physical inspection of property. Collectively, this information is used to identify any area(s) of potential environmental concern (APECs) on a subject site.

There are several factors that contribute to the total cost of a Phase One or Phase Two ESA. Specially, the fees associated with a Phase 1 ESA include:

• Request(s) for documents from municipal, provincial, and federal government offices
• Purchase of records and reports for the site and surrounding area through an online database
• Site Walkover & Inspection
• Qualified Person (QP) review of reports and determination of site APECs
• Drafting of the Phase 1 ESA report

Generally, the total cost of a Phase 1 ESA starts at $2800 – with increase based on:

• The size of the property
• The size & number of structures on the site
• The urban vs. rural location of the site
• The report standard required
  • I.e., CSA vs. O.Reg. 153/04 compliant
• Unique site characteristics
  • E.g., multiple municipal addresses, exhaustive records review

Our standard turnaround time for a Phase I ESA is 15 business days. For an additional cost, a rush report can be made available in 7 – 10 business days.

Use our Phase One ESA Quote Calculator to get an estimate for your site today!

Why You Should Invest In A Phase 1 ESA

The Phase 1 ESA provides a timestamp on the environmental condition of a site, to establish assets and liabilities, and evaluate the commercial potential of a property. By alerting owners or prospective buyers of potential contaminated zones on a site, the Phase 1 ESA is a critical component of due diligence.

Can I Complete a Phase 2 ESA without a Phase 1?

We are often asked this question with the idea that time or cost can be saved, if it’s fairly certain that the Phase 1 ESA will recommend a Phase 2. The answer is yes, you can skip straight to the Phase 2, but it is not recommended. The Phase 1 ESA informs the Phase 2 by identifying all areas of potential concern and contaminants of concern based on a review of historical records, and a site walkover, and can provide more accuracy, ensuring that essential information has not been overlooked and potentially minimize the amount of investigation, surprises or costs associated with the Phase Two ESA.

Additionally, if a Phase One ESA is not completed for a site prior to initiating a Phase Two ESA subsurface investigation, the Phase Two ESA report will be considered “Limited”. The limitation must be noted as full background information has not been gathered for the site and the scope of work to be completed for drilling, sampling locations and contaminants of concern are “Limited” to a range of information available and are not likely suitable to satisfy financial institution lending requirements.

Phase 2 ESA Cost Breakdown:

The Phase 2 investigation consists of soil and groundwater sampling at the area(s) of potential environmental concern that were identified in the Phase 1 investigation. The fees associated with a Phase 2 ESA include:

• Public/Private utility locates
• Drilling subcontractor scheduling and coordination
• Field technician(s) mobilization
• Soil & Groundwater sampling
• Soil & Groundwater laboratory analysis
• Qualified Person (QP) data analysis and interpretation of results
• Drafting of the Phase 2 ESA report

Due to the variability of the scope of work (SOW) across each unique site, it is difficult to provide an accurate cost estimate without a preceding Phase 1 investigation. Generally, the total cost of a Phase 2 ESA starts at $15,000 – with increase based on:

• The number and size of APECs identified at the site
• The contaminant(s) of concern (COCs) present at the site
• The source(s) of the COCs on site
• The hydrogeology characteristics of the site
  • E.g., depth to bedrock, location of groundwater table
• The urban vs. rural location of the site
• The report standard required
  • I.e., CSA vs. O.Reg. 153/04 compliant
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) & Soil Vapour Analysis
• Unique site characteristics
  • E.g., accessibility of drilling locations

Our standard turnaround time for a Phase 2 ESA is 45 business days.

What To Look For When Choosing An Environmental Consultant

When selecting an environmental consultant to complete your Site Assessments, make sure that they understand your goal(s) for the site. The consultant should ask several questions regarding current/past site use and clearly understand your future goal(s) to provide an achievable action plan and timeline. An effective consultant will be able to assess the environmental condition of a property and present options to help you make informed, strategic decisions while also satisfying regulatory requirements.

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