Commercial automotive properties face unique environmental challenges.
Whether you’re buying, selling, leasing, or redeveloping a gas station, car dealership, or automotive repair shop, or if your property is located close to one, every site and situation is unique. Our team of experts are here to help you achieve your goals and guide you through the process.
When Is an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) Typically Required?
An ESA provides important insights into potential environmental risk at a site and is often needed for:
- Property transactions (purchase, sale or lease)
- Redevelopment of current or former automotive sites
- Financing or refinancing of automotive properties
ESA Benefits for Stakeholders
- Buyers: Gain assurance that your investment meets environmental standards and enables you to secure necessary financing.
- Sellers: Stay ahead of buyer requirements, avoid delays, and help you have confidence in asking fair market value.
- Owners: Protect property value by identifying and mitigating potential future risks.
- Financers: Mitigate risk to the return of your investment.
Tip: Buyers and sellers can share ESA costs and name both parties in the report, enabling it to be used by the seller at a later date, if the deal doesn’t close.
Is A Phase Two ESA Necessary for Every Automotive Property?
Due to the nature of the business (whether current or historic), a Phase One ESA for an automotive site can often come with the recommendation for a Phase Two ESA.
However, not every automotive property requires a Phase Two ESA. Factors like previous assessments, effective containment measures, or excellent housekeeping may be sufficient to enable a property transaction to proceed.
What if My Site is Contaminated?
If the Phase Two ESA test results show levels of contaminants (such as PHCs and VOCs) that exceed current guidelines, there are plenty of options available to enable you to move forward towards your end-goal for the site.
Our team can present you with remedial options tailored to your goals, and site-specific conditions, such as the depth of contamination, soil vs water impacts, stratigraphy and whether it is contained on-site. There are different types of remedial options available. Potential outcomes could include a Risk Assessment, implementing Risk Management Measures, or a combination of these solutions.
ESA Cost and Timeline Considerations
Most automotive properties will require a CSA Phase One ESA for real estate purposes (buying/selling, refinancing) or due diligence, which are typically completed within 10–15 business days, and Phase Two ESAs within 6–8 weeks turnaround.
Tip: The overall project timeline can be expedited by conducting the Phase One and Phase Two ESA concurrently when the Phase Two is expected.
ESAs done to O. Reg. 153/04 Standards (required for certain redevelopment scenarios), take longer and cost more due to stricter regulations. Learn more about the differences between CSA and O. Reg. 153/04 standards.
Try our online quotation tool to help you determine the approximate cost of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) for your site:
Tailored Solutions for Commercial Automotive Sites
AEL’s years of experience working with automotive sites allow our staff a comprehensive understanding of the environmental issues experienced at these properties, and the ability to provide professional advice and services to save you time and money.
Discuss your site-specific needs with one of our experienced environmental professionals today.
What Our Customers Have To Say
I was truly impressed working with the team at AEL Environment. Their in-depth experience working with automotive property transactions was evident from our first interaction.
My clients and I were pleasantly surprised to learn that property we were selling did not automatically require a Phase Two Environmental Site Assessment, despite the active auto repair shop on the site. AEL took the time to review the site’s background reports and ensured that everyone involved understood the site-specific details, including myself, the seller, and the purchaser’s broker and lender.
Their ability to efficiently communicate, and complete the Phase One ESA and letter of reliance expedited the property sale and saved everyone involved valuable time and resources.
Rob O’Malley, Realtor
O’Malley Real Estate
Every Property Has a History, We Can Help You Understand the Past to Prepare for the Future
AEL environment is focused on creating tailored solutions based on your end goals for each property.
Let’s talk, and our team will guide you through the process.
Our Process
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1. Discover
Every property is unique. We will listen carefully and seek clarity to ensure we understand your site’s unique details and goals.
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2. Identify
We will recommend an optimal approach, innovative and cost-effective services and solutions for your site, focused on achieving your desired outcome.
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3. Analyze
Once authorized, we will complete the required research, testing, consulting or reports to required standards. We take the time to review any results and reports together.