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 $2600 – 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.

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.

What To Look For When Choosing An Environmental Consultant:

When selecting an environmental consultant to complete your Phase I ESA, 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 satisfying regulatory requirements.

[Recommended Reading: 9 Questions to Ask Your Environmental Consultant?]

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.

Need more information on Environmental Site Assessment costs?
Call us at (800) 267-4797 or contact us here