A site assessment determines if there are contaminants on a property and their location. A further study determines the potential dangers and exposure to the public. The assessment is often divided into two phases, with the first identifying possible contaminants and the second specifically identifying and characterizing potential problems. Remediation may be required, and the second stage of the assessment provides guidance for fixing the problem.
A site assessment is a process by which investigators determine whether there are contaminants on or directly under a property, the exact location of those contaminants, and the extent to which those contaminants are present. If pollutants or contaminants are present at the site, a further study is carried out to determine what potential dangers these substances pose to the public and how they may be exposed to them. It is common to carry out a site assessment prior to property transfers, loans or new construction, but it can be carried out at any time during the life of the property.
An environmental site assessment is often divided into two phases. The first stage tries to identify what contaminants might be present and produces a report based on those possible contaminants. In the second stage, a more concerted effort is undertaken to specifically identify and characterize potential problems. Given the specialist nature and training required for a second stage, many choose this stage only if conditions warrant.
Commonly, the first stage involves researching the past uses of a property. For example, if a location used to be a gas station, the assessment may seek to determine whether there are any underground storage tanks left at the location. These could be corroded or otherwise degraded over time and present a risk. Also key is a visual inspection to determine if there is anything that could be cause for concern, such as areas with no vegetative growth or asbestos-containing materials.
If there is cause for concern, the report issued for the first phase of the site’s environmental assessment should state what those concerns are in detail. While there may be little evidence at this point that an actual problem exists, the primary concern is whether the potential exists. If the potential is there, the need for the second stage of the environmental assessment is greater.
In this phase, extensive excavations can be carried out, or simply taking some samples from the ground. The extent of the excavation depends mainly on the past uses of the property and the potential dangers there are. These samples are then taken to a laboratory for further analysis. If a problem occurs, it is up to the owner to find a suitable solution. In some situations, the government may require a property owner to take certain actions to fix the problem.
When remediation is required, the second stage of site assessment should provide some guidance. While the report may not indicate or advise contractors to help, it often suggests or defines the scope of the project. This should help when getting offers or estimates for the job.
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