environmentalca

[environmentalca]

2 Key Factors to Help You Find the Right Environmental Consultancy

There is a lot of research taking place around the world, concerning the impact of industrialization and development on the environment. A lot of studies are being carried out and new solutions being put forth for reducing the negative impact of development on the overall health of our ecology. There are new rules that are being formulated in various parts of the world to help mitigate the damage being caused to the environment due to various projects. These are also there in Canada, one of the biggest economies globally. The country is also home to a large number of environmental consultancies. Project developers are dependent on these consultancies for ensuring that various environmental assessment studies are done and recorded. This kind of assessment study is required to get certain types of green signals for projects. For example, the Record of Site Condition is one of the requirements for certain types of projects. These kinds of regulations may sometimes differ from city to city too. For example, things could be different in the case of Vancouver from Edmonton. This being the case, it is something that is best left to the experts available in the form of environmental professionals. Here are a few tips on how to select the best from an available lot of environmental consultancies.

Use the mouse

Yes, use the power of the mouse and find out who are all the leading environmental consultancies in your city. A simple search over online directories is enough. Most of the leading consultancies will surely have their websites too. Go through them carefully. Find out whether they have got experience in assessing projects similar to yours. There are a lot of case studies too that you can find over online sources. Find out from them about the various methodologies that are used by the environmental professionals to do the different assessment studies. For example, you can get to know about Phase 1 and Phase 2 ESA reports. Similarly, you can get to know about the various studies that are done to come out with waste water disposal systems.

The more detailed your research is, the better it is, for it will help you to during your discussions with the environmental consultancies. Using this knowledge you will be aware of the different types of studies and the reports. You can also find out from the environmental consultancies about the various steps involved in the different studies. This will help you stay up to date with the progress of the work.

Fix your budget

This is another important thing that you need to keep in mind. Have a figure in mind whenever you are in search of environmental consultancies. This will help you to avoid running behind every consultancy that you come across. Once you have a figure in mind, you can always prune down the list. Make sure that you discuss the fees part thoroughly whenever you are discussing with environmental consultancies. Find out whether they charge everything upfront or do they accept part payments? Such clear cut communication will help in avoiding confusions later on.

[environmentalca]

Understanding the Process of Risk Identification and Site Investigation

In recent years, the problem of site pollution has gradually become prominent, posing a serious threat to the ecological environment, food safety and human health; contaminated site restoration projects have been carried out to ensure environmental quality and human living health.

The state and local governments are paying more and more attention to site supervision and remediation of contaminated sites, and have successively introduced site-related policies and action plans.

Remediation measures for site pollution can be divided into three categories:

Remove the hazards in time;

Restrict or prohibit access to the use of the site followed by an ESA;

Using engineering means to repair the site.

The Environmental Site Assessment in Ontario generally include 3 stages:

The first stage is the pollution identification stage mainly consisting of data collection, site survey and personnel interviews.

If the first phase of the investigation confirms that there are no chemical plants, pesticide plants, gas stations, chemical storage tanks and other possible sources of pollution in and around the site currently and historically, the site environmental investigation activities can be ended.

If the first phase of the investigation reveals that there are possible sources of pollution in or around the site, the second phase of the site environmental survey is required to determine the type, extent and scope of pollution.

The second stage of the site environmental investigation is the pollution verification stage based on sampling and analysis.

If the results of the second phase of the site environmental investigation show that the environmental conditions of the site are acceptable, the site environmental investigation activities can be ended.

If the second-stage investigation confirms the facts of pollution and requires risk assessment or pollution remediation, the third-stage site environmental investigation shall be carried out.

The third phase of the site environmental investigation is mainly based on supplementary sampling and testing to meet the parameters required for the risk assessment and soil and groundwater restoration process.

From a practical point of view, without accurate and effective analysis data, the real pollution status of the site will not be obtained, and risk assessment and site restoration will be impossible or meaningless, which will cause huge economic losses and waste.

Therefore, laboratory technology and the help of experts is an indispensable part of site management and plays a vital role.

The scope of site survey focuses on the site and include the surrounding area of the site, and is judged by the site investigator based on the distance that the pollutants may migrate.

The current or past land use types in the surrounding area, such as houses, shops and factories is observed and recorded by the professional doing Record of Site Condition in Toronto.

The conclusion of Phase 1 ESA in Edmonton clarify whether there are possible pollution sources in and around the site, and carry out uncertainty analysis. If there is a possible pollution source, the pollution type and status is then explained and the second stage of ESA is proposed.

[environmentalca]

Why Emphasize The Environmental Site Assessment In Your Construction Project?

This evaluation is used as an instrument to “identify, predict and interpret the environmental impact, as well as to prevent the negative consequences that certain actions, plans, programs, and projects may have on human health, the well-being of communities and ecological balance.

For this reason, Phase 1 ESA Edmonton is a useful and important procedure in the project planning and/or business creation phases. They provide information in decision-making and are also a mandatory requirement, in many countries, to obtain construction and/or installation permits.

In this sense, studies evaluating the impact of organizations on the environment are not only important for their commitment to preserving it. They also function as a source of valuable and meaningful information for future research or for the public launch of environmental alerts, not previously identified.

EIA is one of the preventive instruments of environmental management that allows environmental policies to be complied with and that they are incorporated, early in the development and decision-making process. 

Therefore, it evaluates and corrects human actions and avoids, mitigates, or compensates for its eventual negative environmental impacts.

The EIA takes a long-term approach and ensures a comprehensive and integrated vision of the meaning of human actions on the environment.

The universality of the Environmental Impact Assessment

EIA is a systematic, reproducible, and interdisciplinary analysis of the potential impacts, both of a proposed action and of its alternatives, on the physical, biological, cultural, and socioeconomic attributes of a particular geographic area.

The EIA is intended to ensure that important environmental resources are recognized early in the decision process and protected through relevant planning and decisions

EIA is an early warning and ongoing review process that protects environmental resources from unwarranted or unanticipated harm

The EIA process converts the language and intent of environmental laws into a uniform set of technical and procedural requirements that allow a systematic analysis of human actions long before its execution.

Efficient implementation of an EIA process requires efforts

EIA helps solve problems in the decision-making process. It does not replace it but provides the basis for more informed decisions regarding positive and negative impacts on the environment

The effectiveness of the EIA process depends on the degree of national, regional, or local priority that environmental quality has.

The adoption of an EIA system can lead to difficult economic decisions and strong political and social commitments

EIAs are necessary when they provide relevant information for the development of activities; when the environment can undergo significant alterations; when the environment has values ​​worthy of special protection and when there are several alternatives to take action.

The general objective of the Environmental Site Assessment Ontario is to frame human activities in the environmental policy that supports sustainable development.

In many cases, EIA introduces new technology into the environment, which could solve deterioration problems. 

However, the evaluation and consultation process must examine the implications not only of the project but also of the environmental risks derived from the technology itself.

In the EIA Project, the particularities of the action are analyzed in all its phases (design, construction, operation, and abandonment) and corrective measures are proposed to eliminate, minimize or compensate for alterations that involve damage to the environment, in a preventive way.

[environmentalca]

Get Environmental Site Assessment – Phase 1 Done By Professionals

If you are someone involved in Property Transfer Evaluations (PTE) and construction on undeveloped land or someone who is attempting to obtain a mortgage but your bank has made Phase 1 site assessment as a mandate on the loan, you are the right place. Phase assessments are generally performed in two stages- Phase I and Phase II, but let’s focus our due diligence on the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. The professionals are the best choice for the evaluation

A site assessment is important to manage contamination risk. Following tasks constitute the Phase I ESA:

●       Gathering records of past and current usage of the site.

●       Site recon by an environmental professional.

●       Inspecting records maintained by the site owner.

●       Drafting a report specifying existing and potential sources of property contamination.

The results of the Phase I ESA determine if further investigation is required or not.

Why?

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment aims to reduce uncertainty about potential environmental liabilities and aids in making informed decisions about property transactions. Due diligence reports are also undertaken to provide a baseline of conditions before commencing development. For transactions concerning commercial real estate, lenders may require a detailed Phase I Environmental Site Assessment before a loan can be approved. The process is crucial as it helps in protecting your investment by undertaking due diligence to identify any past site usage on or near to the site that may have resulted in site contamination.

This is important because when the site is purchased and if there is any contamination present, it becomes the property of the new owner and hence any associated clean-up costs will be borne by the new owner.

Process Duration

The ideal time duration for completing Phase I of Environmental Site Assessment is 30 days. However, depending upon the requirement the process can be sped up with multiple environmental professionals simultaneously completing separate tasks. The diligence timeline may have to be extended in case the RECs are identified.

When is Phase I ESA Required?

When purchasing a commercial property, your first and foremost concern should be to obtain a Phase I ESA. In an effort to protect their investment, nearly all banks will insist on having the Phase I completed before other formalities for a mortgage are carried out. The Phase 1 ESA report is very crucial as it can protect your investment from any liability and risk that might be associated with purchasing a said property. This contamination could be environmental contamination such as groundwater and soil contamination or contamination resulting from the use of unsafe building materials such as asbestos or lead. In this kind of situation, you can go for experts who can provide reliable and trusted reports.

Being experienced Environmental Consultants we undertake a wide range of assessments as part of our services. We provide Environmental Site Assessment services for Commercial, Industrial, Real Estate, Agriculture, Mining, and the Upstream Oil and Gas industries. We have experience assessing a wide range of sites from gas stations, industrial buildings, metal smelters, and industrial manufacturing facilities, asbestos, railway lines and yards, gas and oil sites, pipelines, agricultural land, and residential land.

[environmentalca]

Importance of Environmental Impact Studies

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the most effective method to avoid aggression to the environment and conserve natural resources in the realization of projects. We understand by Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) the technical-administrative procedure used to identify, prevent and minimize the environmental impacts that a project will produce in its environment if it is executed.

This administrative, legal process begins with the presentation of the summary report by the promoter, continues with the prior consultation of individuals and institutions by the environmental body, and continues with the completion of the Environmental Impact Study by the developer and its presentation to the substantive body.

An environmental impact study must contain at least these data:

General description of the project and foreseeable demands in time, about the use of land and other natural resources. Estimation of the types and quantities of waste discharged and emissions of resultant energy.

An exhibition of the main alternatives studied and a justification of the main reasons for the solution adopted, taking into account the environmental effects.

Evaluation of the direct or indirect foreseeable effects of the project on the population, flora, fauna, soil, air, water, climatic factors, landscape and material goods, including the historical, artistic heritage and the archaeological. Likewise, the interaction between all these factors will be addressed.

Measures planned to reduce, eliminate or compensate for significant environmental effects.

Environmental monitoring program.

Summary of the study and conclusions in easily understandable terms. In your case, report on the informative or technical difficulties encountered in its preparation.

As it can be seen, it is of vital importance to carry out a complete environmental study to know the magnitude of the impact of the project on the area in which it will be carried out.

The drafting and signing of the environmental impact study is the task of a multidisciplinary team composed of specialists in the interpretation of the project and environmental factors most relevant to that particular project.

For example, atmosphere, water, soil, vegetation, fauna, cultural resources, etc. that are typically integrated into an Environmental site assessment services.

The study of the environmental impact can be done in several stages, in parallel with the phases of the intervention that is intended to be evaluated.

For these purposes, intervention must be understood not only as work, such as a bridge or road but also as an intervention that may have an impact on the environment, the creation of a regulation or a modification of existing rules. For example, the increase in the import tax on raw material for the manufacture of plastics may induce the use of recyclable containers.

Each proposed intervention is analyzed according to the possible environmental impacts. Also, depending on the stage in which it is in the project cycle, the reasonable alternatives to the proposed option are analyzed.

The Environmental Impact Study is considered one of the most important disciplines regarding documentation and management of the environmental conditions that determine the viability of the development of any project in relation to the environment.

[environmentalca]

As Alberta based Environmental Consultants, Biological Consultants and Geotechnical Consultants, Anderson Environmental Pty Ltd assists private and government clients with a broad range of projects including: Ecology Assessments and Biology Biophysical Assessments, Environmental Compliance and Planning.

[environmentalca]

As Alberta based Environmental Consultants, Biological Consultants and Geotechnical Consultants, Anderson Environmental Pty Ltd assists private and government clients with a broad range of projects including: Ecology Assessments and Biology Biophysical Assessments, Environmental Compliance and Planning.

[environmentalca]

The 4 Elements Of Environmental Site Assessment

In all commercial property purchases, it is important to conduct phase 1 environmental site assessment, not only to rule out the presence of environmental liabilities in the property involved in the transaction, but also to eliminate liabilities on pre-existing environmental liabilities. Most credit institutions require these studies as a requirement to deliver the loan money associated with the purchase.

Here are four essential points you should know for Phase 1 environmental studies:

1. Recruitment of an Environmental Consultant:

During the buying and selling process, be sure to hire an environmental consulting firm that has experience in Environmental Site Assessment Services. Make sure there is a good reputation of the consulting firm you are working with.

2. Historical Evaluation:

The first part of Phase 1 environmental study is a historical evaluation of the property, which can be achieved through existing databases. This stage will reveal the uses of the property since its construction and dictate areas of concentration for the next stage of the Phase 1 study. Examples of such uses of that property or land in the past may include:

Existence of gas stations that can leave contamination due to the presence of hydrocarbons of petroleum or gasoline

Laundry (dry cleaning) that can leave contamination of chlorinated components

Manufacturing plants that can leave spills of oils, lubricants or chemical elements of the process

Presence of oil or oil tanks or tanks buried in the past

3. Property Inspection:

A representative of the consulting firm will inspect the property to verify that there are no conditions that indicate possible spills or contamination. If necessary, the inspector will survey people involved in past uses of the property.

4. Report:

The Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Alberta ends with the preparation of a report detailing the findings of the historical evaluation and property inspection. If there are areas with passive environmental potential or contamination, the report will include suggestions for the execution of Phase 2 environmental study where samples for chemical analysis of the potentially contaminated environment, such as groundwater or subsoil, should be taken and contamination determined or not through the results of chemical analysis by a laboratory.

If there is no evidence to indicate the presence of environmental liabilities, the buyer of the property can continue with the transaction without worries. On the contrary, the need to conduct additional environmental studies such as a Phase 2 study, could delay or cancel the transaction by the buyer.

Environmental benefits:

a)      To Identify Environmental Liabilities.

b)      Detect and manage Environmental Responsibilities.

c)       The decrease in Environmental Risk and Human Health.

d)      Compliance with Local and International Standards and National and International Certifications.

e)      Contribution to the Sustainable Development of the Country.

Economic:

a)      Projection of Economic Growth based on Real Assets.

b)      Increase in the Competitiveness of the Company or Business.

c)       National and International Certifications.

d)      Programmed and Non-Pressure Action Plan and Strategic Planning to meet Priorities.

Avoids Closing Operations for Fines or Incontestable Projects.

[environmentalca]

As Alberta based Environmental Consultants, Biological Consultants and Geotechnical Consultants, Anderson Environmental Pty Ltd assists private and government clients with a broad range of projects including: Ecology Assessments and Biology Biophysical Assessments, Environmental Compliance and Planning.

[environmentalca]

As Alberta based Environmental Consultants, Biological Consultants and Geotechnical Consultants, Anderson Environmental Pty Ltd assists private and government clients with a broad range of projects including: Ecology Assessments and Biology Biophysical Assessments, Environmental Compliance and Planning.

[environmentalca]

As Alberta based Environmental Consultants, Biological Consultants and Geotechnical Consultants, Anderson Environmental Pty Ltd assists private and government clients with a broad range of projects including: Ecology Assessments and Biology Biophysical Assessments, Environmental Compliance and Planning.