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The purpose of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is to identify any potential or actual environmental impact to the subject site based on a review of previous and current uses of the subject and neighbouring properties.
Phase I ESA’s are defined by the Canadian Standards Association Standard Z768-01, “Phase I Environmental Site Assessment,” as the following:
“The systematic process, as prescribed by this Standard, by which an assessor seeks to determine whether a particular property is or may be subject to actual or potential contamination. A Phase I ESA does not involve the investigative procedures of sampling, analyzing, and measuring unless enhancements are agreed upon between the client and the assessor.”
Phase I ESA’s are often required by mortgage holders in the event of purchasing, selling, or refinancing. The Phase I ESA ascertains the environmental condition of a property based on an investigation of past and current activities. Determining areas of potential environmental concern are a routine part of many property sales, transfers or refinances, or as required investigative procedure for law suits. ESA’s can also be performed voluntarily by business owners to upgrade their operations to conform to new environmental regulations and codes.
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