The purpose of a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is to characterize and evaluate the areas of potential environmental impact identified in a Phase I ESA.  Phase II ESA’s are intrusive, and involve the collection and analysis of soil and groundwater samples.  Based on the results of a Phase II ESA, a remediation plan can be formulated.

Phase II ESA’s are defined by the Canadian Standards Association Standard Z769-00, “Phase II Environmental Site Assessment,” as the following:

“The systematic, iterative process, as outlined in this Standard, by which an Assessor seeks to characterize and/or delineate the concentrations or quantities of substances of concern related to a site and compare those levels to criteria.”

Phase II Environmental Site Assessments are generally undertaken as a result of recommendations stemming from the Phase I ESA.  In a Phase II ESA, the potential areas of impact identified in a Phase I ESA are investigated in further detail, and quantified through the collection of soil samples, surface and groundwater samples, and suspect materials collected on site. These samples are analysed for contaminants related to current or past site use and activities.