The Environmental Site Assessment – Phase I must be performed by a team of experts with solid skills and environmental knowledge.
The conclusion of the report will be established whether the study of information collected and observations made revealed evidence of potential or actual contamination on the property’s study.
Where applicable, an Environmental Site Assessment - Phase II, or preliminary environmental characterization of soils and groundwater, will be recommended to verify the presence of contamination.
Additional obligations for certain potentially polluting activities
Some commercial and industrial activities are considered by the MELCC as potentially polluting and are the subject of special attention (eg service station).
These activities are listed in Appendix III of the Land Protection and Rehabilitation Regulation.
Thus, any land that shelters or has in the past housed an activity listed in Appendix III of the Regulation, is subject to the requirements of Division IV of the Environment Quality Act. This section stipulates, among others, if activities have been terminated on the Site, or if the Site’s use changes, the owners of the Site must carry out an Environmental Site Assessment - Phase I and Phase II (characterization of soils and groundwater), and if necessary, submit a schedule for rehabilitation works. The report must be certified by an accredited by the MELCC. A copy of the report must be submitted to the MELCC.
The work of the evaluators during an Environmental Site Assessment - Phase I is framed by the Canadian Standard Reference CSA Z768-01.
The various guides of the Ministry of the Environment and the fight against climate change in Quebec (MELCC) and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are also part of the reference documents.
Additional obligations for certain potentially polluting activities
Some commercial and industrial activities are considered by the MELCC as potentially polluting and are the subject of special attention (eg service station).
These activities are listed in Appendix III of the Land Protection and Rehabilitation Regulation.
Thus, any land that shelters or has in the past housed an activity listed in Appendix III of the Regulation, is subject to the requirements of Division IV of the Environment Quality Act. This section stipulates, among others, if activities have been terminated on the Site, or if the Site’s use changes, the owners of the Site must carry out an Environmental Site Assessment - Phase I and Phase II (characterization of soils and groundwater), and if necessary, submit a schedule for rehabilitation works. The report must be certified by an accredited by the MELCC. A copy of the report must be submitted to the MELCC.
The main steps in conducting an Environmental Site Assessment - Phase I are:
Study of historical records File review includes, among others, analysis of municipal and provincial access to information requests, past aerial photographs, topographic maps, land use maps, insurance inspection reports, land use plans, fire insurance plans, title search, past environmental reports, company records, existing geological reports.
Several other documents can also be consulted if they make it possible to further specify the history of the Site.
Physical visit of the Site
The visit of the Site, in addition to corroborate information from the file review, allows a comprehensive description of all observations in the field: land use, hazardous materials and substances unknown, the presence of tank storage above ground or underground, particular odors, water supply, identification of the heating system used, specks of petroleum product, the presence of contaminant drains and sumps, mechanical equipment, observation of the surrounding land, geological, hydrogeological and topographical context, waste management, assaulted vegetation, presence of fill of unknown environmental quality, production of wastewater, etc…
Interviews with the people concerned
The interviews provide an opportunity to understand, corroborate and complete the information obtained during the study of the files and the visit of the Site.
Evaluation of information and report production
All information collected and observations made are then analyzed and evaluated to determine the potential contamination of the Site.
The report writing outlines everything that has been done and analyzed and describes the process leading to the conclusion and recommendation. The results of this Environmental Site Assessment – Phase I then allow to conclude whether the study found evidence of potential or actual contamination on the property under study. If applicable, it will be recommended that an Environmental Site Assessment - Phase II to verify the presence of contamination.
Additional obligations for certain potentially polluting activities
Some commercial and industrial activities are considered by the MELCC as potentially polluting and are the subject of special attention (eg service station).
These activities are listed in Appendix III of the Land Protection and Rehabilitation Regulation.
Thus, any land that shelters or has in the past housed an activity listed in Appendix III of the Regulation, is subject to the requirements of Division IV of the Environment Quality Act. This section stipulates, among others, if activities have been terminated on the Site, or if the Site’s use changes, the owners of the Site must carry out an Environmental Site Assessment - Phase I and Phase II (characterization of soils and groundwater), and if necessary, submit a schedule for rehabilitation works. The report must be certified by an accredited by the MELCC. A copy of the report must be submitted to the MELCC.