Environmental Site Assessments

Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESA-1)

Kala Geosciences Ltd. is the leader in the provision of phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESA-1) within the BC Interior.  With 35 years local experience and over 300 ESA-1 investigations completed within the Thompson Nicola, Columbia Shuswap, Cariboo, and Okanagan Regional Districts.

A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment is conducted to clearly identify whether actual and/or potential site contamination exists within a given parcel or parcels of property. An ESA-1 may assist in reducing uncertainty regarding potential environmental liabilities and may form the basis for further investigation of the property. An ESA-1 can be voluntary or regulated, with the purpose of providing environmental information on a land parcel so that private parties, government representatives, financial authorities, and municipalities can make informed decisions regarding property transactions, identify baseline environmental conditions and assist in meeting and regulatory requirements. An ESA-1 is a systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding a verifiable assertion and established comparative criteria is determined and communicated to the Client.

Kala Geosciences Ltd. provides Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) (formerly Preliminary Site Investigations) that meet:

  • CSA Standard “Z768-01 Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment” – Phase 1 ESA
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation CMHC guidelines
  • The requirement of the BC Ministry of Environment (BCE)

Components of an ESA-1:

The components of an ESA-1 by Kala typically include:

  • Records review including aerial photos, former property use records, title search and assessment rolls, previous reports, company records (municipal, provincial, federal), geological and geotechnical reports, climatic conditions and regulatory information;
  • Insurance records;
  • Provincial archive records and Ministry of Environment (BCE) databases;
  • Site Registry system search – sites within 500 m of the Subject Property;
  • Detailed Subject Property reconnaissance and detailed inspections including interior hazardous materials inventory where requested;
  • Baseline review of radon, asbestos and insulation conditions (if applicable);
  • Natural hazard assessment;
  • Minimum of three (3) interviews with key personnel and agencies including neighbours, tenants, previous owners, municipal officials, and ministerial personnel, and;
  • A covering report of findings issued to the Client including conclusions and recommendations.

Reports

The final report produced by Kala Geosciences Ltd. provides a clear concise conclusions and go-forward steps if required.  The focus of a Kala ESA-1 report is to firmly provide a due diligence approach to rule out the need for further site assessment and not rule in the need to conduct a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment unless absolutely required.

When you require a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment:

To verify on behalf of a property purchaser or vendor that a specific title is free of latent and patent environmental liabilities

  • Meet a regulatory request, order, or direction
  • Provide a liability assessment prior to an acquisition or divestiture of a property or site
  • Provide a due diligence measure in support of a real estate or financing agreement
  • Provide baseline liability assessment prior to tenancy of a site
  • Provide a due diligence measure to determine compliance with a corporate stewardship policy
  • Clientele

Experience:

Kala is accredited with the Canadian Environmental Site Assessors Association.  A partial list of Clients includes:

  • Chartered banks
    • Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
    • Toronto Dominion Bank
    • Royal Bankof Canada (RBC)
    • Bank of Montreal (BMO)
    • Canadian Western Bank (CWB)
  • Mining Corporations
  • RCMP
  • Regional Districts
  • First Nations
  • Municipalities
  • Industrial Developers