FAQs

Blanchard Environmental Consulting assesses all property types, including commercial, industrial, residential, agricultural, undeveloped/bare land, and forested properties.

It may surprise you to know the amount of work that goes into completing a phase I ESA. An expertly conducted phase I ESA generally requires 20 – 40 hours to complete.  Each BEC assessment includes; an on-site inspection, requests for and managing information from several government agencies, municipal and government databases, the creation of a site drawing, compiling all data into the final report, submission of the report to be reviewed, stamped and signed by an individual with a professional designation. The final report can range from 150 to 300 pages. The extensive work and time required to complete a Phase I ESA is reflected in the cost for an ESA.

At BEC, you can rely on receiving a guaranteed quote for the assessment and budget for that expense before we begin our work.

It may be tempting to shop for the lowest assessment price. Before you choose a consultant with the lowest price, consider what would the cost be if contamination were missed due to an inexpertly conducted or incomplete assessment? How much time and money would be added to your budget if you have to clean up unexpected contamination or you were required to have another consultant redo the assessment because it did not meet standards and was rejected by the bank, municipality or regulator? When it comes to Phase I ESAs, the old saying is true, “you get what you pay for”.  Ensure that all important and relevant information about the environmental integrity of your property is included in your Phase I ESA.

Choose BEC to guarantee the cost of your next Phase I ESA.

Typically, it takes 2-3 weeks to complete a Phase I ESA, however, under certain circumstances it may take longer. For example, if a municipality or government agency delay responding to requests for information, this can delay the delivery of the final report.

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a non-invasive assessment of a property. A visual inspection of the property, historical air photos and records with government agencies are used to determine whether there is potential for contamination on a site.

A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment on the other hand is invasive. Soil, water or air samples are collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis in order to confirm the presence of absence of contamination on a property.

Unlike Phase I ESAs, Phase II ESAs are not charged on a fixed cost basis. They are charged on a time and expense basis. Cost for Phase II ESAs varies greatly from site to site.  On the low end they can cost under $10,000, but on the high end they can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Therefore, an accurate cost estimate cannot be given without first gathering information about the site. Typically, this is done by first conducting a Phase I ESA.

In Choosing a company or consultant who specializes in Phase I ESAs you can be assured of receiving a professionally prepared, stamped and signed Report that adheres to industry standards and is accepted by financial institutions, lenders, municipalities and regulators. This can save you time and money, thus protecting your project investment.  Before choosing your consultant, check their credentials and experience.

Ask the consultant:
• Are each of their reports stamped and signed by an individual with a professional designation?
• Does every report meet CSA and AEP guidelines?
• How many Phase I ESAs has the person who will work on your project conducted?
• Whether they have E&O and GCL insurance?

• Will they guarantee their quote for the work?

A Phase I ESA may be required for:
• A bank or lender for financing
• A municipality for development
• Due diligence when purchasing a property
• Protecting your investment
• Creating a baseline of site conditions