Phase II Environmental Site Assessment

Protect your commercial property investment with targeted environmental testing, clear recommendations and lender-ready reporting.

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. provides Phase II Environmental Site Assessments—also commonly called Phase 2 ESAs—for commercial, industrial, agricultural and multi-residential properties throughout Alberta.

Whether a Phase I ESA has recommended further investigation, your lender requires environmental testing or you are evaluating a property with known contamination, we provide the information you need to understand the conditions and plan your next steps.

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✓ Reports accepted by major Canadian banks and financial institutions
✓ Assessments completed in accordance with applicable Alberta and CSA standards
✓ Phase II ESA services available throughout Alberta

Environmental Testing for Confident Property Decisions

Buying a Property

Investigate potential soil and groundwater contamination before completing your commercial real estate purchase.

Securing Financing

Address environmental concerns identified during due diligence and provide the testing information requested by your commercial lender.

Planning Development

Understand subsurface environmental conditions before beginning redevelopment, excavation or a change in land use.

What Is a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment?

A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is a physical investigation of a property to evaluate actual or potential contamination. It typically involves collecting soil, groundwater or soil vapour samples for laboratory analysis.

A Phase II ESA commonly follows a Phase I ESA that has identified environmental concerns requiring further investigation. It may also be undertaken to investigate a known spill, assess historical activities or obtain additional information about previously identified contamination.

The investigation is designed around the property’s specific concerns. Sampling locations, investigation depths and laboratory analyses are selected based on potential contamination sources, site conditions and the objectives of the assessment.

Phase II ESAs completed by Nexus are prepared in general accordance with the applicable requirements of the CSA Z769-00 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment standard and Alberta’s Environmental Site Assessment Standard. Soil and groundwater results are evaluated against applicable Alberta Tier 1 guidelines, with Tier 2 approaches considered where appropriate and supported by site-specific information.

A Phase II ESA May Include:

✓ Review of previous environmental reports
✓ A site-specific investigation and sampling plan
✓ Borehole drilling and soil sampling
✓ Groundwater monitoring-well installation and sampling
✓ Soil vapour testing, where warranted
✓ Laboratory analysis of selected samples
✓ Comparison with applicable environmental guidelines
✓ Clear conclusions and recommendations

Important: The scope depends on the property’s environmental concerns. An initial investigation may identify the need for additional sampling to determine the full extent of contamination.

What Does a Phase II ESA Include?

Review and Investigation Planning

We review available Phase I findings, previous environmental reports and relevant site information to identify potential contamination sources and develop an appropriate investigation plan.

Borehole Drilling and Soil Sampling

Boreholes are advanced at selected locations to investigate areas of concern. Soil conditions are documented, field screening is completed where appropriate and samples are collected for laboratory analysis.

Groundwater Investigation

Where warranted, monitoring wells are installed to evaluate groundwater conditions and collect samples. Groundwater measurements and analytical results help assess whether contamination has affected groundwater and how it may move through the subsurface.

Laboratory Analysis

Selected samples are submitted to an accredited laboratory for analyses relevant to the property’s current and historical activities. Testing may include petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, metals or other substances associated with the identified concerns.

Evaluation of Results

Laboratory results are compared with applicable environmental guidelines, considering factors such as land use, soil conditions and potential exposure pathways. We assess what the results mean for the property and identify any remaining investigation needs.

Reporting and Recommendations

The completed report explains the investigation methods, sampling locations, laboratory results and conclusions. Practical recommendations identify whether further investigation, monitoring, remediation or risk management is warranted.

When Do You Need a Phase II ESA?

A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment may be needed when:

A Phase I ESA recommends further investigation
A lender requests soil or groundwater testing
Historical activities suggest potential subsurface contamination
Underground or aboveground storage tanks have leaked or may have affected the surrounding soil
A spill or release requires investigation
Previous testing has identified contamination that requires further assessment
A property is being purchased, sold or refinanced with unresolved environmental concerns
Redevelopment or excavation is planned in potentially contaminated areas
Contamination from a neighbouring property may have affected the site
Additional information is needed to plan remediation or risk management

Completing the investigation early can help clarify environmental liabilities and reduce the risk of unresolved questions delaying a purchase, financing approval or development project.

Working Toward a Purchase or Financing Deadline?

Send us the property address, any available environmental reports and your required completion date. We will provide a clear proposal outlining the scope, cost and scheduling availability for your Phase II Environmental Site Assessment.

Drilling availability, utility clearances, site access, groundwater conditions and laboratory turnaround can affect the schedule. Sharing your deadline early helps us plan the investigation around your transaction.

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Environmental Concerns a Phase II ESA Can Investigate

Contamination is not always visible at the ground surface. Historical spills, leaking tanks and past waste-handling practices may have affected soil or groundwater beneath an otherwise well-maintained property.

A Phase II ESA can investigate concerns associated with:

Underground and aboveground fuel storage tanks
Former gas stations and bulk fuel facilities
Automotive repair shops and equipment-maintenance areas
Dry-cleaning operations and solvent use
Industrial manufacturing and chemical handling
Waste oil storage and historical disposal practices
Pesticide and fertilizer storage
Spills, releases and stained soil
Floor drains, sumps and historical wastewater disposal
Imported fill and buried waste
Railway operations and transportation facilities
Potential contamination originating from neighbouring properties

The sampling program is tailored to the identified concerns. Not every property requires testing for every contaminant.

Understanding these conditions can help buyers, property owners and lenders evaluate potential investigation, remediation and property-management costs.

Does a Phase II ESA Always Lead to Remediation?

No. A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment may conclude that no further environmental investigation or remediation is warranted within the assessed scope.

If testing identifies concentrations above applicable guidelines, the next step depends on the substances detected, their location, the extent of contamination and the potential exposure pathways.

Additional work may include sampling to define the affected area, groundwater monitoring, a site-specific Tier 2 assessment, remediation or risk management.

An exceedance does not automatically mean the entire property requires excavation. Nexus explains the findings and available next steps so clients can make informed decisions.

Why Choose Nexus Environmental?

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. is an Alberta-based environmental consulting company specializing in environmental due diligence and subsurface investigations for commercial and industrial properties.

Experienced Environmental Consulting

Our investigations are completed by experienced environmental professionals with practical knowledge of soil sampling, groundwater assessment and contaminated-site investigations.

Lender-Ready Reporting

Our reports have been accepted by major Canadian banks and financial institutions and are prepared to address the needs of commercial lenders.

Clear Communication

You communicate directly with the environmental professional completing your assessment. We explain the investigation, results and recommendations clearly so you understand what they mean for your property.

Site-Specific Investigations

Sampling programs are designed around the property’s history, identified concerns and investigation objectives. We explain why testing is recommended and what the proposed work is intended to establish.

Responsive Scheduling

We understand that real estate purchases and financing approvals operate under firm deadlines. We coordinate fieldwork, laboratory testing and reporting with your required completion date in mind.

Complete Environmental Support

If further work is required, Nexus also provides contamination delineation, groundwater monitoring, soil and groundwater remediation, vapour intrusion assessments and other environmental consulting services.

Phase II ESA Services Across Alberta

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. provides Phase II Environmental Site Assessments throughout Alberta.

Based in Lethbridge, we serve clients in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Brooks, Taber, Fort Macleod, Claresholm, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass and communities across the province.

We complete environmental investigations for commercial property buyers, sellers, owners, investors, developers, lenders, lawyers and real estate professionals throughout urban and rural Alberta.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between a Phase I and Phase II ESA?

A Phase I ESA reviews historical information, environmental records and site conditions to identify actual or potential environmental concerns. It does not normally include physical sampling.

A Phase II ESA investigates identified concerns through physical testing, typically involving soil, groundwater or soil vapour sampling and laboratory analysis.

Why Does My Lender Require a Phase II ESA?

A commercial lender may request a Phase II ESA when a Phase I assessment or previous investigation identifies concerns that require physical testing. The results help the lender evaluate environmental conditions that could affect the property’s value or suitability as security for financing.

How Long Does a Phase II ESA Take?

Completion time depends on the investigation scope, property location, site access, drilling availability, utility clearances, groundwater conditions and laboratory turnaround.

Groundwater investigations commonly require a separate sampling visit after monitoring wells have been installed and developed. Provide your financing or closing deadline when requesting a quote so scheduling can be assessed.

Does Every Phase II ESA Include Groundwater Testing?

No. The investigation scope depends on the concerns being assessed and the site conditions. Some projects require soil testing, while others also require groundwater or soil vapour investigation.

We explain the proposed sampling program and the reasons for each component in your project proposal.

Does a Phase II ESA Determine the Full Extent of Contamination?

That depends on the scope and findings. An initial investigation may determine whether contamination is present in selected areas. If contamination is identified, additional sampling may be required to establish its lateral and vertical extent.

This follow-up work is commonly called delineation and helps support remediation or risk-management planning.

Does a Phase II ESA Include Contamination Cleanup?

No. A Phase II ESA investigates environmental conditions and provides recommendations. Remediation is a separate scope of work that may be recommended based on the findings.

Nexus can assist with subsequent investigation, remediation planning and implementation where required.

How Much Does a Phase II ESA Cost?

The cost depends on the number and depth of investigation locations, drilling methods, monitoring-well requirements, laboratory analyses, property access, travel and reporting needs.

Contact Nexus with the property address and any existing environmental reports to receive a project-specific quote.

Can You Complete a Phase II ESA Based on Another Consultant’s Phase I Report?

Yes. Nexus can review a Phase I ESA prepared by another consultant and develop a Phase II investigation scope based on its findings and recommendations.

Additional information or an updated site review may be needed if the report is outdated, incomplete or does not adequately describe the areas of concern.

Do You Complete Phase II ESAs Outside Southern Alberta?

Yes. Nexus provides Phase II Environmental Site Assessments throughout Alberta, including Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat and rural communities across the province.

What Information Is Needed for a Quote?

To request a quote, provide the property address, any available Phase I or previous environmental reports, the reason for the assessment, your required completion date and the name of the lender or intended report user, if applicable.

Information about site access, current operations and any known underground infrastructure is also helpful when planning the field investigation.

Protect Your Property Investment

Whether you are purchasing, selling, refinancing or developing commercial property, Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. can provide the environmental testing needed to understand potential contamination and make an informed decision.

Send us the property address, any existing environmental reports and your required completion date to receive a straightforward Phase II ESA proposal.