Risk Assessment

Understand what contamination means for your property with site-specific environmental evaluation, clear recommendations and practical options for remediation or risk management.

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. provides environmental risk assessment and Tier 2 evaluation services for commercial, industrial, agricultural and multi-residential properties throughout Alberta.

Whether previous testing has identified contamination, excavation is constrained by buildings or you need to evaluate options before redevelopment, we help determine the information and actions needed to move forward.

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✓ Site-specific review of contamination and potential exposure pathways
✓ Evaluation of applicable Alberta Tier 1 and Tier 2 approaches
✓ Clear recommendations for further investigation, remediation or risk management

Understand Environmental Risk Before Making Property Decisions

Evaluating Contamination

Understand how identified soil, groundwater or vapour impacts may affect people, the environment and the intended use of your property.

Planning Remediation

Evaluate whether site-specific assessment can help refine remediation objectives and focus work on the areas requiring action.

Supporting Redevelopment

Consider how buildings, excavation, occupancy and changes in land use may affect exposure pathways and environmental management needs.

What Is an Environmental Risk Assessment?

An environmental risk assessment evaluates whether contamination could adversely affect people or the environment under the conditions being assessed.

The assessment considers the substances present, their concentrations and distribution, how they could move through the environment, and who or what could be exposed.

For contaminated properties, this commonly involves evaluating three connected elements:

Sources: Where contamination is present and what substances are involved
Pathways: How contamination could reach people or environmental receptors
Receptors: The people, plants, animals or environmental resources that could be affected

The scope can range from an initial review of applicable guidelines and exposure pathways to a more detailed site-specific assessment.

Nexus reviews the available information to determine the appropriate level of assessment and identifies where additional investigation or specialist input is required.

A Risk Assessment May Include:

✓ Review of previous environmental reports and laboratory results
✓ Evaluation of current and proposed land use
✓ Development or refinement of a conceptual site model
✓ Identification of potential human and ecological receptors
✓ Review of soil, groundwater and vapour exposure pathways
✓ Assessment of applicable environmental guidelines
✓ Evaluation of Tier 2 options where supported
✓ Identification of information gaps
✓ Recommendations for remediation, monitoring or risk management

Important: A risk assessment does not remove contamination. Its conclusions depend on adequate site information and the conditions, assumptions and limitations documented in the assessment.

What Does an Environmental Risk Assessment Include?

Review of Existing Information

We review previous investigations, laboratory results, site plans and relevant property information to understand the contamination identified and the work completed to date.

Land Use and Receptor Evaluation

Current and reasonably foreseeable property uses are considered alongside surrounding land uses and potential receptors.

A commercial property, residential redevelopment and agricultural site may require different assessment considerations.

Conceptual Site Model

Available information is organized into a practical description of the contamination sources, affected environmental media, potential migration routes and receptors.

This helps identify which questions have been answered and where further information is needed.

Exposure Pathway Review

Potential pathways are evaluated based on the contaminants and site conditions.

These may include direct contact with soil, inhalation of vapours, groundwater use, contaminant movement toward surface water, and exposure of plants or other ecological receptors.

Tier 2 Evaluation

Where appropriate, site-specific information is assessed to determine whether an Alberta Tier 2 approach is applicable.

Depending on the project, this may involve supported pathway exclusion, modification of eligible guideline inputs or a more detailed site-specific risk assessment.

Reporting and Recommendations

The report explains the assessment approach, supporting information, conclusions and limitations.

Recommendations identify whether additional investigation, remediation, monitoring or exposure controls are warranted.

When Do You Need an Environmental Risk Assessment?

An environmental risk assessment may be useful when:

Soil or groundwater results exceed applicable Tier 1 guidelines
Contamination remains beneath a building or near underground infrastructure
Excavation is constrained by property boundaries or operating facilities
Site conditions differ from the assumptions used in generic guidelines
A property is being considered for redevelopment or a change in use
Vapour intrusion may be a concern
Further information is needed to compare remediation options
Residual contamination requires evaluation following cleanup
A proposed risk-management approach needs supporting assessment
A lender, property owner or regulator requires a clearer evaluation of environmental conditions

The appropriate approach depends on the site. Some properties require additional delineation or remediation before a meaningful risk assessment can be completed.

Need to Understand Your Options Before Committing to Cleanup?

Send us the property address, previous environmental reports, proposed land use and any known site constraints.

We will review the available information and outline the assessment scope, additional data needs and scheduling availability.

If you are working toward a transaction or development deadline, include your required completion date and the intended report users.

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Environmental Concerns a Risk Assessment Can Evaluate

Risk assessment can help evaluate contamination associated with:

Former gas stations and fuel storage facilities
Petroleum spills and leaking storage tanks
Automotive repair and equipment-maintenance operations
Dry-cleaning facilities and solvent releases
Industrial manufacturing and chemical handling
Waste storage and historical disposal practices
Contaminated fill
Metals and other persistent contaminants
Affected groundwater
Potential soil vapour migration into buildings
Contamination extending toward neighbouring properties or surface water
Residual impacts remaining after remediation

The assessment must address the relevant contaminants and exposure pathways. A conclusion for one substance or pathway does not automatically resolve other environmental concerns.

What Is the Difference Between Tier 1 and Tier 2?

Alberta Tier 1 guidelines provide generic soil and groundwater remediation criteria based on defined land uses and exposure assumptions.

Tier 2 allows eligible site-specific conditions to be considered when evaluating applicable criteria. This can include supported pathway exclusion, guideline modification or a detailed site-specific risk assessment.

Tier 2 is not simply a way to apply less stringent criteria. The approach must be technically supported, appropriate for the site and consistent with applicable requirements.

A Tier 2 evaluation may support different remediation objectives, confirm that existing criteria remain appropriate or identify the need for further action.

Risk Assessment and Risk Management: What Is the Difference?

Risk assessment evaluates potential exposure and adverse effects.

Risk management implements measures to address the risks identified. Depending on the site, these may include remediation, engineered barriers, vapour controls, access restrictions or other exposure controls.

Some management approaches require ongoing inspection, monitoring, maintenance and restrictions on future activities.

Nexus explains both the immediate work and potential ongoing responsibilities when evaluating the available options.

Why Choose Nexus Environmental?

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. is an Alberta-based environmental consulting company providing contaminated-site investigation, remediation and environmental assessment support.

Practical Contaminated-Site Experience

Our assessments draw on field experience with soil investigations, groundwater monitoring, remediation and commercial and industrial properties.

Site-Specific Evaluation

Recommendations consider the property’s actual conditions, identified contamination and intended use.

Clear Communication

We explain the assessment findings, uncertainties and available options in straightforward language so you can make informed decisions.

Evidence-Based Recommendations

Conclusions are supported by available site information. Where the evidence is insufficient, we identify the additional work needed.

Coordinated Environmental Support

We can coordinate additional investigation and specialist input where required by the complexity of the assessment.

Complete Environmental Services

Nexus also provides Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, contamination delineation, groundwater monitoring, soil and groundwater remediation, and vapour intrusion assessments.

Environmental Risk Assessment Services Across Alberta

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. provides environmental risk assessment and Tier 2 evaluation services 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 assist property owners, buyers, developers, lenders and project teams with evaluating contaminated-site conditions in urban and rural Alberta.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Exceeding a Tier 1 Guideline Automatically Mean the Entire Property Requires Excavation?

No. An exceedance requires evaluation, but the appropriate response depends on the contaminants, extent of impacts, site conditions and applicable requirements.

Further work may include delineation, Tier 2 assessment, targeted remediation or risk management.

Can a Risk Assessment Reduce Remediation Costs?

In some cases, site-specific assessment can help focus remediation or identify an appropriate alternative approach.

However, additional investigation and assessment also have costs, and reduced remediation is not guaranteed. We evaluate whether the approach is technically suitable and useful for the project.

Can Exposure Pathways Be Excluded?

Only where the applicable framework allows exclusion and sufficient evidence supports it.

A pathway cannot be excluded solely because exposure appears unlikely during a brief site visit. The relevant site conditions and requirements must be evaluated and documented.

Does Commercial Zoning Automatically Determine the Applicable Guidelines?

No. Guideline selection considers actual and proposed land use, surrounding receptors and the applicable assessment framework.

Zoning is relevant information, but it does not resolve every land-use or exposure consideration.

Can Contamination Remain Beneath a Building?

Potentially, but leaving contamination in place requires an appropriate evaluation.

Relevant considerations may include vapour intrusion, groundwater impacts, off-site migration, future excavation and any necessary controls or monitoring.

Is a Tier 2 Assessment the Same as a Detailed Human Health Risk Assessment?

Not necessarily. Some Tier 2 evaluations involve supported pathway exclusion or guideline modification.

A detailed site-specific risk assessment is a more involved approach that may require additional data, modelling, specialist expertise and regulatory review.

Does a Risk Assessment Guarantee Lender Acceptance?

No. Lenders have their own due-diligence requirements and may request additional investigation, remediation or documentation.

Sharing the lender’s requirements early helps align the proposed assessment with the intended purpose.

Does a Risk Assessment Provide Regulatory Closure?

An assessment report does not itself constitute regulatory closure or a government-issued remediation certificate.

Applicable submission and acceptance requirements must be considered, particularly for detailed site-specific risk assessments or exposure-control approaches.

What Happens If the Property Use Changes?

A change in land use, occupancy, buildings or site activities may affect the assessment’s assumptions and conclusions.

Review or reassessment may be required before redevelopment, residential conversion or other material changes.

Is Additional Sampling Usually Required?

That depends on the quality and completeness of the existing information.

Additional soil, groundwater or vapour investigation may be needed to define contamination, evaluate exposure pathways or support site-specific assumptions.

How Much Does an Environmental Risk Assessment Cost?

Costs depend on the contaminants, site complexity, available data, assessment approach and need for additional investigation or specialist work.

Send Nexus the available environmental reports to receive a project-specific proposal.

What Information Is Needed for a Quote?

Provide the property address, previous environmental reports and laboratory results, current and proposed land use, known site constraints and your required completion date.

Include any lender or regulatory requirements and the reason the assessment is being considered.

Understand the Risk. Plan Your Next Steps.

Whether you are evaluating residual contamination, planning remediation or preparing a property for redevelopment, Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. can help you understand the environmental conditions and available options.

Send us the property address, available environmental reports and your project objectives to discuss an appropriate risk assessment scope.