Contaminated Sites

When a property or a parcel of land is known, or suspected, to be contaminated, a phased Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) approach is used to ascertain Areas of Potential Environmental Concern (APECs), Concentrations of Contaminants of Concern (COCs) and devise a strategy to address/remediate identified environmental issues.

A Phase I or “Phase One” ESA is a non-intrusive investigation that determines the environmental conditions of the property and identifies any issues of actual or potential environmental concern. The Phase I ESA identifies any Areas of Potential Environmental Concern (APECs) on the property that should be investigated and what contaminants of concern (COCs) should be tested for.

A Phase II or “Phase Two” ESA then investigates soil and groundwater conditions (and possibly sediment, surface water or air) at the identified APECs. Concentrations of COCs in collected samples are then compared to applicable site condition standards/environmental criteria to determine the location/extent of contamination. A determination is then made to either develop remedial (Clean up) plans with obtained data or to investigate the site further.

In situations where the extent of subsurface contamination is not fully understood or other data gaps exist regarding subsurface conditions, a Phase III ESA is completed. The full vertical and horizontal extents of identified soil and groundwater impacts are delineated and additional data on site conditions (such as soil porosity, grain size etc.) is collected. This information is then used to develop a remedial work program for the property.

Terrapex’s professional engineers, geoscientists, biologists and technicians work with their clients to provide personalized, affordable, practical approaches based on the specific requirements of the property.

For situations where contaminated soil, groundwater or other media is identified on a property, Terrapex has the technical expertise to develop a practical, cost-effective approach to address the contamination and thereby permit the property to be used as intended.

Our staff are committed to implementing the best alternative for a given property based upon the Contaminants of Concern (COCs), technical applicability, costs (property value vs. remedial costs), schedule (time to implement) and other project-specific requirements.

Our multidisciplinary team of engineering, geoscience and environmental specialists implements a range of in-situ and ex-situ remedial approaches, including excavation/removal of contaminated soil or other media, groundwater pump and treatment, vapour extraction, biostimulation (bio-slurping or bioventing), chemical oxidation and natural attenuation.

Based on client requirements, site conditions or required timeframes, Terrapex has completed projects where remedial technologies have been implemented singularly or in combination to address identified COCs in affected media. We have successfully remediated properties to both applicable generic environmental standards/criteria or developed and implemented site-specific target levels (SSTLs) established through a Risk Assessment.
While site remediation services can be provided under either a turnkey or a supervisory basis, remedial projects undertaken by Terrapex include the following value-added components:

• Review of site conditions and evaluation of potential options.
• Preparation of a detailed Remedial Action Plan (RAP) using the selected preferred remedial approach.
• Development of project specifications.
• Liaison with regulators, municipalities and other third parties to obtain required permits/approvals.
• Contractor oversight, including tendering, bid award, management/supervision of the work, invoice review and payment approval.
• Documentation of the successful completion of remedial measures.

A Risk Assessment is a technical report that evaluates potential human and ecological health risks and hazards related to environmental contamination associated with industrial or commercial activities.

Risk Assessment is a tool that can be used when it is not financially or technically feasible or practicable to remediate a contaminated property. Instead of remediating to generic provincial or federal standards/guidelines, a Risk Assessment directs remedial or risk mitigation efforts (risk management measures) only to those risks and hazards that are likely to manifest, given the site-specific characteristics of a contaminated property. Risk Assessment is a particularly attractive option when proposed development plans will act as, or allow for, risk management measures to be incorporated into planned construction works.

Terrapex has completed numerous Risk Assessments to both provincial and federal standards, allowing for the sale, purchase, or development of many contaminated properties. Our highly qualified team of Risk Assessment practitioners have been retained by various levels of governments to conduct technical reviews of environmental Risk Assessments.

Decommissioning facilities and demolishing buildings are tasks often required during the remediation or redevelopment of contaminated sites. Issues typically addressed include the identification, removal and disposal of chemical inventories, hazardous wastes, storage tanks, designated substances (particularly asbestos), and building materials, as well as the removal/capping of underground utilities/services.
Terrapex’s team of engineers and scientists have the technical expertise to manage, organize and implement multi-faceted decommissioning/demolition projects by providing the following services:

• Pre-demolition building inspections, including Designated Substance Surveys (DSSs) and other hazardous materials assessments.
• Preparation of technical specifications and bid documents for abatement, demolition or storage tank removal work.
• Obtaining permits and approvals required to complete the work.
• Contractor management/oversight throughout the project, including on-site supervision during the decommissioning of equipment and storage tank systems, as well as the removal of hazardous wastes, designated substances, and building materials.
• Ongoing liaison with the project architect and other team members.
• Documenting the completion of work/project close-out.

Brownfields are former industrial/commercial lands located in urban settings that are generally contaminated from previous operations; as a result, these properties remain derelict and underutilized but represent the valuable real estate that has yet to be unlocked.

When properly planned and executed, Brownfield Redevelopment projects address the issues of contamination to realize the full potential of these lands. In addition to revitalizing vacant, underutilized urban core areas, the redevelopment of Brownfields also reduces urban sprawl and assists municipalities in developing/strengthening their tax base. More importantly, the successful completion of Brownfield Redevelopment projects relieves the property owner from ongoing financial burden by surfacing value from an underperforming asset.

Terrapex’s team of engineering, geosciences and environmental specialists provide full-scale Brownfield redevelopment service in-house that includes:

• Meeting to review proposed redevelopment and environmental concerns at the property.
• Reviewing existing site information and completing additional subsurface investigation.
• Ascertaining the extent of contamination on the property and identifying any data gaps.
• Reviewing alternatives and identifying the most practical, cost-effective approach to redevelop the property.
• Designing and implementing remedial work program(s) and risk management measure(s).
• Coordinating with clients, legal counsel, insurance adjustors and other stakeholders.
• Obtaining required permits and approvals throughout the project.
• Submitting regulatory documentation (e.g., Record of Site Condition).
• Documenting project close-out.

Our Brownfield professionals help transform underutilized properties into valuable assets. Where others see challenges, we see opportunities and work to provide the information necessary, at the time it is needed, to facilitate informed decisions and allow the successful redevelopment of contaminated sites.