What is a Site Investigation?
When purchasing a commercial site, a site investigation is often necessary to establish the site’s unique properties and the type of contamination that the site has experienced. This type of study is performed to identify if a groundwater and soil investigation will be necessary and whether further remediation will be required to rectify the problem. There are three stages of site investigation which may be gone through in order to finally ensure that the land is safe, sanitary, and compliant with environmental requirements. Not every site will need all three phases, as this will depend on the extent of any contamination uncovered during the investigation.
What is Phase I?
The first step in any site investigation is to produce a conceptual model of the site itself and its surrounding area. This model will identify all potential contamination sources, such as oil tanks under the ground, as well as any potential receptors that could be affected by the contamination, such as the environment itself or any people who would be using the site, as well as any pathways which link the receptors (for example, the drinking water). This conceptual model will be made up of descriptions, diagrams, and pictures. Once the conceptual model has been created, a desk study will then be produced to identify if the site in question has previously been used for manufacturing or industry which could have contaminated it, and to identify the pathways and receptors. The comprehensive investigation will include the current and previous uses of the site as well as its hydrogeology, hydrology, and geology with the methods of site investigation including obtaining records from regulatory bodies and the site’s owner and performing a walkover of the site itself.
What Is Phase II?
The Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is one of the more intrusive types of site investigation and may involve two different elements, the main investigation, and an exploratory investigation. The exploratory investigation will be conducted first to determine whether or not the conceptual model of the site is correct. This study may involve taking samples of the surface water, groundwater, soil, and soil gas from the site and analyzing the samples in order to determine the risks to humans and the environment.
What Is Phase III?
The third phase involves remediation being carried out to restore the site to the required environmental standards once more. This phase involves developing a strategy to remove all polluted soil, to treat contaminated water and soil through the use of biological, chemical and physical processes, and the control of any contamination. A report for the remediation process outlining the objective, procedures, and methodology of any proposed works will be prepared and then submitted to regulatory bodies before any work can begin. Once the remediation work has been carried out a validation report will then be drawn up, demonstrating the actions taken and whether or not the target was achieved.
Are You In Need Of Site Investigation Services?
All American Environmental’s skilled and experienced team are highly qualified to carry out all three phases of site investigation to the required investigation assessment regulations standard, in order to ensure that your site is free of all pollutants and contamination, and is compliant with environmental obligations.
