I have been peer reviewing a number of Phase 1 ESA reports lately, and as always there are a few that are very good, many that are adequate, and a disappointing number that are deficient. A common theme to the deficient reports is a general failure to not only complete all the necessary historical
When many people think about historical research in a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), aerial photographs are often the first source that comes to mind. While historical air photos are valuable tools, relying on them alone can result in an incomplete understanding of a
Happy 2026 everybody. For the first Instructors Blog of the New Year I want to share some of the exciting highlights AESAC experienced in 2025. ESA Training Courses by the Numbers: 2025 was a busy year for AESAC’s ESA Training Courses. AESAC presented training courses across Canada, including:
One of the questions I routinely get from mentees, students and recent graduates is about the value of additional training, and where to find specific training relevant to environmental consulting. For those interested in Environmental Site Assessments, I always recommend considering AESAC’s
Last month I reviewed applicable search distances for completing the Records Review portion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, and some of the common guidance documents and regulations covering this topic. This month, I want to dive deeper into the implications, real-world considerations
I have had a few discussions recently with colleagues and clients regarding applicable search distances when completing the Records Review portion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. Since the extent of data to review significantly affects the assessment of potential environmental risks for
Last month I wrote about some of the expectations of mentors, and shared some suggestions for getting the most of the mentoring relationship, as a mentor. This month I explore the topic from the mentee’s point of view. Full disclosure, while I have had some limited experience as a mentee
I thought I would revisit one of the first topics I wrote about, and one that is personally important. Way back in December of 2014, I wrote about the Value of Mentoring and its importance to the environmental consulting industry. That was followed in 2019 by a blog about the Rewards of Mentoring.
When acquiring real property, particularly for commercial or industrial use, understanding environmental liability is critical. One question that often arises among both buyers and professionals conducting environmental due diligence is: Can a purchaser be held responsible for contamination that
Recently I have had discussions with several colleagues and AESAC members about the use of CSA Standard Z-768 for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments in Ontario. I know of a few Ontario consultants (as well as some environmental educators) that don’t utilize, or teach, the CSA
