Environmental Risk Management Services

A Phase I ESA is a visual inspection and historical review of a site. We use the Phase I ESA to determine the likelihood of potential environmental issues such as soil or groundwater contamination, or the presence of hazardous or regulated materials in buildings.

A Phase II ESA is an intrusive investigation that further investigates the potential for contamination. Typically the sources of contamination were identified in the Phase I ESA. The Phase II ESA can include soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment and/or air testing and can be completed using a number of different methodologies to accommodate site-specific conditions.

If a Phase II identifies contamination on a property, a Phase III ESA may be required to further assess or delineate the extent of the contamination. The Phase III ESA includes a detailed characterization of the subsurface environment and contaminant plumes. Based on the findings, our engineers can provide remediation or risk management strategies to mitigate the identified risk.

When contamination is identified on a site, there are a number of ways to mitigate risk to human health and the environment. One option that is often considered is remediation (i.e. soil, groundwater, sediment or surface water). Remediation can be completed ex-situ or in-situ using a variety of different methods. Alternatively, many of our clients prefer to use a risk assessment/risk management approach. This approach uses the science and engineering behind contaminated sites management to determine whether contamination can safely remain in place; this approach may include some restrictions on land use or require the use of engineered controls.

Underground storage tanks or USTs are removed for a number of reasons including the tank is no longer in use, the tank is past its life cycle, or the tank needs to be replaced. Our staff have overseen hundreds of UST removals throughout Atlantic Canada. We take a staged approach to tank removals in an effort to reduce costly expenses associated with unnecessary remediation.

Unexpected petroleum and chemical spills happen all the time throughout Atlantic Canada. The quicker the spill can be remediated, the lower the overall cost of remediation. Our field services manager has overseen more than 500 emergency response situations in Atlantic Canada. Our emergency services are available 24/7. With this experience behind us, we can ensure that your emergency will be handled professionally. Our objective is to save our clients money with a completely transparent approach to our consulting services.

Hazardous Material Assessments and Designated Substance Surveys are designed to find materials that may be present on a site that can cause harm to humans or the environment. Some management, handling, use and disposal of these materials and substances are regulated by either a provincial or federal government.

These assessments are completed to determine how to safely manage these substances in an existing building or to determine how to properly manage, handle and dispose of these materials during a demolition or renovation project.

Asbestos was a common product used in many building materials prior to the mid-1980s. Asbestos cannot be visually identified but can be found in many different types of building materials:

If you have an older building and are planning renovations or demolition, or you just want to ensure your maintenance staff is protected in the event of an emergency (i.e. pipe rupture, etc.), we can complete an assessment to identify the asbestos in your building to ensure the health and safety of site occupants.

Our experts can help train you on the aspects of asbestos. From its uses, the types, and the dangers of asbestos, we can teach you what you need to know to stay safe. Our staff have completed asbestos awareness training for several departments of the federal government, maintenance crews working in older buildings and numerous restoration contractors throughout Atlantic Canada.

Most of our clients are looking for solutions for contamination that is found in the ground, often times as a result of on-going operations at a site. However, an environmental management plan or EMP is a plan that identifies the processes occurring on-site and provides recommendations on the storage and handling of designated, regulated or other contaminants (i.e. road salt). The purpose of the EMP is to provide the owner with proper procedures for on-site activities that otherwise could result in negative impact to the environment. An EMP aims to reduce future costs associated with remediation/assessment due to improper handling/management procedures.

Brownfield redevelopment, the remediation of formerly industrial properties, is a great way to turn potentially contaminated sites into a benefit to the community. Brownfield redevelopment is a very effective strategy if implemented at the inception of a project. Hive’s engineers will work with your planners to identify cost-effective areas to develop on a site and areas that are cost-prohibitive due to the presence of environmental contamination. This allows our clients to maximize the developable space of a property while minimizing the costs associated with remediation.

Mould can grow almost anywhere in the environment. Mould and mould spores can adversely affect indoor air quality (IAQ). A number of factors can contribute to mould growth inside a building; most often mould growth is related to inadequate ventilation or heating, or water intrusion (i.e. flooding or leaking roof). Elevated levels of mould can negatively affect people, especially individuals with allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions. If you have concerns about IAQ at your home, office, industrial or commercial space, our staff can assist with the assessment and identification of mould and provide recommendations for remediation.

Air clearance sampling is required following an asbestos abatement project but before a building can be re-occupied. The sampling confirms that asbestos is no longer present in the work area and has been successfully removed. Our personnel are trained and certified to analyze samples collected on-site and in real time for the determination of airborne fibre concentrations by Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) following the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7400.