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Environmental Site Assessments and Contaminant Investigations
Phase I or Stage I Audits and Liability Assessments
 Audits or preliminary site investigations are typically conducted as a due diligence measure (e.g. during asset transaction), or simply to satisfy corporate or regulatory accounting requirements. Audits and liability assessments rely on a review of facilities and operations, and associated historical and operating records, to establish the potential for environmental liabilities at a site, and if necessary estimate the value of those liabilities. Liability assessments can be completed to satisfy internal client driven processes, or to satisfy regulatory requirements (e.g. EUB large facility liability assessment program).
Intrusive Site Assessment and Investigation
Typical Waterline environmental assessment projects are driven by the client’s needs and the specifics of each situation; if the client needs certainty in project cost and schedule a typical phased approach is employed (e.g. Phase II or Stage II Detailed Site Investigation, contaminant delineation investigation, etc.). However, if other constraints apply (e.g. limited time frame), Waterline is prepared to work with alternative solutions such as expedited assessment/delineation/remediation programs. Intrusive assessment programs rely on common techniques (e.g. borehole drilling, monitoring well installation, development, sampling and analysis, geophysics, soil vapour survey, etc.) to investigate soil or rock, groundwater, and subsurface vapour conditions, and can be designed to satisfy diligence needs (e.g. identify and delineate contaminant liabilities), or can be designed simply to characterize a site (e.g. baseline siting studies for industrial development). Any potential contaminant problem requires characterization of potential sources, pathways and receptors. Waterline’s team and their expertise leaves them particularly suited to sound characterization and judgment of subsurface contaminant problems.
 Routine Monitoring
Routine and compliance monitoring can be an effective way of ensuring environmental impacts created by site activities are identified as early as possible. Such monitoring would typically be designed and implemented to identify potential impacts and to allow appropriate liability management or mitigation to proceed early after the source problem is created (i.e. minimizing the problem, and associated mitigation effort and costs). Such routine programs are common at higher risk sites such as landfills, and large industrial facilities, and are often a regulatory compliance requirement. At lower risk facilities monitoring may not be required, though valuable due diligence can be provided to facility operators where nearby receptors may be particularly sensitive (e.g. adjacent wetland or vulnerable water well users), or where operators simply want to routinely demonstrate and ensure that even their lower risk operations represent no outstanding environmental liability.
Modelling
Waterline has experienced modellers with capabilities dealing with modelling, particularly for groundwater flow, contaminant fate and transport modelling. These capabilities extend to:
- Two and three dimensional modelling;
- Saturated and unsaturated conditions;
- Numeric and analytical techniques;
- Steady-state, and transient solutions; and
- Mass transport, contaminant fate and attenuation evaluations.
Such modelling capabilities can be applied to a variety of environmental projects, including: modelling to support generic standards adjustment and site-specific risk assessment; remedial feasibility evaluation, and remedial design (e.g. capture zone analysis); well head protection zone delineation; or site assessment and characterization (e.g. plume delineation to distinguish between multiple complicated sources).
Though not always associated with modelling efforts, Waterline can also provide 3D visualization and video production services, for example, to support external consultation efforts.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment efforts are undertaken to refine appropriate assessment or remediation standards for the specific conditions and setting of a site. Through a site-specific risk assessment process, remedial needs at a site can be refined, potentially reducing the magnitude of remedial programs. Waterline can direct and contribute significantly to risk assessment efforts. We partner with firms for specific ecological or human health contributions.
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