Contaminated Sites Risk Assessment in Ontario

Providing science-based risk assessment solutions for contaminated sites in Ontario

Risk assessment is a formal, science-based process used to evaluate potential risks posed by contaminants in environmental media (e.g., soil and groundwater) to human health and the environment and plays a critical role in managing contaminated sites (e.g., brownfields) and supporting property transactions in Ontario.

In Ontario, contaminated site risk assessments can be conducted under the provincial Record of Site Condition (RSC) regulatory process laid out in Ontario Regulation 153/04 (O. Reg. 153/04) in support of an RSC, or under the non-regulatory route. Under the non-regulatory route, a due diligence risk assessment or screening level risk assessment is typically completed to help property owners, developers, and lenders better understand potential environmental (ecological and health) risks posed by on-site contamination, environmental liabilities, financial exposure, and risk management options.

When is a contaminated site risk assessment required in Ontario?

In Ontario, a contaminated site risk assessment is required when concentrations of contaminants in soil and groundwater exceed the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Park’s (MECP) Generic Site Condition Standards laid out in O. Reg. 153/04 and contamination is left in place. They are typically conducted when:

A property is being converted to a more sensitive land use (e.g., industrial to residential)
Completing brownfield redevelopment
Soil and/or groundwater remediation is not financially or physically feasible
An RSC or due diligence risk assessment is required to support development or financing
Evaluating potential health risks to property users and the surrounding community due to existing contamination in environmental media
Addressing legal liabilities and compensation issues between property owners and other stakeholders

The benefits of contaminated site risk assessment

The risk assessment process involves the development of property-specific standards (PSSs), often with requirements for implementing risk management measures (RMMs) to mitigate potential health risks while leaving contamination in place. As such, risk assessments allow property owners and developers to manage soil and groundwater contamination without full remediation to the MECP Standards. As a result, the risk assessment process can:

Reduce excavation and disposal costs
Minimize project delays
Allow deeper contamination to remain in place safely
Enable complex urban redevelopment

For many contaminated sites in Ontario, risk assessment is the most economically and technically viable solution to facilitate property transactions, redevelopments and achieve regulatory compliance and approval while ensuring that on-site contamination does not pose a risk to health or the environment.

How Intrinsik can help

Intrinsik is one of the leading contaminated site risk assessment firms in Ontario experienced in conducting and peer reviewing risk assessments in compliance with O. Reg. 153/04 and in a non-regulatory environment (e.g., due diligence risk assessments) since 1997.

Intrinsik’s environmental consultants are Qualified Persons for Risk Assessment (QPRAs), as defined by O. Reg. 153/04, and the entire technical team at Intrinsik is well acquainted with the requirements of O. Reg. 153/04. Our team’s extensive experience and strong understanding of the regulatory framework governing risk assessments for contaminated sites in Ontario allow us to determine the best risk assessment solutions for our clients. Supported by our robust company systems and proactive communication with our clients and partners, we help facilitate regulatory compliance and approval, supporting financing or the purchase or sale of properties in a cost and time effective manner. Our process includes a thorough review of all relevant data and reports and the completion of a data gap analysis to ensure that all necessary documentation is available to move the project forward and meet regulatory compliance and client deadlines.

Our clients and partners include environmental consultants and engineering firms, property owners, developers, contractors, municipalities, lenders and lawyers.

Intrinsik’s risk assessment services in Ontario

Intrinsik provides a full suite of risk assessment and technical support services for contaminated sites in Ontario for public and private sector clients, including:

Preparation of O.Reg. 153/04 risk assessments
Preparation of due diligence and screening-level risk assessments
Support for brownfield redevelopment
Development of risk-based cleanup levels/risk-based target levels
Development of conceptual site models and exposure pathway analysis
Technical support during regulatory risk assessment review and stakeholder engagement
Uncertainty analysis and weight-of-evidence evaluations
Reviews of environmental field data to support risk assessment and remediation plans
Expert toxicology support for complex or emerging contaminants
Peer reviews
Consulting services and data gap analysis for the following:
Soil and groundwater sampling plans to ensure proper delineation of contamination
Risk management plans and recommended risk management measures
Risk assessment administrative and technical documentation requirements