Ontario · CSA Z769 & O.Reg. 153/04

Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment in Durham Region

Ben Engineering offers Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) consulting in Durham Region, Ontario — with intrusive sampling and laboratory analysis under CSA Z769 and O.Reg. 153/04.

Request a Quote See Phase 1 ESA

Standard: CSA Z769financing & due diligence
Regulation: O.Reg. 153/04RSC, rezoning, permits
Prepared by: Licensed P.Eng & P.Geo30+ years experience
Service area: Durham Region, ONand Southwestern Ontario

What is a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment?

A Phase 2 ESA is an intrusive investigation involving borehole drilling, soil and groundwater sampling, and laboratory analysis, typically conducted after a Phase 1 ESA identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions.

See our Phase 1 ESA overview for more. In Ontario, Phase 2 ESAs may follow CSA Z769 (financing, due diligence) or O.Reg. 153/04 (RSC filing, rezoning, MECP applications).

Industrial and Commercial Context in Durham Region

Durham Region's industrial lands are distributed across Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, and Pickering, with the largest concentrations near Highway 401 and the automotive-supply corridor anchored by Oshawa's GM plant.

Multi-Residential Development in Durham Region

Multi-residential development varies by municipality, with the densest clusters of apartment and condominium buildings found along the Highway 2/Kingston Road corridor and near each municipality's GO station. Properties near these commercial and industrial corridors are the ones most likely to require environmental due diligence before financing, redevelopment, or a change of use.

Why This Matters for Properties in Durham Region

Properties located near or formerly used for industrial or automotive purposes in Durham Region are the ones most commonly flagged for further environmental investigation during a real estate transaction, rezoning application, or building permit review.

How a Phase 2 ESA Is Actually Carried Out

Soil samples are collected at multiple depths from each borehole and screened in the field before being sent to an accredited laboratory, allowing the assessor to prioritize which samples warrant full laboratory analysis.

Where groundwater is encountered, monitoring wells are installed to allow repeat sampling over time, since a single groundwater sample can be misleading if contaminant concentrations vary seasonally.

Environmental Site Assessment — Overview

Nearby areas we serve

Also servicing the surrounding region

Phase 2 ESAs by area

We work across Ontario, generally within 500 km of our Vaughan head office. Each area has its own page.