Ontario · CSA Z769 & O.Reg. 153/04

Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment in the Greater Toronto Area

Ben Engineering offers Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) consulting in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario — conducted under CSA Z769 and Ontario Regulation 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: the Greater Toronto Area, 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 the Greater Toronto Area

The GTA contains the largest concentration of industrial and logistics space in Canada, anchored by the lands surrounding Toronto Pearson International Airport and extending through Brampton, Mississauga, and Vaughan.

Multi-Residential Development in the Greater Toronto Area

Multi-residential development spans the entire region, from Toronto's downtown core to dense suburban nodes including Mississauga City Centre, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, and Markham Centre. 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 the Greater Toronto Area

Properties located near or formerly used for industrial or automotive purposes in the Greater Toronto Area 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.

Laboratory results are compared against the applicable Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks site condition standards for the property's actual and intended use, and any exceedances are clearly flagged in the final report along with recommended next steps.

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.