Detailed Site Investigations

There are times when the amount of contamination needs to be understood, to help prepare a remediation strategy, or to provide a reliable estimate for remediation or reduction of future environmental and financial liabilities.

A DSI follows an iterative process whereby the vertical and lateral extent of contamination is investigated. This process often includes other important tasks such as hydrogeological assessments, Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy applications and approvals, and specialized laboratory analyses for unique parameters. While a step-by-step process can sound exhaustive, it is actually designed to minimize costs so that only necessary investigative steps are completed as needed.

From a regulatory perspective, a DSI is required to support municipal permits (such as for rezoning, subdivision, demolition and development), as well as legal instruments confirming completion of remediation (such as a Certificate of Compliance). It is important to properly design a DSI, with a clear objective in mind, in order to minimize cost and avoid untimely delays.