OUR INDUSTRIES
Real Estate & Development
Real estate transactions move fast. Environmental issues that surface late in a deal can kill timelines, inflate costs, or transfer unknown liabilities. Smart investors and developers conduct thorough environmental due diligence before commitments are made.
Ecovision Engineering provides the environmental intelligence that protects investments, accelerates closings, and unlocks development potential.
Environmental Support Across the Transaction
From initial screening through closing and beyond.
1
Pre-Acquisition
Desktop screening, preliminary risk assessment, deal structuring advice
2
Due Diligence
Phase I/II ESAs, compliance review, regulatory records search
3
Negotiation
Cost estimates, risk quantification, escrow recommendations
4
Closing
Reliance letters, insurance support, lender requirements
Environmental Due Diligence Services
Comprehensive assessments that protect your investment and satisfy lender requirements.
Phase I ESA
Historical review & site reconnaissance
Phase II ESA
Soil & groundwater investigation
Compliance Review
Permit & regulatory status
Risk Quantification
Cost estimates & liability assessment
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Phase I Scope
✓ Historical records review
✓ Regulatory database search
✓ Site reconnaissance
✓ Interviews
✓ ASTM E1527-21 compliant report
Phase II Scope
✓ Soil sampling & analysis
✓ Groundwater monitoring
✓ Vapor intrusion assessment
✓ Laboratory analysis
✓ Risk-based recommendations
Turnaround: Phase I reports delivered in 10-15 business days. Rush service available for time-sensitive transactions.
Environmental Risk by Property Type
Understanding typical concerns helps prioritize due diligence scope.
Industrial Sites
HIGH RISK
Manufacturing, storage, processing facilities often have soil/groundwater impacts from historical operations, underground tanks, chemical handling.
Gas Stations / Auto
HIGH RISK
Petroleum releases from USTs, hydraulic lifts, and vehicle maintenance are common. Vapor intrusion risk in redevelopment scenarios.
Retail / Office
MODERATE
Lower inherent risk but historic uses, adjacent properties, and building materials (asbestos, lead) require review. Dry cleaners are an exception.
Residential
LOWER RISK
Generally lower risk unless on former industrial land. Historic fill, heating oil tanks, and lead paint are common issues in older properties.
Agricultural
MODERATE
Pesticide storage, fuel tanks, and equipment maintenance areas can create impacts. Wetlands and species-at-risk often affect development potential.
Brownfields
KNOWN IMPACTS
Sites with documented contamination. Focus shifts from discovery to understanding remediation requirements, costs, and timeline for closure.
Beyond Due Diligence: Development Support
Once you’ve acquired a property, the real work begins. We support developers through environmental approvals, site preparation, and construction—helping turn property into productive assets.
Our development services integrate with your project team from day one, identifying constraints early and designing solutions that keep construction on schedule.
Site Plan Environmental Review
Natural heritage, stormwater, and environmental compliance for approvals
Remediation Management
Design, tendering, oversight, and regulatory closure for contaminated sites
Permit Applications
Environmental permits, agency liaison, and approval condition compliance
Construction Monitoring
Environmental inspection, soil management, and erosion control oversight
Who We Work With
🏦
Lenders & Financial Institutions
Portfolio screening, loan security assessments, and default property evaluations
💼
Private Equity & REITs
Acquisition due diligence, portfolio management, and disposition support
🏗️
Developers
Site acquisition, entitlement support, and construction-phase environmental services
⚖️
Legal & Insurance
Expert opinions, litigation support, and environmental insurance applications
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you deliver a Phase I ESA?
Standard turnaround is 10-15 business days from authorization. Rush service (5-7 days) is available for time-sensitive transactions. We’ve delivered reports in as little as 48 hours for critical deals, though database availability can affect minimum timelines.
Do your reports satisfy lender requirements?
Yes. Our Phase I reports comply with ASTM E1527-21 and CSA Z768-01 standards, which satisfy requirements for most Canadian and US lenders. We routinely provide reliance letters to additional parties and can accommodate specific lender requirements upon request.
What if contamination is found?
Finding contamination doesn’t necessarily kill a deal. We provide cost estimates and risk assessments that help you understand the financial implications. Many contaminated properties are successfully acquired with appropriate price adjustments, escrow arrangements, or seller remediation commitments.
Can you support portfolio transactions?
Absolutely. We regularly support multi-property transactions with consistent methodology and reporting. For large portfolios, we offer tiered approaches—desktop screening to identify high-risk properties, followed by targeted Phase I/II work where warranted.
Protect Your Investment
Tell us about your transaction timeline and property details. We’ll provide a scope and fee proposal within 24 hours.
