When evaluating a site, it is essential to consider not only potentially contaminating activities (PCAs) occurring on-site that may impact the property of concern, but also off-site PCAs within a 250-meter radius. This is standard practice at S2S for every assigned project, including Melissa Girado-Guzman’s recent Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of an industrial site affected by both on-site and off-site PCAs.

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During her site visit, Melissa observed a mix of land uses surrounding the property, including industrial, commercial, residential, parkland, and vacant land. The client had retained S2S Environmental for a Phase I ESA, which can assist property owners to ensure that any potentially contaminating activities on or off site are identified. The site's operations consisted of the manufacturing of steel products for custom metal data cabinets and racks.

 

After presenting all of the findings during meetings accompanied by the manager assigned to the project, it was recommended that a Phase II environmental site assessment be conducted to quantitatively assess and confirm the level and extent of the potential for environmental contaminant impact identified. This site was interesting not only because of the processes involved in the fabrication of final products for the client using sheets of prefabricated steel, including cutting/punching/forming/bending, welding, electrostatic powder coating processes, drying, powder deposition, curing, assembling, packaging, storing, and shipping; but also because it demonstrated how both on-site and off-site operations can seriously impact the environmental conditions of an assessed area.

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In summary, Melissa's experience conducting a Phase I ESA on an industrial site that had both on/off-site PCAs underscores the importance of rigorously evaluating all relevant information, whether on the site itself or in the surrounding area. Regardless of the site, greater attention and investment of time should be devoted to critically reviewing sources of information to ensure that an environmental consultant like Melissa can thoroughly assess a site and avoid overlooking any potential environmental concerns.