​Environmental Site Assessments in Calgary
Vista Environmental Science provides professional environmental site assessments in Calgary for residential, commercial, and industrial properties. We help clients identify environmental risks, meet Alberta’s due diligence requirements, and move projects forward with confidence.
Our Phase 1 environmental work adheres to the CSA-Z768 standard and the Alberta Environmental Site Assessment Standard, ensuring full compliance for lenders, brokers, and developers. Whether you’re redeveloping land, purchasing property, or securing financing, Vista applies Alberta’s environmental assessment phases to deliver accurate, defensible results, on time and on budget.
Below is a recent example of our work in the Calgary region.
Case Study: Navigating Gas Station Proximity with Confidence
Site: 2415 Crestwood Road SE, Calgary
Service: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
Date: May 2025
Challenge
Vista Environmental Science was retained to complete a Phase I ESA for a residential redevelopment in southeast Calgary. During the assessment, a historic gas station (Ogden Gas Plus) located approximately 95 m northeast of the Site was identified. The station had a long history of underground storage tanks, fuel dispensing, and past exceedances of petroleum hydrocarbons, raising lender concerns about potential subsurface impacts.
Approach
Vista conducted the ESA in accordance with CSA Z768-01 and the Alberta EPA Environmental Site Assessment Standard (2016).
Key steps included
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Regulatory and records review – Identified and reviewed multiple environmental reports for the gas station, including 2021 and 2024 groundwater monitoring programs.
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Data interpretation – Determined that exceedances were localized; the nearest monitoring well (~80 m NE) met the 2024 Alberta Tier 2 SGRG for residential use.
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Hydrogeology – Verified groundwater flow direction toward the southeast, away from the subject property.
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Historical aerial review – Confirmed continuous residential land use since 1957 with no on-Site sources of contamination.
Results
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No Areas of Potential Environmental Concern (APECs) were identified.
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Contamination at the gas station was attenuating and migrating away from the Site.
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No Phase II ESA was required.
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The findings were accepted by the lender, allowing financing approval without delay.
Outcome
Vista’s thorough yet efficient approach demonstrated that the nearby gas station posed a low environmental risk to the Site. By leveraging existing off-Site groundwater data and regulatory records, Vista avoided unnecessary intrusive work, saving the client both time and cost while ensuring compliance and lender confidence.
