Environmental Risk Assessment

An environmental risk assessment (ERA) evaluates whether contaminants may affect human health and/or the environment, and guides management decisions for remediation, (re)development, and investment.

Active Earth completes human health and ecological risk assessments that are comprehensive, scientifically defensible, and practical for regulatory and project decision making and in achieving site closure.

Our team completes ERAs at sites across sectors and levels of complexities. Our ERAs can range from small desktop efforts to projects with focused field data collection programs, concise problem formulations and detailed calculations of risk estimates. Active Earth ERAs provide conclusions and recommendations that support next steps and align with BC and federal expectations.

A well-scoped detailed risk assessment can reduce remedial costs, guide monitoring programs, prevent unnecessary management costs, and support site closure. 

Completing an ERA helps to:

• Identify priorities at contaminated sites for human health and environment 
• Focus effort on the media, chemicals or pathways that drive risk and potential effects 
• Select cost-effective site responses, such as targeted remediation or long-term monitoring

Active Earth has completed risk assessments for more than 250 properties across Western Canada, including commercial/industrial sites, residential properties, remote wildlands, mine sites, pulp and saw mills, landfills, ports, rail and transportation facilities, telecommunications sites, and First Nations lands.

Problem Formulation

We review available information on historical and current land uses, identify relevant sources and contaminants from previous investigations, , and integrate geology, hydrogeology and biology relevant to the site to understand contaminant fate and transport, pathways and receptors. We provide a conceptual site model that summarizes this wealth of information into an easily understandable format.

Targeted Field Investigation

Many of our ERAs use previously collected data, but if additional information is needed a targeted field investigation for the sampling soil, groundwater, surface water and/or biota can be designed. 

Exposure Assessment

The ERA evaluates exposure for site-specific receptors that can include visitors, residents or workers as human receptors and plants, invertebrates or wildlife species as ecological receptors. Depending on where the contamination is found, the ERA includes pathways such as contact with soil or water, ingestion of soil, food or groundwater, inhalation of vapor or other interactions where relevant.

Risk Characterization

We provide risk estimates and, if needed, additional lines of evidence to describe potential risks to human health and the environment. The result is a transparent, science-based assessment that supports practical decision making.

Our team understands the BC Environmental Management Act and Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR), along with provincial protocols, federal guidance and local bylaws. ERA findings often support applications for legal instruments such as Approvals in Principle or Certificates of Compliance under BC’s CSR framework. Active Earth also conducts Approved Professional reviews of risk assessments that support applications for these regulatory instruments in BC. Furthermore, we can also prepare Protocol 6 preapprovals, Protocol 4 and Protocol 9 background determinations, site risk classifications, notices of off-site migration and other related regulatory submissions where they intersect with ERA.

• Source and chemicals: Identify contaminants that drive risk, refine analytes, and focus assessment on the concerns.
• Transport and fate in the environment: Determine whether contaminants can reach receptors and come into contact with them by using site and source characteristics, land and water uses, and presence and absence of species.
• Exposure routes: Quantify potential exposure for human and ecological receptors across relevant pathways.
• Overall risk and uncertainty: Integrate data to produce a clear risk characterization with stated assumptions and a clear understanding of the uncertainties.
• Practical responses: Connect contaminants to receptors through credible pathways, then close or control those pathways with measured responses such as targeted remediation, engineering controls, and environmental monitoring to keep the site safe and compliant.

This integrated approach provides a defensible framework for managing human and environmental health concerns while supporting regulatory approval.

Common Risk Drivers and Effects

• Petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, metals, PAHs, and salts in soil and water
• Groundwater to surface water pathways near ditches, streams, or wetlands
• Vapor intrusion potential in buildings and confined spaces
• Environmental impacts of spills on aquatic and riparian habitats

• Sectors served: commercial, industrial, residential, transportation, municipal, federal and First Nations projects
• Scale: projects in city centres and remote locations alike across Western Canada
• Integrated services: ERA, remediation planning, permitting, hydrogeology, and biological/chemical monitoring so your site can move forward with confidence

• Proven ERA delivery: More than 250 human health and ecological risk assessment files completed across diverse facilities and land uses
• Regulatory fluency: Strong understanding of EMA, CSR, CCME, and local bylaw processes, with proven positive outcomes for submissions
• Clear guidance: We translate technical findings into concise reporting, offer plain language summaries if requested and provide practical risk management options your team can act on 

If you need an environmental risk assessment in British Columbia, our team is ready to help with a scoped plan, schedule, and fees.

We align the work with your project decisions, compliance requirements, and long-term environmental management goals.

Call us today or request a quote online to get started on your environmental due diligence.