Environmental Assessments & Regulatory Compliance

Terra-Sano provides comprehensive environmental assessment and regulatory compliance services across Alberta. We complete the work regulators require, prepare the submissions, and keep you in compliance so you can focus on operations.

Environmental Site Assessments

Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment

Phase 1 ESAs are the foundation of understanding what you're dealing with on inactive or acquired sites. They're desktop assessments that review historical site use, regulatory records, aerial photography, and conduct site inspections to identify potential environmental concerns.

Our Phase 1 ESAs provide clear conclusions about whether contamination is likely present and what further investigation (Phase 2) may be required. These reports meet AER standards and provide the documentation you need for regulatory submissions and internal decision-making.

Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment

When Phase 1 identifies potential contamination, Phase 2 assessments determine the nature of the contamination through field investigation, soil and groundwater sampling, and laboratory analysis.

Terra-Sano conducts all field investigation work in-house—electromagnetic surveys, direct push sampling, drone documentation, and specialized testing. 

Learn more about our Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment services.

Phase 2 Assessments

Pre-Disturbance Assessment

Before any ground disturbance activities occur, whether it's drilling a new well, constructing access roads, or expanding facilities, you need baseline environmental documentation. Pre-disturbance assessments ensure that you can approach the site confidently with plans to establish correct drainage, species, and topsoil composition.

Our pre-disturbance assessments include:

  • Site reconnaissance and photographic documentation
  • Soil sampling to establish baseline conditions
  • Identification of environmentally sensitive areas
  • Regulatory compliance verification

This baseline documentation is critical to ensure your site meets the necessary endpoint criteria. .

Specialized Assessment
& Testing Services

Water Well Installation and Monitoring

Groundwater monitoring is often required for contaminated site management, remediation verification, and long-term compliance monitoring. Terra-Sano installs and monitors water wells for baseline groundwater quality characterization, contamination delineation and plume tracking, and remediation effectiveness monitoring.

Our environmental professionals design monitoring well networks, oversee installation, conduct sampling programs, and interpret results in the context of applicable groundwater quality guidelines.

Clubroot Testing

For sites being returned to agricultural use, clubroot testing may be required to ensure soil health and prevent the spread of this plant disease. Our team conducts clubroot testing and provides documentation for landowner agreements and reclamation certificate applications.

Gas Migration and Surface Casing Vent Flow (SCVF) Testing

Gas migration and SCVF issues can create safety hazards, environmental impacts, and significant regulatory problems. Our team conducts gas migration assessments and SCVF testing to:

  • Identify and quantify gas migration pathways
  • Measure SCVF rates and composition
  • Assess potential risks to groundwater, soil, and surface features
  • Determine appropriate remedial measures
  • Prepare regulatory notifications and reports

Regulatory Compliance Services

Contaminated Site Management

Managing contaminated sites ensures you can maintain regulatory compliance, maintain documentation, and communicate with regulators until sites are closed. Our contaminated site management services can keep contaminated sites on track toward closure instead of sitting in regulatory limbo for years.

Regulatory Compliance Monitoring

Ongoing compliance monitoring ensures you're meeting regulatory requirements. Our team designs monitoring programs that satisfy regulatory requirements without unnecessary sampling or reporting that drives up costs without adding value.

Risk and Liability Assessments

Understanding your environmental risk and liability is critical for corporate planning, asset transactions, and regulatory strategy. Our risk and liability assessments give you the information needed to make informed decisions about where to allocate environmental spending and how to manage regulatory risk across your portfolio.

Regulatory Submissions & Approvals

Regulatory Documention Completed for You

Miss a deadline or submit incomplete documentation, and you're dealing with deficiency letters, follow-up requests, and delays that push site closure timelines out by months or years.

Our environmental professionals prepare and submit all required regulatory documentation. We know what regulators expect because we submit these documents regularly. You get documentation that's complete, accurate, and designed to move through the approval process efficiently.

Indian Oil and Gas Canada (IOGC) Audits

Sites on First Nations lands fall under IOGC jurisdiction, which has specific compliance requirements and audit schedules. Terra-Sano conducts IOGC audits and prepares compliance documentation that meets the standards outlined in IOGC directives, ensuring your operations on reserve lands remain in good standing.

Why We’re Trusted for Our Environmental Assessments & Compliance Services

Because Assessment Isn't the End, It's the Beginning

Many environmental consulting firms specialize in assessments and compliance paperwork but don't actually remediate sites or execute reclamation work. Terra-Sano manages the entire process. When our assessments show reclamation issues, our crew addresses them. We provide seamless integration from assessment through closure.

Because We Know What Regulators Actually Care About

We work closely with the AER and Alberta Environment. That experience translates to fewer back-and-forth exchanges with regulators, faster approvals, and less time spent in regulatory review limbo.

Because We Optimize for Site Closure (Not Just Compliance)

You need sites moving toward reclamation certificates so they stop being liabilities on your books, stop hurting your LMF, and stop draining budget year after year.

Our environmental assessments and compliance services advance sites toward closure. We identify the most efficient path from the current site status to the reclamation certificate and execute it—typically in 2-3 years, compared with the industry average of 12.

Environmental Assessment & Compliance Across Alberta

Our environmental professionals operate throughout Alberta. Whether your sites requiring assessment or compliance support are concentrated in one area or scattered across the province, we have the geographic coverage and regulatory expertise to manage them effectively.

Contact Your Complete Environmental Assessment Team

If you're dealing with inactive sites that need environmental assessment, struggling to keep up with regulatory compliance requirements, or simply unsure what regulations actually require for your situation, Terra-Sano can help.

Contact Terra-Sano today to discuss your environmental assessment and regulatory compliance needs.

Inquire

 

 

Page Summary
  • Phase 1 and Phase 2 ESAs, pre-disturbance assessments, and contaminated site management
  • Gas migration testing, water well monitoring, and regulatory compliance reporting for AER standards
  • Risk assessments and site-specific liability assessments guide portfolio strategic site abandonment planning