Our Services

A Phase I ESA is a visual inspection and historical review of a site. We use the Phase I ESA to determine the likelihood of potential environmental issues such as soil or groundwater contamination, or the presence of hazardous or regulated materials in buildings.

A Phase II ESA is an intrusive investigation that further investigates the potential for contamination. Typically the sources of contamination were identified in the Phase I ESA. The Phase II ESA can include soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment and/or air testing and can be completed using a number of different methodologies to accommodate site-specific conditions.

If a Phase II identifies contamination on a property, a Phase III ESA may be required to further assess or delineate the extent of the contamination. The Phase III ESA includes a detailed characterization of the subsurface environment and contaminant plumes. Based on the findings, our engineers can provide remediation or risk management strategies to mitigate the identified risk.

When contamination is identified on a site, there are a number of ways to mitigate risk to human health and the environment. One option that is often considered is remediation (i.e. soil, groundwater, sediment or surface water). Remediation can be completed ex-situ or in-situ using a variety of different methods. Alternatively, many of our clients prefer to use a risk assessment/risk management approach. This approach uses the science and engineering behind contaminated sites management to determine whether contamination can safely remain in place; this approach may include some restrictions on land use or require the use of engineered controls.

Underground storage tanks or USTs are removed for a number of reasons including the tank is no longer in use, the tank is past its life cycle, or the tank needs to be replaced. Our staff have overseen hundreds of UST removals throughout Atlantic Canada. We take a staged approach to tank removals in an effort to reduce costly expenses associated with unnecessary remediation.

Unexpected petroleum and chemical spills happen all the time throughout Atlantic Canada. The quicker the spill can be remediated, the lower the overall cost of remediation. Our field services manager has overseen more than 500 emergency response situations in Atlantic Canada. Our emergency services are available 24/7. With this experience behind us, we can ensure that your emergency will be handled professionally. Our objective is to save our clients money with a completely transparent approach to our consulting services.

Hazardous Material Assessments and Designated Substance Surveys are designed to find materials that may be present on a site that can cause harm to humans or the environment. Some management, handling, use and disposal of these materials and substances are regulated by either a provincial or federal government.

These assessments are completed to determine how to safely manage these substances in an existing building or to determine how to properly manage, handle and dispose of these materials during a demolition or renovation project.

Asbestos was a common product used in many building materials prior to the mid-1980s. Asbestos cannot be visually identified but can be found in many different types of building materials:

If you have an older building and are planning renovations or demolition, or you just want to ensure your maintenance staff is protected in the event of an emergency (i.e. pipe rupture, etc.), we can complete an assessment to identify the asbestos in your building to ensure the health and safety of site occupants.

Our experts can help train you on the aspects of asbestos. From its uses, the types, and the dangers of asbestos, we can teach you what you need to know to stay safe. Our staff have completed asbestos awareness training for several departments of the federal government, maintenance crews working in older buildings and numerous restoration contractors throughout Atlantic Canada.

Most of our clients are looking for solutions for contamination that is found in the ground, often times as a result of on-going operations at a site. However, an environmental management plan or EMP is a plan that identifies the processes occurring on-site and provides recommendations on the storage and handling of designated, regulated or other contaminants (i.e. road salt). The purpose of the EMP is to provide the owner with proper procedures for on-site activities that otherwise could result in negative impact to the environment. An EMP aims to reduce future costs associated with remediation/assessment due to improper handling/management procedures.

Brownfield redevelopment, the remediation of formerly industrial properties, is a great way to turn potentially contaminated sites into a benefit to the community. Brownfield redevelopment is a very effective strategy if implemented at the inception of a project. Hive’s engineers will work with your planners to identify cost-effective areas to develop on a site and areas that are cost-prohibitive due to the presence of environmental contamination. This allows our clients to maximize the developable space of a property while minimizing the costs associated with remediation.

Mould can grow almost anywhere in the environment. Mould and mould spores can adversely affect indoor air quality (IAQ). A number of factors can contribute to mould growth inside a building; most often mould growth is related to inadequate ventilation or heating, or water intrusion (i.e. flooding or leaking roof). Elevated levels of mould can negatively affect people, especially individuals with allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions. If you have concerns about IAQ at your home, office, industrial or commercial space, our staff can assist with the assessment and identification of mould and provide recommendations for remediation.

Air clearance sampling is required following an asbestos abatement project but before a building can be re-occupied. The sampling confirms that asbestos is no longer present in the work area and has been successfully removed. Our personnel are trained and certified to analyze samples collected on-site and in real time for the determination of airborne fibre concentrations by Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) following the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7400.

An Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA is the process of determining the impact that a project will have on the environment and in turn, the impact the environment could have on a project. An EIA or Environmental Assessment (EA) can be a requirement of either the provincial or federal governments. In addition to determining whether or not a project should proceed, the EIA or EA will provide recommendations to mitigate potential effects to the environment if the project is to move forward. The assessment often includes biological field studies, socioeconomic studies, archaeological studies and a public consultation process.

Watercourses and wetlands are regulated provincially in Atlantic Canada; fish habitat is currently regulated federally by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Each regulator has specific requirements for the assessment of these water features and regulations and guidelines for projects within proximity to regulated features. Our aquatic and plant biologists are skilled in wetland delineations and watercourse assessments.

Environmental permits are required for a number of activities in Atlantic Canada such as working in proximity to regulated environmental features (i.e. wetlands, watercourses, species at risk) or obtaining an approval to operate an industrial facility (i.e. quarry, waste disposal facility, etc.). We can help guide you through the process of receiving both federal and provincial environmental permits and approvals under a variety of regulations (Species at Risk Act or SARA, Fisheries Act, Clean Water Act, etc.). Our engineers have a detailed understanding of existing regulations and excellent relationships with regulators to ensure timely processing of permits to get your project moving forward.

Environmental monitoring is often required on a project if it is located in an environmentally sensitive area. Working together with the contractor, we will assist you with developing a strategic and cost-effective plan for monitoring services during construction.

A compliance audit is the systematic process of ensuring that a facility is in compliance with its Approval to Operate or other internal procedure document. Hive personnel are equipped to identify deficiencies in your internal procedures and provide recommendations to mitigate potential future environmental or human health liabilities.

Most quarry or mine sites in Atlantic Canada require an Approval to Operate. Part of the approval requires the submission of a rehabilitation plan that will be implemented upon closure of the facility. Hive understands that our client’s operation plans can change drastically over the lifespan of a quarry, mine or pit. Therefore, we work with regulators to build flexibility into the rehabilitation plan all while ensuring on-going operation of your facility.