Embarking On a Construction Project? Consider an Environmental Assessment
The construction process has a lot of moving parts to consider. Thus, it is quite easy to overlook some steps under the assumption that they are not necessarily critical. However, one aspect of construction that should never be undervalued is the need for an environmental assessment.
Whether you have owned the property for several years or have recently purchased the lot, it is vital to have specialists investigate the land before you can get your construction project off the ground. But since not many people are aware of how critical this step is, they do not emphasise fulfilling this stage. This article illustrates why an environmental assessment is essential and what it typically entails.
What is the importance of an environmental assessment?
Regardless of the magnitude of your construction project, it stands to benefit from a thorough environmental assessment. To begin with, the diligence accorded to you by the ecological assessment specialist help to identify any potential environmental impacts that may occur. In addition to determining any chances of pollution, the assessment also helps establish the possibility of risks to both humans as well as the environment. So what does this mean?
For example, if there are current restrictions against land use, the environmental assessment will alert you to them before engaging in construction. An evaluation will also work to identify any natural resources protected by the government, help in determining your boundary lines and even give you direction on the best ways to use the land.
What are the steps that go into an environmental assessment?
While environmental assessments are crucial to all construction projects, the methods employed will depend on the size of the project. For a majority of projects, some of the initial steps that will be applied include surveying the land, collecting samples, doing geographical imaging, exploring the subsurface and even taking aerial photography of the site. However, it is not mandatory for all these steps to be included. In fact, the techniques that will be mainly utilised depend on individual companies.
Once the initial assessment is carried out, the specialist will then decide whether additional investigations need to be carried out. For instance, if any signs of contamination are noticed, the assessment will then include testing of groundwater, soil and so on to determine the extent of the pollution. These assessments will then be followed up with recommendations for remediation to eliminate any environmental risks that the land may pose to your construction project.