Watters Environmental Group Inc. services

Watters Environmental Group offers a wide range of services required for federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and provincial Environmental Assessments (EAs), and for Class EAs associated with the transportation sector (including the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), as required under Sections 5-17 of the Ontario EA Regulation 231/08).

Watters Environmental Group are specialists in environmental due diligence, and has its roots in this expertise dating back to the 1980s. We have developed a system for efficiently evaluating a single asset or portfolio of assets as part of an acquisition, divestiture, financing, insurance review, management buy-out, etc., to help our clients understand the environmental risks and liabilities associated with that transaction. Our clients want to reduce their environmental risks. Our job is to complete the level of detailed environmental due diligence to provide the information to our clients so that they can accomplish their objective. Watters Environmental Group specializes in environmental due diligence, and is routinely called upon by legal counsel and private corporations to provide this service.

Environmental Management Programs (EMPs) are a key element in demonstrating that a corporation, its officers and management team demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship and `due diligence` in managing environmental issues. These EMPs are “how-to” manuals for identifying and managing the environmental aspects of a business. Effective management programs will result in improved environmental performance, increased profitability and enhanced corporate reputation. Our approach is highly regarded by our clients because we always work collaboratively with our clients to help design and implement an EMP that makes sense to their business.

Watters Environmental Group provides `hands-on` experience to assist legal counsel and private corporations in addressing the needs of impending litigation, arbitration and mediation.  We offer support as effective expert witnesses and hearings coordinators in the assessment of: Contaminant Releases, Insurance Coverage Disputes, Construction Claims, Clean-Up Cost Recovery, Settlement Cost Negotiations, Landlord-Tenant Liability Agreements, Municipal By-Law Infractions, Certificate-of-Approval Applications.

Watters Environmental Group has particular expertise in communicating complex scientific information in terms that are readily understandable to members of the general public, thus allowing for informed stakeholders.  We are aware that the form of consultation is not consistent from group to group, and thus have expertise to match the requirements of the project with the forum for community consultation.  These forum include public open houses / meetings, one-on-one sessions, focus groups, poster drop-in sessions, etc.

Watters Environmental Group has expertise to assist our clients with Air Quality Services, including mould and asbestos sampling, as well as general LEED required testing and analyses.

Watters Environmental Group conducts detailed surveys and assessments of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) and other designated and hazardous substances that may be present based on building usage and age. Watters Environmental Group has completed hundreds of building material surveys in various types of building settings (e.g., commercial, retail, industrial, institutional and residential) for various clients, from coast to coast. The surveys are conducted to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to assist the property owners in proactively managing the hazardous and designated materials that may exist in their buildings, to ensure the health and safety of site staff, contractors, occupants and visitors.

Watters Environmental Group has unique experience in completing environmental due diligence assessments for portfolios of assets. We have a unique organizational and tracking system for identifying and logging the environmental work and findings at each asset in the portfolio. We also conduct third-party review and analyses, prioritization of environmental risk and liability, inspection of high-risk assets and risk mitigation strategies.