scope:

Scope

This manual focuses on remediation of typical spill sites on common soils and landscapes. The information and concepts provided are applicable to the remediation of some pit sites and some large spill areas. However, the scope of this manual does not address remediation of severe or chronic spill areas, pits deeper than 6 ft or containing non-soil constituents, or groundwater or surface water.

Low concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons also may be present in produced waters. Remediation of more than very low levels of hydrocarbons (<2%) in soils is beyond the scope of this manual. If high concentrations of hydrocarbons are present (>2%), the user should consult references specific to hydrocarbon remediation.

This manual was intended for use within the United States where resources, such as county Soil Surveys and similar data, are readily available to the user. However, the underlying principals of salt remediation make this manual applicable worldwide, with the possible exceptions of predominantly frozen soils, organic soils, and certain soils formed primarily from volcanic ash.

In contrast to mineral soils which are composed of inorganic sand, silt, and clay particles, organic soils are composed primarily of decayed vegetation which accumulates in saturated conditions. Although this manual pertains to many soils of volcanic origin, it does not address volcanic soils which contain a predominance of allophanes, due to their unusual physical and chemical properties.