Principles and Practices for Petroleum Contaminated Soils includes some of the best research and practical work done by top researchers in the field-both in industry and academia. It covers fundamental and advanced topics, such as analysis and site assessment, techniques (e.g., vacuum extraction, asphalt incorporation), and case studies. The book will interest anyone working with contaminated soils, ground water, and underground storage tanks. It will also be a valuable reference for regulatory personnel and environmental consultants at all levels.

Every spring, the University of Massachusetts - Amherst welcomes all ''Soils Conference" Scientific Advisory Board members with open arms as we begin the planning process responsible for bringing you quality conferences year after year. With this "homecoming" of sorts comes the promise of reaching across the table and interacting with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, each of them bringing their unique perspective in support of a successful Conference in the fall. This year marks the 20^^ anniversary of what started as a couple of thoughtful scientists interested in developing partnerships that together could fuel the environmental cleanup dialogue. Since the passage of the Superfund Law, regulators, academia and industry have come to realize that models that depend exclusively on ''command and control" mandates as the operative underpinning limit our collective ability to bring hazardous waste sites to productive re-use. It is with this concern in mind that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection privatized its cleanup program in 1993, spurring the close-out of over 20,000 sites and spills across the Commonwealth to date, in a manner that is both protective of human health and the environment while also flexible and responsive to varied site uses and redevelopment goals. So we gather together again, this year, to hear our collective stories and share success and challenges just as we share stories at a family gathering. Take a read through the stories contained in these proceedings.

The analysis of contaminated soils is a fairly new field that is growing at an incredible rate. To keep you abreast of the vast amount of new information being generated, this important volume presents leading-edge technology in analysis from some of the world's leading technical experts on the subject. The third volume in a series, this book covers the latest practices in remediation, modeling, sampling ,and analysis, as well as regulatory considerations.

Volume 9 of the series presents 38 technical papers covering a wide range of environmental issues, including Bioremediation, Chemical Oxidation, Heavy Metals, MTBE, Phytoremediation, Radiation, Regulatory and Legal issues, Remediation, Risk Based Cleanup and Site Assessment. Contributing authors are drawn from across the spectrum of interest: government agencies, academic institutions, the consulting community and industrial companies.