ABSTRACT
The process of generating information describing the nature and extent of contamination at a site is obviously a crucial step for any remediation project. Sampling in the environment for chemical analyses is a complex subject with many different aspects. Regulatory compliance guidelines must be considered at the earliest possible stage. Sampling procedures vary depending on the particular matrix and location that are being sampled. Compliance levels for contaminated soils must be negotiated. Data validity and accuracy in field sampling depend heavily on avoiding contamination and cross-contamination while sampling. Decontamination procedures are basically efforts to guarantee that sampling personnel are using very clean equipment and containers and to remove a source of error due to equipment contamination. Legal validity refers to the way in which data are generated, which means, in effect, how closely the protocols adhered to recognized standards.
