Potential for human and environmental exposure to contamination at waste sites throughout the country continues on the forefront of primary environmental concerns of the 1990's. The evaluation of the risks posed by these waste sites generally requires the development of an extensive data base utilizing information derived from the chemical analysis of large numbers of environmental samples. Rapid field analytical procedures through which soil samples can be initially screened for the presence of significant levels of categories of pollutants is discussed. The screening procedures used were applied to soil samples collected at an abandoned refinery site. These screening procedures were selected to approximate the presence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, phenols, and seven metals commonly associated with asphalt and petroleum refinery operations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these soil screening procedures, their application in a case study and the usefulness of resultant data in risk assessment.