The document serves as a companion document to the Soil Sampling Quality Assurance User's Guide, Second Edition. The two documents together provide methods, techniques, and procedures for designing a variety of soil measurement programs and associated Quality Assurance Program Plans, implementing those programs and then analyzing, interpreting, and presenting resultant data. Properly designed sampling plans based upon the laws of probability provide a means of making decisions that have a sound and defensible basis. The document summarizes various statistical and geostatistical concepts and procedures pertaining to the design, implementation, and data interpretation of appropriate sampling designs. Soil sampling takes place either in the surface layer (0-6 in.) or at greater depths. The methods of sampling each may be different but make use of two basic techniques. Samples can either be collected with some form of core sampling or auger device, or they may be collected by use of excavations or trenches.

"July 1992." "EPA/600/R-92/128." "Cooperative Agreement Number CR 814701." "The document serves as a companion document to the Soil sampling quality assurance user's guide, second edition"--Technical report data. Sponsoring organization: Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Includes bibliographical references.