Why does BEE sample the soil?

• A. In response to a terrorist attack
• B. To screen for the presence or absence of contamination
• C. To quantify an occupational exposure
• D. To identify or quantify contaminated soil

Answer: (B)

Soil sampling in BEE is used to screen for the presence or absence of contamination. By collecting representative samples and analyzing them for contaminants, you determine whether contamination exists at a site and whether further investigation or cleanup is needed. This screening step helps prioritize actions and allocate resources, rather than immediately quantifying exposures or fully characterizing the plume. While later work may quantify contaminant levels or map the extent of contamination, the initial goal is to detect if contamination is present at all. The other scenarios aren’t the primary reason for this sampling: it isn’t specifically about responding to a terrorist event, and occupational exposure quantification targets worker exposure rather than general soil contamination. Identifying or quantifying contaminated soil is part of follow-up characterization after a positive screen, not the initial purpose.