The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a large number of Hazmat and abandoned mine land (AML) sites that have metals in soils, sediment, tailings, and waste rock dumps. To evaluate removal or remedial actions, these sites need to be characterized to determine if elements exceed risk-based concentrations and to determine the area and volume of material needing remediation. In addition, a means of testing the soil or mine waste is needed in the field during excavation and removal to determine if risk-based cleanup concentrations are met. Portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology offers a relatively lowcost means of accomplishing these objectives. The National Science and Technology Center (NSTC) has been using XRF technology for a number of years and instructs field personnel in the use of the technology in NTC class 1703-14, Site Characterization at AML Sites.