Reclamation of abandoned petroleum surface leases requires the application of knowledge and experience from numerous fields or disciplines, many of which are grounded in physical science, others on social sciences. Fields of required expertise extend to agronomy, range management, soil science, agriculture, forestry, wildlife, environment, contaminant remediation, resource economics -- science in general. It requires application of knowledge of the production practices of agriculture, forestry or the land use within ·which the site is located; it may involve the application of knowledge of water management and/or remediation matters; it usually requires the need for sampling and analyses of various physical and chemical parameters. Technological expertise is required in understanding capabilities and outputs of various industrial processes, reclamation and agricultural equipment. Finally, an understanding of the legislative environment and the impacts of such legislation on stakeholders party to a site reclamation is essential. It goes without saying that an understanding of people component is imperative here as in many other fields of endeavour.
In some cases it is apparent that the combination of the necessary skills listed above are not present.
In addition to the need for formalized education opportunities for information and guidelines, those involved
with reclamation reference various sets of legislation, regulations and constructs on which to base reclamation decisions and processes.