. This book , the result of studies undertaken on behalf of the European Commission, examines the current 'state of the art' techniques for the restoration of despoiled lands arising from the coal and steel industries. It provides technical -guidance to aid the process of the regeneration of the coat and steel communities of Europe. The chapters are fully cross referenced in the text, and where more technical or scientific detail is provided, this has been placed into boxes rather than in the main text. The book will be of great interest to environmental scientists and engineers, and to all those who are involved in mining,, mineral waste. soil pollution and, waste management and disposal.