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therefore, it has been of significant value to those now doing 6, this work to have been given the opportunity to have developed and implemented their awn treatment protocols; for by proceeding thus they have been able to improve upon standard practice and develop methods which appear to have led to significant advances in the field of applied biodegradation technology. Much information has yet to be obtained, however, and efforts continue to acquire additional data regarding the following; PHYSICAL STATE OF THE (PETROLEUM) CONTAMINANT While proprietary bioremediation projects to date have involved only soils, preparations are being made for the treatment of fuel hydrocarbon contaminated waters. Further, the high moisture content of some contaminated soils treated simulate, in many respects, an aquatic environment. This condition has confirmed that the surface areas available for microbial "attack" have a marked influence on the fate of the petroleum contaminants. Such conditions may be include ,a thin surface film (slick) , a stable oil-water emulsion, entrainment within sediments, or association with suspended particles. While dispersing oil may increase toxicity for higher organisms, it makes oil more susceptible to microbial attack. Hydrocarbon utlilizing microorganisms typically position themselves at the hydrocarbon-water interface, a position that assures them maximum access to both the hydrocarbon substrate and water soluble mineral nutrients. Many such microbes also produce surface- active agents that emulsify oil, thereby increasing surface area. This increased surface area provides additional interface for microbial development and contaminant utilization. TEMPERATURE As with other microbial activities, the biodegradation of petroleum products is strongly temperature dependent. While thermophilic ("heat loving") hydrocarbon degrading bacteria have been isolated, these microorganisms have appeared to play only a minor role with mesophilic (those thriving at moderate temperature) bacteria more commonly considered the predominant degraders. Proprietary projects have, however, produced preliminary data which appears to demonstrate a more significant role for thermophilic bacteria than referenced within literature. OXYGEN Bacteria's initial attack on hydrocarbons, such as petroleum products, commonly involves oxygenase enzymes (these being chemical compounds whose catalytic action is necessary 'for the transformation of oxygen) . This process requires molecular V y