An apparatus for recovering VOC contaminants from a surface or subsurface release. In one embodiment, the invention includes at least one vertical extraction piling having an interior void space and at least one perforated surface on the exterior of the piling. The upper end of the vertical piling is attached to a vacuum pump by means of conventional piping. The surface area over the piling is sealed to minimize infiltration of surface air or water. A suitable vacuum is applied and the VOC contaminates migrate through a perforated exterior section of the piling then into the interior void space. The contaminates are then transported by a conventional piping system to the vacuum source. Finally the contaminates are adsorbed, condensed, oxidized, or directly discharged into the air.
