Samples of soil and plant solid wastes were collected at the site of a lignite-fired electrical generation facility near San Antonio, Texas. Ranging studies provided information on the chemical constituents of both the matrices and leachates. For this particular site the overburden soils are slightly basic (pH approx. =7.5). A large (approx. =200 kg) composite overburden sample was collected. The chemical composition was characterized by both neutron activation and analysis of leachates. Columnar studies were performed to determine the attenuation characteristics of the soil. Both arsenic and selenium readily penetrate the soil samples. Selenium, which was introduced to the column at an influent concentration of 673 ..mu..g/L was initially observed in the effluent at a concentration of <1 ..mu..g/L. After the passage of 10 L of artificial leachate solution per kg of soil, the effluent concentration was approx.200 ..mu..g/L. The effluent concentration rose to approx. =500 ..mu..g/L after exposure of the sample to approx. = 30 L/kg.