The article describes how to conduct the assessment of the earth’s surface contamination in industrial areas in terms of new legislation. Identification of contaminated sites is carried out during the five-step procedure by which there are examined physical and chemical properties of substances posing the risk and environmental conditions of the studied area in the context of possible migration of pollutants in the environment. In a case of substances for which no permitted limits were specified in the Polish legal system, the identification of contaminated sites is carried out on the basis of risk exposure to human health and the environment.