Abstract: A system for recovering VOC contaminants from a surface or subsurface release. In one embodiment, the invention includes at least one horizontal trench having a perforated casing laid therein. One end of the casing is attached to a vacuum pump by means of a vertical riser. Clean stone is laid over the pipe to form an elongated collector and the surface of the trench is capped to minimize surface air and water infiltration. A suitable vacuum is applied and the VOC contaminates migrate first into the stone within the trench and then into the horizontal casing(s). The VOC contaminants move along the casings and up the vertical riser into a suitable container or directly discharged into the air. In a second embodiment, intermediate ones of the horizontal trenches are pressurized either by air or liquid fluids in either a heated or unheated state to improve the rate of migration of the VOC contaminates into the other alternating ISVE trenches exerting a negative pressure.