Forest soils are a major component of the global C budget. Current research efforts to depict the C cycle lead to fundamental questions: how and at what scale will accurate soil C estimates be developed (M2, map unit, landscape or greater)? And can we detect change without them? These questions resonate as citizens assess C footprints and purchase forest C credits to ‘offset' personal C use while supporting the notion of a diversified C base economy (emissions trading, biofuels, biopolymers, etc.) where soil C as commodity has a serious role. Approaches to quantify above ground forest biomass are rapidly advancing (numerous validation measurements) with similar efforts to quantify soil C more allusive. Most estimates are based on available data essentially ‘trying to make a silk purse from a sows ear' not attempting to produce the real thing (increased systematic sample density) especially scales larger than research plots. This allusive nature is understandable but illustrates the need for a data acquisition framework to confidently support both ecosystem and economic model output for trading soil C as both ecosystem good (C stock) and service (C sequestration). The National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) is the logical place to develop and implement a soil C assessment framework. This research investigates enhancing soil survey efforts at Lassen Volcanic National Park through increased sample analysis and point estimate density of C/N, particle size and bulk density (~1800:1 to ~190:1 ha per sample). Analyzing samples collected but not ‘sent to Lincoln' during normal survey efforts will support a quantitative base to integrate other data and survey staff expertise for C pool estimation and predictive soil-landscape relationships. This research addresses the fundamental questions of how to and at what scale to quantify soil C as a tradable economic good and service.