The Regulation of Deep-Well Injection: A Changing Environment Beneath the Surface

摘要

Deep-well injection has been a mainstay of hazardous waste disposal for over 70 years. Before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created, there were concerns as to the proper place for deep-well injection as a waste management technique. Over the years, environmentalists have been concerned with the potential for contamination of drinking water supplies from deep-well injection. Industry has also shown concern about -deep-well injection, but from a different perspective. To industry, deep-well injection is a precious, limited resource. It is within this context that Congress and the EPA have regulated deep-well injection. It is that process of regulation and the development of deep-well injection policy which is the focus of this article.