ABSTRACT
Much of the momentum for groundwater protection and remediation began in the late 1970s and continued to grow through the 1980s. Many environmental statutes and regulations that directly and indirectly concern groundwater protection were enacted at the federal, state, and local levels during this period.[1]
At the time, groundwater protection remained a relatively new undertaking for many states and localities. Within the past 15 yrs, numerous reports have documented the need for more effective coordination of groundwater protection programs at the federal, state, and local levels.[2] National and local studies increasingly indicate that many activities adversely impact groundwater quality.[3] Contamination incidents and impairment from overpumping, such as permanent loss of aquifer storage capacity and land subsidence, remain a local problem because of the relatively slow rate at which groundwater travels. ‘‘What These Threats Mean to the Nation’’ describes a variety of agricultural, industrial/commercial, and waste disposal practices that are known to contaminate groundwater.
