ABSTRACTFederal legislative enactments for water quality control have traditionally emphasized surface‐water quality because of the more intense demands placed on such water and the earlier occurrence of acute quality problems. However, ground‐water quality problems are becoming serious, and the value of this resource requires that adequate protective measures be adopted.The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 provide a substantial basis for federal involvement in ground‐water quality control. Although the federal permit program established by the Amendments is not explicitly made applicable to waste discharges to ground water, EPA interpretation of the law extends the federal permit requirement to the disposal of wastes into wells where this technique is used in combination with or as a replacement for facilities for discharge into navigable waters. Federal influence is also extended to state control over disposal well operations by provisions specifying conditions under which state level programs can be approved to replace the federal program. Another provision extending federal influence into the area of ground‐water quality control concerns preparation of areawide waste treatment management plans for areas designated as having substantial water quality control problems. The required plan for such areas must encompass both surface and ground‐water quality problems and are subject to the approval of the Administrator of EPA. Thus, the 1972 law provides a basis for considerable federal involvement in ground‐water quality control in spite of the fact that its primary applicability is in the area of su
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