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Environment

Injection Wells

The Hidden Risks of Pumping Waste Underground

Injection wells used to dispose of the nation’s most toxic waste are showing increasing signs of stress as regulatory oversight falls short and scientific assumptions prove flawed.

13 stories published since 2010

Report Criticizes EPA Oversight of Injection Wells

by Naveena Sadasivam,

After a Powerful Lobbyist Intervenes, EPA Reverses Stance on Polluting Texas County’s Water

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

Message from Mexico: U.S. Is Polluting Water It May Someday Need to Drink

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

Graphic: Uranium Mining at a Wyoming Ranch

by ProPublica,

On a Wyoming Ranch, Feds Sacrifice Tomorrow's Water to Mine Uranium Today

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

Poisoning the Well: How the Feds Let Industry Pollute the Nation's Underground Water Supply

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

The Trillion-Gallon Loophole: Lax Rules for Drillers that Inject Pollutants Into the Earth

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

State-by-State: Underground Injection Wells

by Abrahm Lustgarten and Krista Kjellman Schmidt,

Polluted Water Fuels a Battle for Answers

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

An Unseen Leak, Then Boom

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

Whiff of Phenol Spells Trouble

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

Injection Wells: The Poison Beneath Us

by Abrahm Lustgarten,

Stimulus Speed Chart

by Jeff Larson, Christopher Flavelle and Ryan Knutson,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

Photo of Sharon Lerner
Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

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Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

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Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

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