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About US
Our Mission
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"The
Ground Water Protection Council is a national association of state ground
water and underground injection control agencies whose mission is to
promote the protection and conservation of ground water resources for all
beneficial uses, recognizing ground water as a critical component of the
ecosystem."
“The
Ground Water Protection Council provides a forum for stakeholder
communication and research in order to improve governments’ role in the
protection and conservation of ground water.”
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Organizational
Description
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The Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) is
a nonprofit (501(c)6) organization whose members consist of state and
federal ground water agencies, industry representatives,
environmentalists and concerned citizens, all of whom come together
within the GWPC organization to mutually work toward the protection of
the nation’s ground water supplies. The purpose of the GWPC is to
promote and ensure the use of best management practices and fair but
effective laws regarding comprehensive ground water protection.
We work with people who have
a stake in ground water protection - citizens, industry, federal, state
and local government officials, environmentalists and members of
congress to pose questions and search for answers that are both
practically and politically feasible.
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How GWPC Works
When you join the Ground Water
Protection Council, you not only gain access to valuable information
concerning the protection of ground water resources, but you also gain a
forum for your opinions and expertise. |
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The
Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) is one of the most effective national
organizations for the protection, conservation and management of ground
water resources. GWPC members are the state and federal officials who set
and enforce regulations on ground water protection and underground
injection, and the concerned industry members and citizens who must follow
these regulations. |
in return, |
Members gain satisfaction in
knowing they are a part of developing workable solutions to help ensure
local ground water protection. Additionally, members receive research
support, expert opinion and public outreach materials through the
organization's meetings, seminars, symposia, workshops and publications.
Also, each member of GWPC can know first- hand how others feel about certain
issues and how it affects their profession or business practices. |
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History
of the GWPC
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The Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) was incorporated
as a nonprofit national association, headquartered in the State of Oklahoma, in
November, 1983. It was initially incorporated by five states who wanted to form
an organization that would serve as a forum to bring together technical and
regulatory experts to discuss underground injection control (UIC) issues and
overall ground water protection. The founders also sought to develop a strong
public outreach/education program to inform the public about the safety of the
national UIC program and to develop information that could be used by the states
to enhance this effort. Since then the Board of Directors have enhanced GWPC’s
overall commitment to broader ground water issues as a recognition that the UIC
program is one piece of a much larger effort to effectively protect ground water
as an essential component of the ecosystem.
The GWPC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of
senior state agency managers representing the states in each of the USEPA’s
ten regions. Board members are elected by their peers. The GWPC core members
include representatives of state regulatory agencies responsible for ground
water protection and underground injection activity. The GWPC also invites the
participation of interested industry representatives, environmental groups, and
others who are concerned about the protection of the nation’s ground water
supplies. The purpose of the GWPC is to promote the safest methods and most
effective regulations regarding comprehensive ground water protection procedures
and underground injection techniques. GWPC’s Foundation, the Ground Water
Protection Research Foundation (GWPRF), provides independent research and review
of ground water and related matters in an effort to improve technologies and
assist State regulatory agencies and industries in waste disposal. GWPC and its
Foundation have been credited with carrying out many successful projects that
have had significant outcomes regarding best management practices and fair but
effective laws regarding comprehensive ground water protection.
The GWPC has been successful in a world of constantly
changing public perception of ground water protection, inevitable political
reaction, and new rules and regulations. In 1983 the founding state
administrators realized that if the states were going to have an impact on
national policy and be able to do so effectively, they needed to form an
organization that included all affected groups, or in today’s terminology, all
stakeholders. By contrast it was common then for national associations to be
more limited in their membership and to deal with issues from a singular focus.
Not so with the GWPC. The original charter and organizational structure sought
out participation by the various state agencies and impacted industries affected
by various regulations related to ground water protection. This principle of
inclusion is important because of the commitment to hear all view points on
issues that the states are charged with regulating.
The GWPC was founded upon a sound principal from which it has never wavered.
It has matured into a respected national association of state ground water and
UIC agencies. Along the way, GWPC has had a significant impact in affecting
national policy in underground injection and ground water protection.
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Corporate
Supporters
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The Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) is a nonprofit (501(c)3)
organization whose members consist of state and federal ground water agencies, industry
representatives, environmentalists and concerned citizens, all of whom come together
within the GWPC organization to mutually work toward the protection of the nation’s
ground water supplies. The purpose of the GWPC is to promote and ensure the use of best
management practices and fair but effective laws regarding comprehensive ground water
protection.
We work with people who have a stake in ground water protection -
citizens, industry, federal, state and local government officials, environmentalists and
members of congress to pose questions and search for answers that are both practically and
politically feasible.
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Injection Wells
The USEPA has said that underground injection "reduces human
exposure to organic and inorganic chemicals and heavy metals by removing
them from the environment."
The Ground Water Protection Council believes that
the ongoing goal to improve the environment through source reduction,
recycling and other waste management improvements is of utmost importance.
Deep well injection of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, however, plays a
crucial role in providing a safe and effective alternative method for
disposal of residual liquid wastes, especially those that would pose the
greatest risks if disposed of by another method.
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GWPC’s Direct Involvement with UIC Issues:
1) Mitigated parts of the Land Ban which would have banned all deep
well disposal of hazardous waste in 1988
2) Determined difference between significant and non-significant
compliance for Class I & II wells
3) Provided leadership in definition of wastes eligible for disposal in
Class I & II wells
4) Conducted a national survey on the effects of hydraulic fracturing
on ground water quality |
How the GWPC Uses Corporate
Support Corporate support provides GWPC with the means
to conduct independent technical and policy studies that can be used to
ensure that "sound science" is applied in national rule making
that effects state and federal ground water and underground injection
programs.
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Benefits of GWPC Corporate
Support One word, COMMUNICATION. As a corporate
supporter of the GWPC you meet and communicate with representatives of the
state and federal agencies that administer the regulations with which your
company must comply. As a member of GWPC your input is welcomed as we
consider technical issues, rules, and legislation affecting the national
UIC programs. You also have access to GWPC’S extensive
library containing one of the most comprehensive bibliographies of
underground injection topics. |
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Corporate
Supporter Application (pdf)
For
more information contact the GWPC Corporate Support Coordinator,
Len
Erikson.
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