Industrial waste water injection wells have been constructed in at least 20 states. This distribution has caused many state and federal government officials to consider how best to regulate the construction and operation of these systems. Review of the procedures followed in various states has led to the conclusion that essential steps in the development, operation, and regulation of waste water injection systems are: (1) Preliminary assessment by the applicant of the geology and geohydrology at the proposed site and of the suitability of the waste water for subsurface injection, in consultation with the appropriate regulatory authorities. (2) Formal request, by the applicant for permission to drill and test a well or convert and test an existing well for underground waste water injection. (3) Construction or conversion and testing of the well, and submission of subsurface information to the regulatory authorities. (4) Formal request by the applicant for permission to use the completed well for waste water injection. (5) Operation of the system under supervision of the regulatory authorities. (6) Abandonment of the well by the operator with the approval and supervision of the regulatory authorities. In many states, the responsibility for regulation of injection wells, the necessary technical expertise, and the basic geologic information for decision making are located within several agencies. Although this situation complicates the regulation of subsurface disposal, it can have the desirable effect of involving a greater spectrum of technical competence and experience than would otherwise be available.