The familiar adage that "it is always cheaper to prevent ground water pollution than to clean it up" has some relevance in this valley. This informal compilation, constructed with the assistance of Pocatello, Chubbuck, and EPA officials, documents the major costs incurred in remediating groundwater and soil contamination over the past decade.

In comparison, costs associated with developing an understanding of aquifer dynamics, assembling existing information, and identifying possible future approaches to protection are very small.