One of the more urgent problems of environmental law concerns the siting of industrial and other major constructed facilities required to meet societal needs. Although the siting problem may be diminished as a result of the use of energy conservation measures and other techniques affecting the need for certain facilities, the problem will remain a significant one for environmental decisionmaking.

Facility-siting is today a highly complex process, involving developers, interest groups and numerous authorities at all levels of government. Measured in terms of costs and time, the process is inefficient. Measured in terms of environmental quality indicators, the process is largely ineffective in ensuring appropriate siting and design decisions.