Federal investigators have documented a series of illegal oil field waste disposal cases across the American West, highlighting enforcement challenges as oil and gas production continues to expand in the region.

The most recent case concluded last month when two Wyoming oil field supervisors were sentenced for directing crew members to bury contaminated waste on federal land in Carbon County.

The case, which began with an anonymous tip, represents one in a string of prosecutions involving improper disposal of oil and gas wastewater in Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico.

The Wyoming case kicked off with an anonymous tip to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

"WOGCC began an investigation and determined that the information was credible and that it was occurring on Federal loca

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