Based on writer Jeb Stuart's personal experiences. He spent his college years working as a carpenter in Appalachia where, at the time, illicit poisoning of the countryside was under investigation by the EPA.
Marg Helgenberger visited several mines while on location to achieve a better understanding of her character.
Just as production started on location in Kentucky, it emerged that a real EPA investigation was taking place nearby. Steven Seagal invited the EPA official to visit the set so he could chat with him about environmental issues and what he did.
Director Uli Edel left the project early July 1996.
The film's theatrical trailer features clips from several scenes that were not included in the movie; these include clips featuring: (1) an in-depth view of Frank Elkins' investigation and murder; (2) Cotton complimenting Jack and Sarah at the dance; (3) Sarah wielding a shotgun.
The box office flop of this movie caused Steven Seagal's multi-picture contract with Warner Bros. Pictures to end. However, he would work with them one last time for Exit Wounds (2001) and that movie proved to be a box office success.
Steven Seagal plays a EPA agent who tries to stop an evil corporation from dumping toxic waste causing environmental damage in Kentucky. Seagal's previous film On Deadly Ground (1994) deals with the same thing but with a Oil Company in Alaska.