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.