As we move from the infinite to the finite it becomes clear there have to be regulations. Examples:

Space - When humans first got up there it was infinite. Junk was simply thrown overboard, and there was no thought as to cluttering up the area. It was infinite. Now, there is so much stuff that it has to be catalogued and tracked so as to help avoid it. Space, at least around the Earth, is no longer infinite.

Air - It was infinite, and anything could be dumped there. As more and more was dumped, and the population grew, it is demonstrating it's limitations and emissions must be controlled. No longer infinite.

Oceans - See Space and Air.

Logging - Once the land was infinite and trees were in the way of progress. That was true for the population at the time. As populations grew, however, the pressure on logging grew to where the forests have become quite finite, and managed forestry is a necessity.

Regulations on oil drilling over the years have been routinely criticized and condemned by the industry which predicts catastrophe every time a new one is found to be socially desirable. The energy aspect of the economy will stagnate, people will be out of work, transportation will halt, wars will not be able to be initiated, babies will be without Binkies, condoms will be forced to use less material and become more likely to break. All because of regulations.

And yet even with all the regulations, apparently honored when convenient, I'll agree, Big Oil is making massive profits. Here's a citation regarding 2011. Go figure.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/29/news/companies/big-oil-gas-price-response/index.htm