if you're running under use strict then I presume that when you declare the hash, you're using my %hash to do so; which should mean that you're free and clear. If you're running under Apache::Registry, your whole script is treated as a subroutine, so each invocation of your script is like a fresh invocation of a sub, and the variable should be a new copy.

Philosophy can be made out of anything. Or less -- Jerry A. Fodor