THE CHASE BRASS & COPPER COMPANY OWNED AND OPERATED THIS SITE AS A DISPOSAL AREA FOR WASTE FROM ITS METAL FORGING OPERATIONS, WHICH DATE BACK TO 1868. THE WASTE COVERED 5 ACRES ALONG THE BANK OF THE NAUGATUCK RIVER AND CONTAINED HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS, ASBESTOS AND PAHS. THESE CONDITIONS POSED A THREAT TO HUMANS AND WILDLIFE CONTACTING THE SITE AND WERE CAUSING CONTAMINATION OF THE RIVER. EPA COMPLETED A CLEANUP OF THE SITE IN 2003. IN THIS ACTION, EPA SEEKS TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF THE CLEANUP FROM THE CORPORATE SUCCESSORS TO THE CHASE BRASS AND COPPER COMPANY.