ON 10/21/99, AN EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT WAS ISSUED TO BLACK DIAMOND ENERGIES, INC. AND CARGILL, INC. REQUIRING THE COMPANIES TO SUPPLY CLEAN WATER TO AN ELLERSLIE, MARYLAND HOMEOWNER. IN THE ORDER, THE EPA ALLEGED BLACK DIAMOND FAILED TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN A SALT PILE AT ITS FACILITY. CARGILL SUPPLIES THE BLACK DIAMOND FACILITY WITH ROAD SALT THAT IS SOLD TO STATE, COUNTY, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR WINTER HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE. THE ORDER ALLEGES THAT WATER RUNOFF FROM A SALT PILE AT THE SITE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONTAMINATION OF A PRIVATE DRINKING WELL LOCATED ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE SOUTH OF THE SALT STORAGE SITE. TESTS OF THE WELL WATER SHOW A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SODIUM AND CHLORIDE. WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDER, THE COMPANIES MUST SUPPLY THE AFFECTED FAMILY WITH A TEMPORARY ALTERNATE WATER SUPPLY AND WITHIN 120 DAYS, THE COMPANIES MUST SUPPLY A PERMANENT ALTERNATE WATER SUPPLY. ALSO, WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDER, THE COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO EITHER REMOVE THE SALT FROM THE SITE OR TAKE STEPS TO CONTROL STORMWATER RUNOFF SO THAT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS.