ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2001, THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR EPA REGION III SIGNED A GLOBAL CONSENT DECRE WITH 407 PROPOSED DE MINIMIS SETTLORS, AND A PLAINTIFF GROUP OF PRPS KNOWN AS THE SPECTRON SITE GROUP ( SSG ), AND REQUESTED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTIFCE ( DOJ ) TO LODGE THE CONSENT DECREE IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 106 AND 107(A) OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION AND LIABILITY ACT OF 1980. UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE, THE PARTIES WILL PAY APPROXIMATELY $2.3 MILLION OF EPA, AND APPROXIMATELY $2.5 MILLION TO THE SSG, FOR RESPONSE COSTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SPECTRON, INC. SUPERFUND SITE LOCATED IN ELKTON, CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND. IN RETURN, THE DE MINIMIS SETTLORS RECEIVE EPA'S AND THE SSG'S COVENANT NOT TO SUE, COSTS AND UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING THE SITE. THE SITE IS CONTAMINATED WITH VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, INCLUDING OF NEARLY THREE DECADES OF SOLVENT RECLAMATION OPERATIONS THERE. ON JAN. 2, 2002, SUPPLEMENTAL REFERRAL TO ADD 62 SETTLING DEFENDANTS TO PROPOSE DEMINIMIS SETTLEMENT (ORIGINALLY REFERRED ON SEPT. 28, 2001). ON MAY 28, 2002, FOURTH (4TH) SUPPLEMENTAL REFERRAL FOR THE SPECTRON DEMINIMIS CONSENT DECREE. THIS REFERRALS ADDS FOUR (4) SETTTLING PARTIES, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SETTLING DEFENDANTS TO 483.