NATURE OF THE CASE: THE MEDLEY SITE (ALSO KNOWN AS THE BURNT GIN SITE) IS LOCATED ON COUNTY ROAD 72 (BURNT GIN RD) OFF STATE ROUTE 18 IN WHITE PLAINS TOWNSHIP, CHEROKEE COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA, APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES SOUTH OF GAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE DISPOSAL SITE IS AN APPROXIMATELY 7-ACRE PLOT OF LAND WITHIN A 65.4-ACRE PARCEL OWNED BY RALPH C. MEDLEY. THE SITE (BEFORE EPA CLEANUP) CONTAINED A DRUM DISPOSAL AREA & SIX SMALL LAGOONS. FROM APPROXIMATELY 1966 TO 1976, THE SITE WAS USED AS A WASTE DISPOSAL SITE. BARRELS OF CHEMICAL WASTE WERE REPORTEDLY TRUCKED TO THE SITE BY VARIOUS CHEMICAL COMPANIES. THE BARRELS WERE THEN ROLLED OUT OF THE TRUCK WITHOUT USING A RAMP, CAUSING MOST OF THE BARRELS TO RUPTURE.