FROM APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 1982 TO MAY 1983 NATIONAL GALVANIZING, INC. OPERATED A METAL PLATING BUSINESS FIVE MILES NORTH OF TRAVELERS REST, SOUTH CAROLINA. DURING THE PROCESS OF CLEANING THE METALS PRIOR TO THE ZINC PLATING STAGE THE FACILITY GENERATED A WASTEWATER WHICH WAS A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE. IN THE INITIAL DAYS OF ITS OPERATION, NATIONAL GALVANIZING PERIODICALLY NEUTRALIZED ITS WASTEWATERS IN AN ONSITE WASTEWATER PRETREATMENT PLANT. IN 1982, WHEN ONE OF THE PROCESS TANKS CRACKED, THE COMPANY BEGAN STORING ITS EXCESS WASTEWATER IN TWO (2) ABOVE GROUND PORTABLE SWIMMING POOLS, LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE NATIONAL GALVANIZING FACILITY. IN 1983, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL (DHEC) NOTIFIED NATIONAL GALVANIZING THAT ITS WASTEWATERS WERE BEING GENERATED WITHOUT AN APPROVED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN AND REQUESTED THAT THE PROCESS WASTEWATERS BE REMOVED FROM THE SWIMMING POOLS. A JUNE 9, 1983 DHEC SAMPLING INSPECTION REVEALED THE WASTEWATERS IN THESE POOLS POSSESSED A PH VALUE OF * TO * AND WERE THEREFORE CORROSIVE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. THESE LAB RESULTS ALSO REVEALED HIGH LEVELS OF CHROMIUM, IRON, NICKEL AND ZINC IN THE WASTEWATER.