MEMPHIS CONTAINER, ALSO KNOWN AS TRI-STATE DRUM, WAS A DRUM RECYCLING CUSINESS OWNED BY LUCILLE RYAN AND OPERATED BY MICHAEL P. EASON. MEMPHIS CONTAINER WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF ACCEPTING 55-GALLON DRUMS FROM VARIOUS COMPANIES IN THE MEMPHIS AREA. MANY OF THESE DRUMS HELD PRODUCTS RANGING FROM CHEMICALS, HERBICIDES, PAINTS, INKS, SOLVENTS, OIL, PRIMERS AND GLUE. ONCE THE DRUMS WERE RECEIVED BY THE OPERATOR THE CONTENTS AND RESIDUES WERE DISPOSED OF IN VATS ON SITE, THE DRUMS WERE RINSED, PAINTED, AND THEN SOLD. IN 1991, AFTER BEING ON SITE SINCE 1985, MR. EASON WAS EVICTED BY THE LANDOWNER, MRS. RYAN. MR. EASON LEFT BEHIND 9,000 DRUMS IN VARYING STAGES OF DETERIORATION. EPA WAS NOTIFIED AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A THREAT OF A RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. A REMOVAL WAS CONDUCTED WHICH ENDED IN MARCH 95.