THE SUBJECT REFERRAL RECOMMENDS THE FILING OF A COST RECOVERY ACTION AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REIMBURSE THE U.S. FOR RESPONSE COSTS PLUS INTEREST TOTALING $3,231,272.08 ASSOCIATED WITH A REMOVAL ACTION UNDERTAKEN AT THE TIBBETTS ROAD SUPERFUND SITE IN BARRINGTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS ACTION WILL ALSO SEEK A DECLARATORY JUDGEMENT AS TO FORD'S LIABILITY AT THIS SITE FOR ANY FUTURE RESPONSE COSTS. THE SITE CONTAINS A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING AND IS LOCATED ON A PARTIALLY WOODED 1.91 ACRE LOT ON TIBBETTS ROAD IN BARRINGTON N.H. IT WAS PURCHASED AS PART OF A LARGER PARCEL BY ALEXANDER AND MARION JOHNSON ON JANUARY 27, 1944. THEREAFTER, MR. JOHNSON USED THE PROPERTY AS THE STORAGE LOCATION FOR AT LEAST THIRTY-SEVEN (37) DRUMS CONTAINING VARIOUS CHEMICALS WHICH HE TRANSPORTED FROM HIS PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS FACILITY. THE DRUMS WERE FIRST DISCOVERED BY THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IN MAY 1982. HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS) WERE THEN FOUND IN LOCAL DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES. IN AUGUST, 1982, THE STATE ISSUED AN ORDER TO MR. JOHNSON REQUIRING THE REMOVAL OF ALL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES FROM HIS PROPERTY. IN MARCH, 1984, A STATE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT MANY OF THE DRUMS HAD BEEN OVERTURNED AND WERE LEAKING. NEW HAMPSHIRE THEN FORMALLY REQUESTED EPA TO UNDERTAKE EMERGENCY