FROM 1937 TO 1985, THE MIDWEST PLATING AND CHEMICAL COM- PANY (MPC) OPERATED A METAL ELECTROPLATING BUSINESS IN LOGANSPORT, INDIANA. MPC UTILIZED HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN CONDUCTING ITS BUSINESS. IN MARCH OF 1985, MPC ABANDONED ITS LOGANSPORT FACILITY WITHOUT REGARD TO THE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES REMAINING AT THE FACILITY. ON APRIL 16, 1985, AFTER NOTIFYING MPC OF CONDITIONS AT THE FACILITY, AND AFTER AFFORDING MPC AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN UP THE FACILITY, THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (U.S. EPA) ENGAGED IN AN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL ACTION TO ABATE THE ENDANGERMENT POSED BY THE FACILITY. THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL ACTION WAS COMPLETED ON AUGUST 23, 1985, AT A COST OF $898,807.25. DEMAND LETTERS WERE SENT TO ALL POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTIES (PRP'S) REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT TO U.S.EPA OF THAT AMOUNT. THE PRP'S FAILED TO REIMBURSE U.S. EPA PURSUANT TO THE DEMAND LETTERS. THIS CASE WAS REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON FEBRUARY 7, 1986, FOR COST-RECOVERY. AT THE TIME THE CASE WAS REFERRED REGION V HAD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ECONOMIC- CALLY VIABLE PRP'S EXISTED WHO SHOULD BE NAMED AS DEFENDANTS IN A LAWSUIT FOR COST-RECOVERY. HOWEVER, THE REFERRAL WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE REGION BECAUSE FOLLOWING REFERRAL ONE OF THE TWO PRIMARY PRP'S DIED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT ASSETS AND THE OTHER MAJOR PRP FILED BANKRUPTCY. AT THE TIME OF WITHDRAWN OF THE 107