ENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL WENT BANKRUPT IN MARCH 1988. ASBESTOS SURVEY CONDUCTED PER THE REQUEST OF U.S. TRUSTEE SHOWED PRE- SENCE OF ASBESTOS THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL BLDG. INSPECTION BY U.S. EPA SHOWS FRIABLE ASBESTOS IN SERIOUSLY DETERIORAT- ING CONDITION IN BASEMENT AREA. HOSPITAL IS LOCATED IN HIGH CRIME AREA, CLOSE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. U.S. TRUSTEE WANTS TO ABANDON BUILDING AND PULL SECURITY FORCE. U.S. EPA WILL OPPOSE BECAUSE OF SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC ENDANGERMENT. * * * THE REFERRAL COVER MEMO WAS SIGNED BY THE RA 4/12/89. HOWEVER, THIS REFERRAL WAS ACTUALLY CALLED INTO AND APPROVED BY HQ AS STATED ON SCREEN 2 AS A SECOND QTR REFERRAL. * * * ON JANUARY 6, 1989, MR. JOSEPH STEIN, U.S. TRUSTEE FOR THE DEFUNCT AND BANKRUPT ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL CORP., CON TACTED THE REGION V AIR DIV. PRIOR TO APPLYING TO THE BANK- RUPTCY COURT FOR PERMISSION TO TERMINATE BUILDING SECURITY AND TO ABANDON THE BURDENSOME REAL PROPERTY. MR. STEIN WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY UNDER ENVIRON- MENTAL LAWS TO ABATE THE ASBESTOS HAZARD PRIOR TO ABANDON- MENT. THIS CONCERN WAS TEMPERED BY THE ESTIMATED HIGH COST TO ABATE THE ASBESTOS HAZARD AND THE LIMITED FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE ESTATE. (THE DEBTOR FILED FOR CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY ON MARCH 26, 1988, IN THE U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT, NORTHERN DIST. OF ILLINOIS, EASTERN DIV.) ON JANUARY 11 AND 12, 1989, TWO ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS FROM THE CENTRAL DIST. OFFICE CONDUCTE