THE KENTWOOD LANDFILL IS A 72-ACRE SITE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF KENTWOOD, KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN. THE LANDFILL HAS RECEIV- ED MUNICIPAL WASTE IN ADDITION TO INDUSTRIAL WASTE. PARIS TOWNSHIP WHICH LATER BECAME THE CITY OF KENTWOOD, OPERATED THE ORIGINAL 52-ACRE SITE AS AN OPEN DUMP FROM 1958 THROUGH 1967. RESIDENTS OF PARIS TOWNSHIP, INCLUDING INDUSTRY, COULD CARRY IN THEIR OWN WASTE TO THE LANDFILL AT NO CHARGE. COMMERCIAL HAULERS WERE REQUIRED TOP OBTAIN A LICENSE TO USE THE OPEN DUMP. THE DUMP WAS OPERATED BY PLACING REFUSE INTO RAVINES AND BURNING THE WASTE. IN 1966, THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (MDPH) LICENSED THE SITE AS A SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AREA, STIPULAT- ING THE DAILY COVER OF REFUSE AND THAT BURNING OF THE REFUSE BE DISCONTINUED. IN JANUARY 1968, THE MDPH TRANSFERRED THE LICENSE TO THE CITY OF KENTWOOD. THIS LICENSE REQUIRED THE SITE TO BE OPERATED AS A SANITARY LANDFILL OR CLOSURE BY MAY 31, 1968. THE SITE REMAINED AN OPEN DUMP AND THE REFUSE CON- TINUED TO BE BURNED AT LEAST UNTIL 1969. THE KENT COUNTY HEALTH DEPT (KCHD) NOTIFIED THE CITY OF VIOLATIONS OF STATE OF MICHIGAN LAWS IN NOVEMBER 1969. IN JUNE 1970, THE CITY OF KENTWOOD SENT A LETTER THE KCDH INDICATING THAT THE DUMP WOULD BE CLOSED TO ALL HAULERS ON JUNE 27, 1970. IN 1971, THE KENT COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (KCDPW) TOOK OVER THE OPERATION OF THE LANDFILL AND OBTAINED A LICENSE FROM THE MDPH WITH A PROVI