UNITED STATES V. ROBERT MCKEE, KENNETH L. THOMAS, ET AL. REGARDING THE M.T. RICHARDS, INC. SITE, WHITE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. FROM JULY 1989 - 1990, THE US EPA HAS INCURRED COSTS IN CONDUCTING A REMOVAL ACTION AT THE SITE. THE REMOVAL ACTION WAS COMPLETED ON 4/4/90,AT AN UNREIMBURSED COST, AS OF 9/30/92, OF $1,607,825.25. US EPA SEEKS REOCVERY OF THESE PAST COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMOVAL ACTIVITIES ANDA DELCARATORY JUDGMENT FOR FUTURE COSTS EXPENDED AT THE SITE. PURSUANT TO SECTION 113(G) OF CERCLA, AN ACTION FOR THE RECOVERY OFCOSTS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 107(A) OF CERCLA MUST BE BROUGHT WITHIN 3YEARS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE REMOVAL ACTION. THUS, A LAWSUIT WOULDHAVE TO BE BROUGHT NO LATER THAN 4/4/93, IN ORDER TO AVOID A STATUT OFLIMITATIONS BAR. THE LAWSUIT SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST THE POTENTIALLYRESPONSIBLE PARTIES REFERRED TO IN THE REFERRAL PACKAGE. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT U.S.EPA HAS INVITED A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 200PRPS TO MAKE A SETTLEMENT OFFER TO THE U.S. AS OF 1/22/93, APPROX 50PRPS, ORGANIZED INTO 2 GROUPS, HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN SETTLINGTHEIR POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE AGENCY'S TOTALREMOVAL COSTS AT THE SITE. NEGOTIATIONS WITH THES 2 PRP GROUPS ISCONTINUING, ALTHOUGH NO OFFERS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO DATE.