UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PROPOSED CONSENT DECREE, ELEVEN MAJOR PARTIES AGREE TO PERFORM THE ENTIRE CLEAN-UP, AND, SIGNIFICANTLY, AGREE TO BEGIN DESIGNING THE REMEDIAL ACTION SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ENTRY OF THE CONSENT DECREE. THESE MAJOR PARTIES AND SIX FEDERAL AGENCIES ALSO AGREE TO PAY $3,175,000 IN PAST COSTS. IN ADDITION, THE MAJOR PARTIES WILL REIMBURSE THE GOVERNMENTS FOR 100% OF THE FUTURE OVER- SIGHT COSTS UP TO $500,000, AND FOR 50% OF SUCH FUTURE COSTS OVER $500,000. SIGNATURE PAGES OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES WILL NOT BE PROVIDED UNTIL THE ACTING ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE APPROVES THE CONSENT DECREE FOR LODGING. AS A RESULT, THE MAJOR PARTIES' SIGNATURE PAGES ARE BEING HELD IN ESCROW UNTIL THE FEDERAL AGENCIES SIGN THE CONSENT DECREE. THIS SETTLEMENT ALSO INCLUDES A DE MINIMIS SETTLEMENT WITH AT LEAST 140 SMALL PARTIES OBTAINING PROTECTION FROM THIRD PARTY LAWSUITS SEEKING CONTRIBUTION. FURTHERMORE, AS THE SETTLING PARTIES HAD INTENDED TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL PARTIES FOR CONTIBUTION AFTER SIGNING THE CONSENT DECREE, THIS SETTLEMENT UPON EPA APPROVAL, ALLOWS ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED DE MINIMIS PARTIES TO JOIN THE SETTLEMENT AFTER THE LODGING OF THE CONSENT DECREE. THE ADDITION OF MORE DE MINIMIS PARTIES AFTER LODGING OF THE DECREE IS A NEW APPROACH TO LIMIT TRANSACTION COSTS THAT WOULD BE