ALLIED TERMINALS, INC. ( ALLIED ) OWNED AND OPERATED THE SITE AS A BULK LIQUID STORAGE FACILITY. NUMEROUS LARGE ABOVE-GROUND STORAGE TANKS WERE CLUSTERED ON THE SITE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL HOMES. THE TANKS WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO HOLD PETROLEUM PRODUCTS. ALLIED WAS ATTEMPTING TO USE THE TANKS TO HOLD AMMONIUM NITRATE LIQUID FERTIZLIER. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2008, WORKERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO WELD STEEL PLATES ON A FULL TANK OF AMMONIUM NITRATE WHEN THE TANK CASTASTROPHICALLY FAILED AND AN ESTIMATED 1,463 POUNDS OF AMMONIA (A) CONTAMINANT OF AMMONIUM NITRATE FERTILIZER) WERE RELEASED FROM THE SITE. IN RESPONSE TO THE RELEASE OR THREATNED RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AT OR FROM THE SITE, VADEP OVERSAW ALLIED'S CLEANUP OF THE RELEASE AND EPA UNDERTOOK RESPONSE ATIONS AT THE SITE PURSUANT TO SECTION 104 OF CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. SECTION 9604, TO SUPPORT VADEP'S RESPONSE ACTIONS AT THE SITE. EPA'S RESPONSE ACTIONS INCLUDED TAKING AND ANALYZING SAMPLES AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES. EPA'S TOTAL UNREIMBURSED RESPONSE COSTS INCURRED IN UNDERTAKING THESE RESPONSE ACTIONS TOTALED $203,974.28.