THIS IS A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THE ST. JOE LEAD COMPANY (SJL), SINCE 1981 A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE FLUOR CORPORATION OF IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, FOR DISCHARGING POLLU- TANTS INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN EXCESS OF THE LEVELS PERMITTED BY ITS NPDES PERMIT NO. MO-0000281. THE AGENCY IS SEEKING CIVIL PENALTIES. SJL OPERATES THE LARGEST LEAD SMELTER IN THE U.S. AT THIS SITE. ITS PERMIT, ISSUED ON APRIL 2, 1976, REQUIRED COM- LIANCE WITH FINAL EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS BY JULY 1, 1977, LATER EXTENDED BY AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE UNTIL JULY 1, 1978. THE PERMIT LIMITATIONS WERE NOT AS STRINGENT AS THE BPT GUIDELINES FOR LEAD SMELTERS ISSUED BY EPA IN 1975. REPEATED INSPECTIONS BY EPA AND THE STATE, AS WELL AS THE COMPANY'S OWN DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORT, INDICATED CONTINUING VIOLATIONS UNTIL AS RECENTLY AS SEPTEMBER 1982, DESPITE REPEATED ASSURANCES BY COMPANY OFFICIALS THAT THE FACILITY WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE SHORTLY.