3/12/01: THIS IS A COST RECOVERY CASE PURSUANT TO SECTION 107 OF CERCLA WHICH RESOLVES THE UNITED STATES CLAIM FOR COSTS FOR ALL RESPONSE ACTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN TAKEN AT THE SITE. REGION 7 BECAME AWARE OF THIS SITE IN 1980. THE SETTLING DEFENDANTS ARE SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST TO A PARTY WHOSE WASTES WERE FOUND AT THE SITE. THE PREDECESSOR WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF ITS POTENTIAL LIABILITY IN 1981. THE REMEDIAL ACTION BEGAN IN JANUARY 1996 AND WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER 1996. PRIOR TO THE INITI ATION OF THE REMEDIAL ACTION THE SETTLING DEFENDANTS WERE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERTAKE THE REMEDIAL ACTION, THEY DECLINED TO DO SO. WE HAVE NOT RESOLVED A SETTLEMENT FOR THE SETTLING DEFENDANTS SHARE OF THE RESPONSE COSTS INCURRED FOR OU5 AT THE SITE.