ON 12/15/94, THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PERFORMED AN EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AT THE OLD COBALT PONDS SITE. IN AUGUST OF 1995, EPA CONDUCTED MORE SAMPLING AT THE SITE TO DETERMINE THE IMPACTS AND POTENTIAL RISKS TO HUMAN HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL RECEPTORS CAUSED BY THE RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. THE TAILINGS AND CONTAMINATED SOILS AT THIS SITE CONTAIN ARSENIC, LEAD, COBALT, ASBESTOS AND VANADIUM PENTOXIDE AT ELEVATED LEVELS. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR CON- TINUED EXPOSURE OF THESE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TO HUMANS AND TO THE SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENT AT THE SITE, WHICH INCLUDES ENDANGERED SPECIES AND A WETLAND ECO-SYSTEM.