RAMP INDUSTRIES IS A PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSI- NESS WHICH ACCEPTS RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MIXED WITH RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FOR TREATMENT AND TEMPORARY STOR- AGE. ON 8/31/94, RAMPS ONLY LOCAL EMPLOYEE RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION AS GENERAL MANAGER AND LEFT THE FACILITY. AT THAT POINT, THE FACITLIY WAS ABANDONED AND UNSECURED AND CON- TAINED BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 DRUMS OF RADIOACTIVE AND MIXED WASTES. THE DRUMS ARE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND ARE RUST- ING. SAMPLES TAKEN FROM SOIL AND SEWERS ON THE SITE REVEAL A PRESENCE OF RADIONUCLIDES AND ORGANIC SOLVENTS. PASSERSBY WERE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO ELEVATED LEVESL OF GAMMA RADIA- TION. THE SITE IS LOCATED IN AN INDUSTRAIL AND RESIDENTIAL AREA. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 96,500 PEOPLE LIVING WIHTIN A 4 MILE RAUDIS OF THE SITE. SHOULD A FIRE BREAKOUT AMONG THE 6000 PLUS DRUMS OF THESE WASTES, AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS WOULD BE SPREAD OVER A LARGE AREA OF METRO DENVER.