THIS REFERRAL RECOMMENDS LITIGATION TO RECOVER APPROXIMATELY $266,000 SPENT BY EPA IN CONNECTION WITH AN EMERGENCY REMOVAL ACTION AT THE PACIFIC INTERMEDIATES SITE IN VENTURA COUNTY, THE CALIFORNIA (THE SITE ). PACIFIC INTERMEDIATES WAS A CHEMICAL BLENDING OPERATION THAT SUPPLIED INGREDIENTS PRIMARILY TO PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. THE OPERATION OCCUPIED PART OF A BUILDING LOCATED IN A MIXED INDUSTRIAL/RESIDENTIAL AREA. ON APRIL 10, 1989, A FIRE OCCURRED AT PACIFIC INTERMEDIATES, RESULTING IN RELEASES OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. THE VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE FIRE, EVACUATED LOCAL RESIDENTS AND, AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE VENTURA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ALLOWED THE FIRE TO BURN UNTIL POTENTIAL HAZARDS COULD BE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE LOCAL RESPONSE AGENCIES DETERMINED THAT THE SITUATION WAS BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITIES AND REQUESTED EPA ASSISTANCE. ON APRIL 12, 1989, EPA ASSUMED THE ROLE OF LEAD AGENCY AND BEGAN RESPONSE ACTION TO MITIGATE THE IMMEDIATE THREAT AND TO CLEAN UP THE SITE. EPA GAVE VERBAL NOTICE TO A SITE-LANDOWNER REPRESENTATIVE OF POTENTIAL CERCLA LIABILITY, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE TIME CONSTRAINTS PRECLUDED HIS SECURING THE NECESSARY CLEANUP RESOURCES. EPA MOBILIZED THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE CLEANUP CONTRACTOR AND INITIATED SITE STABILIZATION.