ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE REMOVAL ( EWR ) OF WATERBURY, CT, OPERATES ONE OF NEW ENGLAND'S LARGEST HAZARDOUS WASTE TREAT- MENT, STORAGE & DISPOSAL FACILITIES. EWR IS LOCATED IN AN URBAN AREA, IN CLOSE PROXIMITYTO MANY PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS & HOSPITALS. THE 2 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS ARE THE HANDLING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE DRUMS & THE TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS IND. WASTES. EWR RECEIVES AN AVG OF 10,000 GALS OF WASTE/DAY & OPERATES A WASTE OIL SEPARATION PROCESS & A 1000 GAL SOLVENT STILL. EWR HAS MET THE RCRA REQUIREMENT FOR OBTAINING INTERIM STATUS & THEREFORE MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF 40 CFR PART 265. 3 INSPECTIONS OF EWR'S FACILITY OVER THE LAST YEAR BY EPA HAVE REVEALED NUMEROUS & REPEATED VIOLATIONS OF THESE REQUIREMENTS. SECTION 3008 OF RCRA AUTHORIZES THE COMMENCE- MENT OF A CIVIL ACTION IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THESE VIOLATIONS. SERIOUS POTENTIAL THREATS EXIST TO THE SUR- ROUNDING COMMUNITY BY THE COMPANY'S LACK OF ADEQUATE FIRE- FIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN THE LARGE BARREL STORAGE AREA & BY THE CONDITION OF THE HAZARDOUS WASTE SLUDGE PILE. A RECENT IN- SPECTION BY THE CT. FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE OF THE BARREL STORAGE WAREHOUSE REVEALED 20 VIOLATIONS OF STATE FIRE CODES; THESE VIOLATIONS ARE PARTICULARLY SERIOUS BECAUSE THE BUILDING CONTAINS MANY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. LOCAL INTEREST IN THIS CASE HAS BEEN INTENSE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE EWR HAS BEEN SEEKING LOCAL APPROVAL TO SEND TH