THE U.S. STEEL AGRICHEM SUPERFUND SITE WAS A FORMER PESTICIDE BLENDING/FORMULATION FACILITY. THE SITE IS APPROX. 5 ACRES AND WAS CONTAMINATED WITH DDT, DDD, DDE, BHC, DIELDRIN, ENDRIN, ARSENIC AND ZIN. THE SITE WAS ALSO HEAVILY CONTAMINATED WITH TOXAPHENE. EPA PERFORMED A REMOVAL ACTION BEGINNING IN JUNE OF 1994. EPA DEMOBILIZED ON FEBRUARY 21, 1997. EPA HAS IDENTIFIED 9 DEFENDANTS; 6 OWNER/OPERATORS AND 3 GENERATORS. EPA SEEKS COST RECOVERY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,320,094 INCURRED BY THE EPA IN RESPONDING TO THE RELEASE AND THREATENED RELEASE. ONE LIMITING FACTOR IS THAT DEFENDANTS ARE EXPECTED TO ARGUE THAT THE 5 PPM STANDARD SELECTED BY EPA WAS TOO STRINGENT. EPA'S POSITION IS FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES. ANOTHER LIMITING FACTOR IS THAT ONE OF THE PRP'S WAS A GENERATOR OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING SEVIN, HOWEVER, NO TESTING FOR SEVIN WAS PERFORMED. THUS, THE PRP MAY ARGUE THAT EPA CANNOT SHOW CONTAMINATION BY PRODUCTION OF IT'S PRODUCTS. EPA'S POSITION IS THAT DISPOSAL IS INHERENT IN THE FORMULATION PROCESS. FINALLY, RECOVERY FROM SOME OF THE PRP'S MAY BE DIFFICULT. ONE PRP IS IN BANKRUPTCY (SOUTHERN SOYA) (SEE MATTER NUMBER 04-2000-0090). ANOTHER PRP IS A DISSOLVED CORP. BUT MAY HAVE INSURANCE MONEY (SOUTHEASTERN INSECTICIDE). FINALLY, ONE PRP HAS VERY LIMITED RESOURCES (RICHARD SCOTT JOHNSON).