NATURE OF CASE THIS CASE INVOLVES A 13.8 ACRE FACILITY IN EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS WHICH IS IN THE BUSINESS OF HANDLING, TREATING, STORING AND TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS WASTE. WASTEX HANDLES WASTE PAINT SOLVENTS PRIMARILY, BUT WASTE INKS AND OILS ARE ALSO PART OF THE OPERATION. APPROXIMATELY TEN INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED AT THE SITE. THE FACILITY HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL RECURRING VIOLATIONS OF THE INTERIM STATUS STANDARDS SET FORTH IN 40 C.F.R. PART 265. THE MAIN PROBLEMS AT THE SITE RELATE TO THE THOUSANDS OF DRUMS WHICH CONTAIN HAZARDOUS WASTE IN LEAKING BULGING AND POORLY LABELED CONTAINERS, HUNDREDS OF WHICH DO NOT HAVE TOPS ON THEM. THESE DRUMS ARE STACKED IN ROWS THREE DRUMS HIGH WITH NO AISLE SPACE BETWEEN THEM. THERE ARE ALSO VIOLATIONS WHICH RELATE TO RCRA REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO INSPECTIONS, PLANS, RECORDS AND SAFETY PRO- CEDURES. CAUSE OF ACTION EPA AUTHORITY TO BRING THIS ACTION IS BASED ON SECTION 3008 OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SEEK CIVIL INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE AGENCY'S SUBTITLE C REGULATIONS, AND REGULATIONS OF AUTHORIZED STATE PROGRAMS WHICH GOVERN OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGE- MENT FACILITIES.