COMMENCING IN 1985 AND CONTINUING UNTIL AUGUST OF 1990, SUMMITVILLE CONSOLIDATED MINING COMPANY, INC. (SUMMITVILLE) OPERATED A MINE AND HEAP LEACH OPERATION IN THE SOUTHEASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DEL NORTE, COLORADO. SUMMITVILLE'S HEAP LEACH OPERATION USED A CYANIDE SOLUTION TO REMOVE PRECIOUS METALS, PRIMARILY GOLD, FROM THE MINED ORE. WHILE SUMMITVILLE'S ACTIVE MINING OPERATIONS CEASED IN 1990, THE HEAP LEACH PAD, CYANIDE SOLUTION AND ASSOCIATED APPURTENANCES WERE NOT REMOVED FROM THE SITE. IN THEIR RESPONSES TO EPA'S DECEMBER 4, 1992 GENERAL NOTICE LETTERS, SUMMITVILLE AND ITS PARENT GALACTIC RESOURCES, LTD (LOCATED IN CANADA) (GRL), MADE CLEAR THAT SUMMITVILLE'S OPERATIONS WOULD IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE TERMINATED AS OF DECEMBER 15, 1992. AFTER BEING ADVISED OF CYANIDE AND HEAVY METAL SOLUTION INTO NEARBY WIGHTMAN FK. OF THE ALAMOSA RIVER EPA PREPARED TO TAKE EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTION AT THE SITE TO PREVENT THE ANTICIPATED RELEASE. SUMMITVILLE FILED A PETITION UNDER CHAPTER 7 OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE IN BANKRUPTCY COURT IN AND FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO ON DECEMBER 4, 1992. GRL FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN CANADA ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 27, 1993. ON DECEMBER 16, 1992, EPA TOOK OVER OPERATIONS OF THE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS AT THE SITE AND HAS CONTINUED TO OPERATE THOSE SYSTEMS THROUGH THE PRESENT TIME. AN ON-SCENE COORDINATOR AND TWO REMEDIAL PROJECT MANAGERS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS