THIS REFERRAL SEEKS TO RECOVER FUNDS SPENT BY EPA TO CONDUCT A REMOVAL ACTION AT THE CHROME COMPANY SITE LOCATED IN TUCSON, ARIZONA. CHROME COMPANY AND PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY OPERATED A CHROME PLATING SHOP AT THE SITE FROM 1954 TO JULY 1985. ON JANUARY 7, 1986, THE TUCSON FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE FACILITY WHICH HAD BEEN ABANDONED AND DISCOVERED LEAKING VATS AND DAMAGED CONTAINERS OF STRONG ACIDS, CAUSTICS, CYANIDE AND OTHER PLATING WASTES. FIRE OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY CONDEMNED THE PROPERTY AND NOTIFIED BOTH EPA AND THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES (ADHS) OF THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON-SITE. ON JANUARY 10, 1986, EPA CONTRACTORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES INSPECTED THE SITE AND OBSERVED THE LEAKING AND DAMAGED VATS CONTAINERS. THEY ALSO FOUND INCOMPATIBLE CHEMICALS (STRONG ACIDS AND CYANIDES) STORED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY IN OPENED AND DAMAGED CONTAINERS. BASED UPON THIS INFORMATION, EPA DETERMINED THAT THE SITE POSED A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT REQUIRING IMMEDIATE CLEANUP. ON JANUARY 13, 1986, FUNDING TO CONDUCT A CERCLA REMOVAL ACTION WAS APPROVED. THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES WERE GIVEN NOTICE OF FEDERAL INTEREST, BUT DECLINED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CLEANUP. EPA INITIATED ON-SITE CLEANUP ACTIVITIES ON JANUARY 13, 1986. THE REMOVAL ACTION CONSISTED OF: SAMPLING AND HAZARD SCREENING WASTES TO BE DISPOSED; COMBI