THE SUPERCHROME PLATING FACILITY WAS AN ELECTROPLATING OPERATION LOCATED AT 1504 EAST WASHINGTON BLVD., LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. SUPERCHROME WAS PRIMARILY INVOLVED IN CHROME AND CADMIUM PLATING. UNLIKE MOST PLATING SHOPS WHICH FOCUS ON AUTOMOBILE PRODUCTS AND COSMETIC WORK, SUPERCHROME PERFORMED PRECISION AND ENGINEERING PLATING. IN ADDITION, TO OIL WELL CASTINGS, PLATING SERVICES WERE ALSO PERFORMED ON DEFENSE INDUSTRY PRODUCTS. THE AREA SURROUNDING THE SITE IS, IN GENERAL, ZONED FOR RESIDENTIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE. FACTORIES, WAREHOUSES AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES SURROUND AND ABUT THE SITE. THE SITE CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF A 100,000 SQUARE FOOT PARCEL OF LAND. FEATURES ENCOUNTERED ON SITE INCLUDE A LARGE L SHAPED BUILDING, (APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ON A SIDE), AN EMPLOYEE PARKING AREA, AND A PLATING VAT SITUATED UNDERNEATH THE LOADING/UNLOADING DERRICK, WHICH IS 5 FEET IN DIAMETER AND 45 FEET DEEP. THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS UNIT WAS THE FIRST GOVERNMENT AGENCY CONTACTED CONCERNING THE SITE. AT THEIR REQUEST, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCE CONTROL ( DTSC ) AUTHORIZED AN EMERGENCY RESERVE ACCOUNT CONTRACTOR TO CONDUCT LIMITED STABILIZATION ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDE TEMPORARY SITE SECURITY. NEITHER THE STATE NOR THE LOCAL AGENCY HAD SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PERFORM STABILIZATION AND CLEANUP ACTI