THE SITE IS THE RUSTON/NORTH TACOMA STUDY AREA, ONE OF 7 OPERABLE UNITS OF THE COMMENCEMENT BAY NEARSHORE/TIDEFLATS SUPERFUND SITE. THE STUDY AREA, APPROXIMATELY 950 ACRES, COMPRISES AN ARC OF APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE RADIUS OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES SURROUNDING THE ASARCO TACOMA SMELTER (ASARCO SMELTER). THE STUDY AREA ENCOMPASSES THE TOWN OF RUSTON AND THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE CITY OF TACOMA IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. EPA HAS FOUND ELEVATED LEVELS OF ARSENIC AND LEAD IN YARD SOILS, ALLEYS, AND UNPAVED STREETS IN THE STUDY AREA AS A RESULT OF EMISSIONS FROM THE FORMER ASARCO SMELTER. THE RD/RA CD PROVIES FINAL SETTLEMENT OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF ASARCO, THE ONLY POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTY IDENTIFIED BY EPA FOR THE STUDY AREA. THE CD WOULD SUPERCEDE A UAO ISSUED IN AUGUST 1993 UNDER WHICH ASARCO HAS BEEN IMPLEMENT- ING EPA'S ROD DATED JUNE 1993.