Subsurface bacteria were used to study the kinetics of chromate uptake and the internal distribution of the chromium that is taken up by these cells using two equilibration periods (1 and 50 days). Cells that were exposed to chromate for 50 days (to simulate in-situ conditions) were able to sequester up to 200% more chromium per unit mass of cells than were cells that were exposed for only 1 day. Chromium distributions showed an increase in chromium sorption by the cell wall, by the membrane and ribosome, and by the soluble fraction after a 50-day equilibration period compared to after 1 day of equilibration. Killed cell controls suggest that active transport of chromate is the method of intracellular accumulation during the 50-day equilibration period.