THE ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC. (ALCOA) POINT COMFORT OPERATIONS IS LOCATED SOUTH OF STATE HIGHWAY 35 NEAR THE TOWN OF POINT COMFORT, TX. THE FACILITY IS ADJACENT TO LA- VACA BAY. THE FACILITY IS CURRENTLY OPERATED FOR THE PRODUC- TION OF ALUMINA FROM BAUXITE ORE. PAST OPERATIONS AT THE FA- CILITY INCLUDED BAUXITE REFINING, ALUMINUM REFINING, AN A- LUMINUM FLUORIDE PLANT, A CHLOR-ALKALI FACILITY, AND A CAR- BON PASTE PLANT. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS REPORT, REFERENCES TO TO ALCOA OPERATIONS SHALL MEAN THAT PORTION OF THE FACILI- TY THAT WAS OPERATED BY ALCOA. A PORTION OF THE FACILITY WAS LEASED TO WITCO CHEMICAL CORPORATION WHICH PROCESSED COAL TAR FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRODE BINDER PITCH AND CREOSOTE. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS REPORT, REFERENCES TO 'WITCO OPERATIONS' SHALL MEAN THAT PORTION OF THE FACILITY THAT WAS OPERATED BY WITCO. GROUNDWATER SAMPLES COLLECTED AND ANALYZED BY ALCOA FROM MONITORING WELLS AT THE ALCOA OPERATIONS AND SOIL SAMPLES COLLECTED AND ANALYZED BY THE MINE SAFETY AND HEALTLH ADMINISTRATION FROM THE ALCOA OPERATIONS INDICATE RELEASES AND THREAT OF RELEASES OF MERCURY AND OTHER HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS AT THE FACILITY. GROUNDWATER SAMPLES COLLECTED AND ANALYZED BY WITCO FROM MONITORING WELLS AT THE WITCO OPERATIONS INDICATE RELEASES AND THREAT OF RELEASES OF CREOSOTE AND A