ON JAN. 26, 1992, A BARGE IN TOW OF THE M/V SCAUP COLLIDED WITH A BARGE IN TOW OF THE M/V DE LASALLE. THIS COLLISION OCCURRED AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE INTRACOASTALWATERWAY AND THE WAX LAKE OUTLET, NEAR MORGAN CITY, LA. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE BARGE NMS 1905 IN TOW OF THE M/V DE LASALLE TO SPILL ABOUT 100, 000 GALLONS OF STYRENE, A CERCLA HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, INTO THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY. THE M/V SCAUP WAS OWNED BY THE CROPWELL LEASING COMPANY, AND CHARTERED TO DRAVO BASIC MATERIALS COMPANY, INC. (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVE- LY DRAVO). THE M/V DE LASALLE WAS OWNED BY NATIONAL MARINA SERVICES INC.AND CHARTERED TO B & H TOWING, INC. (HEREIN- AFTER COLLECTIVELY NMS). THE BARGE NMS 1905, FROM WHICH THE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE WAS SPILLED, WAS OWNED BY NMS. A SHORT TIME AFTER THE COLLISION, BOTH DRAVO AND NMS FILED LIMITATION OF LIABILITY PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO THE SHIPOWN- ER'S LIMITATION OF LIABILITY ACT, 46 U.S.C. APP. SEC. 183 ET SEQ. THESE LIMITATION PROCEEDINGS WERE ORDERED CONSOLIDATED IN MAY 1992. THE GOVERNMENT HAS FILED A CERCLA CLAIM, UNDER 42 U.S.C. SEC. 9607, AGAINST THE DISCHARGING VESSEL, AND THAT CASE WAS CONSOLIDATED WITH THE CASE AGAINST THE NONDIS- CHARGING VESSEL. THE GOVERNMENT FILED A CLAIM AND ANSWER IN DRAVO'S LIMITA- TION PROCEEDING, SEEKING NATURAL RESOURCES DAMAGES AND RE- MOVAL COSTSPURSUANT TO CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. SEC. 9607, THE FED- ERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT (FW