IN THIS ACTION UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION AND LIABILITY ACT ( CERCLA ), 42 U.S.C. 9607 AND 28 U.S.C. 2201, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ( EPA ) IS SEEKING A JUDGMENT FOR PAST AND FUTURE RESPONSE COSTS AT THE IRON MOUNTAIN MINE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITE ( IMM OR THE SITE ) AGAINST THE CURRENT OWNERS AND THE SUCCESSOR TO THE FORMER OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE MINE. EPA EXPECTS THE DEFENDANTS WILL BE ABLE TO SATISFY THE JUDGMENT IN FULL. IRON MOUNTAIN MINE IS A LARGE SUPERFUND SITE NEAR REDDING, CALIFORNIA. IRON MOUNTAIN MINE WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST BECAUSE OF THE METAL-LADEN ACID MINE DRAINAGE WHICH FLOWS FROM ABANDONED MINE WORKINGS INTO THE SACRAMENTO RIVER, A MAJOR FISHERY AND SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR REDDING. THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ( NOAA ) HAS IDENTIFIED THE AFFECTED AREA AS THE MOST IMPORTANT SALMON HABITAT IN THE STATE. FROM THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY UNTIL 1963, MOUNTAIN COPPER COMPANY, LTD., A BRITISH CORPORATION, MINED THE MOUNTAIN FOR IRON AND OTHER METAL-BEARING ORES. THE ACID MINE DRAINAGE RESULTING FROM MOUNTAIN COPPER'S MINING ACTIVITIES FLOWS INTO THE SACRAMENTO RIVER JUST UPSTREAM OF THE KESWICK DAM, BUILT BY THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION ( USBR ). THE CONSTRUCTION OF KESWICK AND SHASTA DAMS HAS ALTERED THE FLOW REGIM