NATURE OF THE CASE: (SUPERFUND SITE) SINCE 1974, THE A.H.-R.S. COAL CORP HAS OWNED A PAR- CEL OF LAND IN BRUIN, BUTLER CTY, PA, AT WHICH IT OPERAT- ED A COAL WASHING FACILITY(BRUIN LAGOON). UNTIL 1978 A.H. -R.S. USED A LAGOON AT THE SITE FOR THE DISPOSAL OF COAL FINES FROM THE COAL WASHIMG FACILITY. THE LAGOON IS LOC- ATED ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH BRANCH OF BEAR CREEK WHICH FLOWS INTO THE ALLEGHENY RIVER. THE LAGOON WAS CONST IN 1937 BY A FORMER OWNER, THE ULTRA PENN REFINING CO. ULTRA PENN USED THE LAGOON FOR THE DISPOSAL OF AT LEAST 2500,000 GALLONS OF WASTES IN- CLUDING SULFURIC ACID SLUDGES, SULFONATES & CAUSTICS. AN- OTHER FORMER OWNER BRUIN OIL CO, DEPOSITED 150,000 GAL'S OF SPENT OIL FILTERING MATERIAL WHICH INCLUDED VARIOUS HEAVY METALS DURING A PD FROM 1965 TO 1968. SINCE 1978, NO WASTES HAVE BEEN DISPOSED OF IN THE LAGOON. DUE TO THEIR PREDOMINANTLY LIQUID NATURE, THE VARIOUS WASTES IN THE LAGOON HAVE EXTENSIVELY INTERMING- LED. ANALYSIS OF SAMPLING CONDUCTED BY THE PA DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESUORCES (DER) & A CONSULTANT INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF MANY HAZ SUBSTANCES IN THE LAGOON. THESE IN- CLUDE: MERCURY, LEAD, CYANIDE, COPPER, CHROMIUM, CADIUM & BERLIUM. IN 1968, AN ESTIMATED 3,000 GAL'S OF WASTE, WHICH WERE RELEASED FROM THE LAGOON, ENTERD