THE SITE IS DEFINED AS AMERICAN BARREL YARD AND THE EXTENT OF CONTAMINATION FROM PAST ACTIVITIES ON THE YARD. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE CITY BLOCK IS REFERRED TO AS THE STUDY AREA. ACTIVITIES BEGAN AT THE UP&L/ABS AS EARLY AS 1973 AND CONTINUED UNTIL 1987. THE FIRST PROCESS TO BE CONDUCTED ON THIS SITE WAS COAL GASIFICATION. THE PROCESS PRODUCED A VARIETY OF BY-PRODUCTS HAVING SOME COMMERCIAL VALUE, INCLUDING COKE, AMMONIA, AND LIGHTER TARS AND SLUDGES WHICH WERE SOLD TO REFINERS OR TO THE PUBLIC. DISTILLATION BY- PRODUCTS FROM THE REFINEMENT OF TARS INCLUDED TOLUENE, NAPHTHALENE, ANTHRACENE, AND PHENOLS. BY-PRODUCTS HAVING NO COMMERCIAL VALUE WERE ALSO PRODUCED: ASH, CLINKERS, HEAVY TARS, SLUDGES, LIME SLUDGES, SPENT IRON OXIDES, LIQUID WASTES, AND STEAM CONDENSATES. THESE PRODUCTS WERE COMMONLY DISPOSED OF IN ON-SITE PITS AND OFF-SITE LANDFILLS. COAL GASIFICATION OPERATIONS CEASED IN 1908. CREOSOTE POLE TREATING OPERATIONS WERE CONDUCTED O THE ABY AND SEA AS EARLY AS 1927. WHEN THE POLE TREATING OPERATIONS CEASED THE ABY WAS USED AS A STORAGE YARD FOR 55-GALLON DRUMS. UP TO 50,000 DRUMS WERE STORED AT ANY ONE TIME ON VIRTUALLY ALL PORTIONS OF THE ABY EXCEPT FOR THE YARD MARGINS, AREAS ALLOWING FOR VEHICLES, AND THE EXTREME SOUTHWEST EXTENSION OF THE CRESCENT-SHAPED AREA. WHILE NO CLEANING OF DRUMS OR RECYCLING OF CONTENTS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON THE YARD, SOME BARRELS CONTAINED RES