THE ATLAS ASBESTOS MINE SITE ( ATLAS MINE SITE ) INCLUDES FOUR GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTINCT AREAS: I) THE MINE AREA ( ATLAS MINE OU ); II) THE PONDING BASIN OF THE CALIFORNIA ADQUEDUCT NEAR GALE AVENUE ( THE PONDING BASIN ); III) THE CLEAR CREEK MANAGEMENT AREA ( CCMA ); AND IV) THE CITY OF COALINGA OPERABLE UNIT. THE PONDING BASIN AND THE CITY OF COALINGA OU ARE ALSO AREAS OF THE JOHNS-MANVILLE COALINGA SITE. ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS REGARDING THE CITY OF COALINGA OPERABLE UNIT HAVE RESULTED IN A CONSENT DECREE WITH SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY UNDER WHICH A CLEAN UP IS CURRENTLY BEING PERFORMED. THE ATLAS MINE OU IS AN APPROXIMATELY 1.8 SQUARE KILOMETER (450 ACRE) TRACT OF LAND LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN DIABLO MOUNTAINS IN WESTERN FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA ON LAND OWNED WITHIN THE NEW IDRIA FORMATION, A DIAPIRIC SERPENTINE PLUG CONTAINING NATURALLY OCCURRING CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS. THE NEAREST POPULATION CENTER IS COALINGA (POP. 8250) LOCATED APPROX. 29K (18 MI.) TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE ATLAS MINE OU INCLUDES THREE OPEN PIT ASBESTOS MINE SURFACES, STOCKPILES OF ASBESTOS WASTE MATERIAL, AN ABANDONED MILL BLDG., SETTLEMENT PONDS AND DEBRIS. IT IS DRAINED BY A NUMBER OF INTERMITTENT STREAMS. THE AREAS ADJACENT TO THE ATLAS MINE OU ARE RURAL. LAND USES INCLUDE MINING, RANCHING, FARMING AND RECREATION (CAMPING, HUNTING, HIKING, MINERAL COLLECTING AND RIDING