LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently a party to any legal proceeding that management believes could have a material adverse effect on our long-term consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 17: Income Taxes for a discussion of a tax proceeding involving Plum Creek REIT's 2008 U.S. federal income tax return.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Site Remediation

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) – commonly known as the Superfund – and similar state laws, we:


•	are a party to various proceedings related to the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and


•	have been notified that we may be a potentially responsible party related to the cleanup of other hazardous waste sites for which proceedings have not yet been initiated.

We have received notification from the Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) and have acknowledged that we are a potentially responsible party in a portion of the Kalamazoo River Superfund site in southwest Michigan. Our involvement in the remediation site is based on our former ownership of the Plainwell, Michigan mill located within the remediation site. Several other companies also operated upstream pulp mills within the remediation site. We are currently cooperating with the other parties to jointly implement an administrative order issued by the EPA on April 14, 2016, with respect to a portion of the site comprising a stretch of the river approximately 1.7 miles long referred to as the Otsego Township Dam Area. We do not expect to incur material losses related to the implementation of this administrative order; however, we may incur additional costs, as yet not specified, in connection with remediation tasks resulting from other areas of the site. The company, along with others, was named as a defendant by Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP, Fort James Corporation and Georgia-Pacific LLC in an action seeking contribution under CERCLA for remediation costs relating to the site. The trial has been concluded but a decision on cost contribution and allocation has not yet been rendered by the Court.

As of June 30, 2017, our total accrual for future estimated remediation costs on the active Superfund sites and other sites for which we are responsible was approximately $47 million. These reserves are recorded in "Accrued liabilities" (current) and "Other liabilities" (noncurrent) on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We have obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets consisting primarily of reforestation obligations related to forest management licenses in Canada and obligations to close and cap landfills. As of June 30, 2017, our accrued balance for these obligations was $31 million. These obligations are recorded in "Accrued liabilities" (current) and "Other liabilities" (noncurrent) on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The accruals have not changed materially since the end of 2016.

Some of our sites have materials containing asbestos. We have met our current legal obligation to identify and manage these materials. In situations where we cannot reasonably determine when materials containing asbestos might be removed from the sites, we have not recorded an accrual because the fair value of the obligation cannot be reasonably estimated.

PRODUCT REMEDIATION CONTINGENCY

In July 2017, the company announced it is implementing a solution to address concerns regarding our TJI® Joists with Flak Jacket® Protection product. The company has determined that an odor in certain newly constructed homes is related to a recent formula change to the Flak Jacket coating that included formaldehyde-based resin. This issue is isolated to Flak Jacket product manufactured after December 1, 2016, and does not affect any of the company’s other products. The company also announced it will cover the cost to either remediate or replace affected joists. The estimated range of costs to remediate or replace is $50 million to $60 million. As of June 30, 2017, we have recorded a $50 million reserve for remediation costs. The charge is attributable to our Wood Products segment and was recorded in "Other operating costs (income), net," on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The related accrual was recorded in "Accrued liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.