Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Contingencies [Abstract]

CONTINGENCIES

4. CONTINGENCIES

The Company carries insurance policies on insurable risks with coverage and other terms that it believes to be appropriate. The Company generally has self-insured retention limits and has obtained fully insured layers of coverage above such self-insured retention limits. Accruals for self-insurance losses are made based on claims experience. Liabilities for existing and unreported claims are accrued for when it is probable that future costs will be incurred and can be reasonably estimated.

In 1995, Huttig was identified as a potentially responsible party in connection with the clean up of contamination at a formerly owned property in Montana that was used for the manufacture of wood windows. Huttig is voluntarily remediating this property under the oversight of and in cooperation with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“Montana DEQ”) and is complying with a 1995 unilateral administrative order of the Montana DEQ to complete a remedial investigation and feasibility study. The remedial investigation was completed and approved in 1998 by the Montana DEQ, which has issued its final risk assessment of this property. In March 2003, the Montana DEQ approved Huttig’s work plan for conducting a feasibility study to evaluate alternatives for cleanup. In July 2004, the Company submitted the feasibility study report, which evaluated several potential remedies, including continuation and enhancement of remedial measures already in place and operating. Huttig also submitted plans for testing a newer technology that could effectively remediate the site. The Montana DEQ approved these plans and a pilot test of the remediation technology was completed in July 2007. In conjunction with the Montana DEQ, the Company is performing additional testing at this site. After evaluating the results of the additional testing, the Montana DEQ will provide additional comments on the feasibility study report and its recommended remedy, and then will select a final remedy, publish a record of decision and negotiate with Huttig for an administrative order of consent on the implementation of the final remedy. Further, additional testing may be performed from time to time by the Montana DEQ. Huttig spent $0.2 million on remediation costs at this site in each of the six month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012. The annual level of future remediation expenditures is difficult to estimate because of the uncertainty relating to the final remedy to be selected by the Montana DEQ. As of June 30, 2013, the Company has accrued $0.7 million in “Other non-current liabilities” for future costs of remediating this site, which management believes represents a reasonable estimate, based on current facts and circumstances, of the currently expected costs of remediation. Until the Montana DEQ selects a final remedy, however, management cannot estimate the top of the range of loss or cost to Huttig of the final remediation order.

In addition, some of the Company’s current and former distribution centers are located in areas of current or former industrial activity where environmental contamination may have occurred, and for which it, among others, could be held responsible. The Company currently believes that there are no material environmental liabilities at any of its distribution center locations.

The Company accrues expenses for contingencies when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and management can reasonably estimate the expense. Contingencies for which the Company has made accruals include environmental, product liability and other legal matters. It is possible, however, that future results of operations for any particular quarter or annual period and the Company’s financial condition could be materially affected by changes in assumptions or other circumstances related to these matters.