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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities 
Guarantees
Chemours has directly guaranteed various obligations of customers, suppliers and other third parties. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the maximum potential amount of future (undiscounted) payments that Chemours could be required to make under the guarantees in the event of default by the guaranteed parties is approximately $8 and $8, respectively. No amounts were accrued at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
Litigation
In addition to the matters discussed below, Chemours, by virtue of its status as a subsidiary of DuPont prior to the separation, is subject to or required under the separation-related agreements executed prior to the separation to indemnify DuPont against various pending legal proceedings arising out of the normal course of the Chemours business including product liability, intellectual property, commercial, environmental and antitrust lawsuits. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these various proceedings. Except for the PFOA litigation for which a separate assessment is provided in this Note, while management believes it is reasonably possible that Chemours could incur losses in excess of the amounts accrued, if any, for the aforementioned proceedings, it does not believe any such loss would have a material impact on Chemours' consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. With respect to the litigation matters discussed below, including PFOA litigation, management's estimate of the probability of loss in excess of the amounts accrued, if any, is addressed individually for each matter. In the event that DuPont seeks indemnification for adverse trial rulings or outcomes for any such matter relating to PFOA, these indemnification claims could materially adversely affect Chemours’ financial condition. Disputes between Chemours and DuPont may also arise with respect to indemnification matters, including disputes based on matters of law or contract interpretation, or related to the type of damages or liabilities for which indemnification may be sought. If and to the extent these disputes arise, they could materially adversely affect Chemours.
(a) Asbestos
At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were approximately 1,982 lawsuits and 2,212 lawsuits, respectively, pending against DuPont alleging personal injury from exposure to asbestos. These cases are pending in state and federal court in numerous jurisdictions in the U.S. and are individually set for trial. A small number of cases are pending outside the U.S. Most of the actions were brought by contractors who worked at sites between 1950 and the 1990s. A small number of cases involve similar allegations by DuPont employees. A limited number of the cases were brought by household members of contractors or DuPont employees. Finally, certain lawsuits allege personal injury as a result of exposure to DuPont products.
At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, Chemours had an accrual of $44 related to this matter. Chemours reviews this estimate and related assumptions quarterly and annually updates the results of an approximate 20-year projection. Management believes that the likelihood is remote that Chemours would incur losses in excess of the amounts accrued in connection with this matter.
(b) Benzene
In the separation, DuPont assigned its Benzene docket to Chemours. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there are 26 and 29 cases, respectively, pending against DuPont alleging benzene-related illnesses. These cases consist of premises matters involving contractors and deceased former employees who claim exposure to benzene while working at DuPont sites primarily in the 1960s through the 1980s, and product liability claims based on alleged exposure to benzene found in trace amounts in aromatic hydrocarbon solvents used to manufacture DuPont products, such as paints, thinners and reducers.
Through DuPont, Chemours has received a claim by Phillips66 for indemnity and defense for two matters arising at a former DuPont / Conoco Texas site. Phillips66 seeks reimbursement for its settlement and fees in one matter and assumption of the defense in another.
A benzene case (Hood v. DuPont) was tried to a verdict in Texas state court in October 2015. Plaintiffs alleged that Mr. Hood’s Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) was the result of 24 years of occupational exposure to trace benzene found in DuPont automotive paint products and that DuPont negligently failed to warn him that its paints, reducers and thinners contained benzene that could cause cancer or leukemia. The jury found in the Plaintiffs’ favor awarding $6.9 in compensatory damages and $1.5 in punitive damages. In March 2016, acting on the Company's motion, the Court struck the punitive award. Through DuPont, Chemours has filed an appeal on the remaining award based upon substantial errors made at the trial court level. Plaintiffs have filed a cross appeal.
Management believes that a loss is reasonably possible related to these matters; however, given the evaluation of each Benzene matter is highly fact driven and impacted by disease, exposure and other factors, a range of such losses cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
(c) PFOA
Prior to the fourth quarter of 2014, the performance chemicals segment of DuPont made PFOA (collectively, perfluorooctanoic acids and its salts, including the ammonium salt) at its Fayetteville plant (Fayetteville, North Carolina) and used PFOA as a processing aid in the manufacture of fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers at certain sites including: Washington Works (Parkersburg, West Virginia), Chambers Works (Deepwater, New Jersey), Dordrecht Works (Netherlands), Changshu Works (China), and Shimizu (Japan). These sites are now owned and/or operated by Chemours.
Chemours had accruals of $17 and $20 related to the PFOA matters discussed below at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The accruals include charges related to DuPont’s obligations under agreements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and voluntary commitments to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). These obligations and voluntary commitments include surveying, sampling and testing drinking water in and around certain company sites offering treatment or an alternative supply of drinking water if tests indicate the presence of PFOA in drinking water at or greater than the national Health Advisory. A provisional health advisory level was set in 2009 at 0.4 parts per billion (ppb) that includes PFOA in drinking water. In May 2016, the EPA announced a health advisory level of 0.07 ppb that includes PFOA in drinking water. As a result, we recorded an additional $4 in the second quarter of 2016 based on management's best estimate of the impact of the new health advisory level on the company’s obligations to the EPA, which have expanded the testing and water supply commitments previously established. Based on prior testing, the Company has initiated additional testing and treatment in certain additional locations in and around Chambers Works and Washington Works plants. The Company will continue to work with the EPA regarding the extent of work that may be required with respect to these matters.
Drinking Water Actions
In August 2001, a class action, captioned Leach v. DuPont, was filed in West Virginia state court alleging that residents living near the Washington Works facility had suffered, or may suffer, deleterious health effects from exposure to PFOA in drinking water.
DuPont and attorneys for the class reached a settlement in 2004 that binds about 80,000 residents. In 2005, DuPont paid the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and expenses of $23 and made a payment of $70, which class counsel designated to fund a community health project. Chemours, through DuPont, funded a series of health studies which were completed in October 2012 by an independent science panel of experts (the C8 Science Panel). The studies were conducted in communities exposed to PFOA to evaluate available scientific evidence on whether any probable link exists, as defined in the settlement agreement, between exposure to PFOA and human disease. The C8 Science Panel found probable links, as defined in the settlement agreement, between exposure to PFOA and pregnancy-induced hypertension, including preeclampsia, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis and diagnosed high cholesterol.
In May 2013, a panel of three independent medical doctors released its initial recommendations for screening and diagnostic testing of eligible class members. In September 2014, the medical panel recommended follow-up screening and diagnostic testing three years after initial testing, based on individual results. The medical panel has not communicated its anticipated schedule for completion of its protocol. Through DuPont, Chemours is obligated to fund up to $235 for a medical monitoring program for eligible class members and, in addition, administrative cost associated with the program, including class counsel fees. In January 2012, Chemours, through DuPont, put $1 in an escrow account to fund medical monitoring as required by the settlement agreement. The court-appointed Director of Medical Monitoring has established the program to implement the medical panel’s recommendations and the registration process, as well as eligibility screening, is ongoing. Diagnostic screening and testing has begun and associated payments to service providers are being disbursed from the escrow account. As of September 30, 2016, less than $1 has been disbursed from the escrow account related to medical monitoring.
In addition, under the settlement agreement, DuPont must continue to provide water treatment designed to reduce the level of PFOA in water to six area water districts and private well users. At separation, this obligation was assigned to Chemours, which is included in the accrual amounts recorded as of September 30, 2016.
Class members may pursue personal injury claims against DuPont only for those human diseases for which the C8 Science Panel determined a probable link exists. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were approximately 3,500 lawsuits filed in various federal and state courts in Ohio and West Virginia, an increase of approximately 600 over year end 2014. These lawsuits are consolidated in multi-district litigation (MDL) in Ohio federal court. Based on the information currently available to the Company, the majority of the lawsuits allege personal injury claims associated with high cholesterol and thyroid disease from exposure to PFOA in drinking water. There are 30 lawsuits alleging wrongful death.
Although the majority of the plaintiffs in the MDL allege multiple diseases, the table below approximates the number of plaintiffs in each of the six probable link disease categories.
Alleged Injury
Approximate Number of Plaintiffs
Kidney cancer
200

Testicular cancer
70

Ulcerative colitis
300

Preeclampsia
200

Thyroid disease
1,430

High cholesterol
1,340


In the third quarter of 2014, six plaintiffs from the MDL were selected for individual bellwether trials.
All six bellwether cases in the MDL have now been tried, resolved, appealed or otherwise addressed. Two bellwether cases have been tried. The first case (Bartlett v. DuPont / kidney cancer) was tried to a verdict in October 2015. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $1.1 in damages for negligence and $0.5 for emotional distress. The jury found that DuPont’s conduct did not warrant punitive damages. A second case  (Freeman v. DuPont / testicular cancer) was tried to verdict in July 2016.  The jury found in favor of the plaintiff awarding $5.1 in compensatory damages and $0.5 in punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Plaintiff’s counsel alleges that they are entitled to at least $6.9 in attorneys’ fees and costs for the Freeman trial. The Court will make a determination after post-trial submissions by the parties. The Court’s determination will be subject to appeal. Court rulings made before and during both trials resulted in several significant grounds for appeal and an appeal to the Sixth Circuit has been filed for the first case. This appeal is scheduled for oral arguments on December 9, 2016. The Company, through DuPont, is pursuing post-trial motions and appeals for the second case.
Three bellwether PFOA cases were settled in 2016 as trial approached. These cases (Wolf v. DuPont / ulcerative colitis, Dowdy v. DuPont / kidney cancer, Baker v. DuPont / kidney cancer) were settled for amounts well below the incremental cost of preparing for trials. To date, the settlements have been individually and in aggregate immaterial to the Company. The final case (Pugh v. DuPont / ulcerative colitis) was removed from the bellwethers when it was determined that the plaintiff did not suffer from the alleged disease.
The trial court announced that, starting in May 2017, 40 individual plaintiff trials will be scheduled for a 12-month period. Following the conclusion of the six bellwether cases, on July 19, 2016, the court moved two of the 40 matters (Vigneron v. DuPont / testicular cancer and Moody v. DuPont / testicular cancer) forward and set the cases for trial on November 14, 2016 and January 17, 2017, respectively. The trial court’s multi-year plan pertains only to the approximately 270 cases claiming cancer. Based on the current plan, the remaining cases, comprising approximately 93% of the docket, will remain inactive.
A confidential mediation process that the court established early in this MDL is ongoing and expected to continue as the litigation proceeds.
Chemours, through DuPont, denies the allegations in these lawsuits and is defending itself vigorously. No other claims have been settled or resolved during the periods presented. DuPont is the named defendant in each of these cases and is directly liable for any judgment. If DuPont were to claim that it is entitled to indemnification from Chemours as to some or all of any judgment, Chemours retains its defenses to such claims.
PFOA Summary
While it is probable that the Company will incur costs related to the medical monitoring program discussed above, such costs cannot be reasonably estimated due to uncertainties surrounding the level of participation by eligible class members and the scope of testing. Chemours believes that it is probable that it could incur losses related to the MDL in Ohio federal court discussed above but a range of such losses cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Given the wide range of outcomes associated with the six initial cases in the MDL as discussed above, including two cases that have been or will be appealed, the Company does not believe activity to date provides a reasonable basis to derive a range of loss for the remaining lawsuits still pending in the MDL in total or by category of claim. The possible range of loss is unpredictable and involves significant uncertainty due to the uniqueness of the individual MDL plaintiff's claims and the defenses to those claims, both as to potential liability and damages on an individual claim basis, and numerous unsettled legal issues, among other factors, such as general versus specific causation, lack of specific fact discovery allowed to date on vast majority of the cases, lack of validation of basic facts associated with plaintiffs and related claims, and the two bellwether cases tried to verdict to date did not inform of the many salient facts and legal issues needed for assessment of the other cases. The appellate courts will rule on both matters that have been tried. The Company believes there are strong common and individual grounds for appealing these verdicts and, if any such verdict is overturned, any subsequent verdict relying on such overturned ruling would likely also be overturned. In addition, as noted above, Chemours retains its defenses to related indemnification claims that may be received from DuPont. The trials and appeals of the MDL matters will occur over the course of many years. Significant unfavorable outcomes in a number of cases in the MDL could have a material adverse effect on Chemours' consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
(d) U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc.
In October 2016, a putative class action was filed against Chemours by area residents concerning the U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery multi-party Superfund site in East Chicago, Indiana under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) with trespass and negligence causes of action seeking reimbursement for temporary housing, relocation, loss of use and other costs and damages. DuPont has requested that Chemours defend and indemnify it on this matter and a second matter alleging claims including personal injury to 13 area residents. Management believes a loss is reasonably possible but not estimable at this time.
At separation, DuPont assigned Chemours its former plant site, which is located south of the residential portion of the Superfund area, and its responsibility for the environmental remediation at the Superfund site.
Environmental
Chemours, by virtue of its status as a subsidiary of DuPont prior to the separation, is subject to contingencies pursuant to environmental laws and regulations that in the future may require further action to correct the effects on the environment of prior disposal practices or releases of chemical substances by Chemours or other parties. Chemours accrues for environmental remediation activities consistent with the policy set forth in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Much of this liability results from the CERCLA (often referred to as Superfund), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and similar state and global laws. These laws require Chemours to undertake certain investigative, remediation and restoration activities at sites where Chemours conducts or once conducted operations or at sites where Chemours-generated waste was disposed. The accrual also includes estimated costs related to a number of sites identified for which it is probable that environmental remediation will be required, but which are not currently the subject of enforcement activities.
At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets included a liability relating to these matters of $281 and $290, respectively, which, in management’s opinion, is appropriate based on existing facts and circumstances. The average time frame over which the accrued or presently unrecognized amounts may be paid, based on past history, is estimated to be 15 to 20 years. Remediation activities vary substantially in duration and cost from site to site. These activities, and their associated costs, depend on the mix of unique site characteristics, evolving remediation technologies, diverse regulatory agencies and enforcement policies, as well as the presence or absence of other potentially responsible parties. Therefore, considerable uncertainty exists with respect to environmental remediation costs and, under adverse changes in circumstances, the potential liability may range up to approximately $600 above the amount accrued at September 30, 2016. Based on existing facts and circumstances, management does not believe that any loss related to remediation activities at any individual site, in excess of amounts accrued, will have a material impact on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of Chemours.
Pompton Lakes
At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, included in the environmental remediation liabilities recorded on the balance sheet are accruals related to activities at Chemours’ site in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey of $84 and $87, respectively. Management believes that it is reasonably possible that remediation activities at this site could range up to $119 including previously accrued amounts. During the twentieth century, blasting caps, fuses and related materials were manufactured at Pompton Lakes. Operating activities at the site were ceased in the mid-1990s. Primary contaminants in the soil and sediments are lead and mercury. Ground water contaminants include volatile organic compounds.
Under the authority of the EPA and the NJDEP, remedial actions at the site are focused on investigating and cleaning up the area. Ground water monitoring at the site is ongoing and Chemours, through DuPont, has installed and continues to install vapor mitigation systems at residences within the ground water plume. In addition, Chemours is further assessing ground water conditions. In June 2015, the EPA issued a modification to the site's RCRA permit that requires Chemours to dredge mercury contamination from a 36 acre area of the lake and remove sediment from two other areas of the lake near the shoreline. Chemours expects to spend about $50 over the next two to three years, which is included in the remediation accrual as of September 30, 2016, in connection with remediation activities at Pompton Lakes, including activities related to the EPA’s final plan. The remediation activities commenced when permits and implementation plans were approved in May 2016.