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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Legal Proceedings And Contingencies [Abstract]  
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES
From time to time, as a normal incident of the nature and kind of businesses in which we are, and were, engaged, various claims or charges are asserted and litigation or arbitration is commenced by or against us arising from or related to matters, including but not limited to: product liability; personal injury; patents, trademarks, trade secrets or other intellectual property; labor and employee disputes; commercial or contractual disputes; strategic acquisitions or divestitures; the prior sale or use of former products allegedly containing asbestos or other restricted materials; breach of warranty; or environmental matters. Claimed amounts against us may be substantial, but may not bear any reasonable relationship to the merits of the claim or the extent of any real risk of court or arbitral awards. We record accruals for losses related to those matters against us that we consider to be probable and that can be reasonably estimated. Gain contingencies, if any, are recognized when they are realized and legal costs generally are expensed when incurred. At June 30, 2017, our accrual for the potential resolution of lawsuits, claims or proceedings that we consider probable of being decided unfavorably to us was not material. Although it is not feasible to predict the outcome of these matters with certainty, it is reasonably possible that some lawsuits, claims or proceedings may be disposed of or decided unfavorably to us and in excess of the amounts currently accrued. Based on available information, in the opinion of management, settlements, arbitration awards and final judgments, if any, which are considered probable of being rendered against us in litigation or arbitration in existence at June 30, 2017 are reserved against or would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our tax filings are subject to audit by taxing authorities in jurisdictions where we conduct business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or ultimately through legal proceedings. We believe we have adequately accrued for any ultimate amounts that are likely to result from these audits; however, final assessments, if any, could be different from the amounts recorded in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Additional information regarding audits and examinations by taxing authorities of our tax filings is set in Note 23: Income Taxes.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to numerous U.S. Federal, state, local and international environmental laws and regulatory requirements and are involved from time to time in investigations or litigation of various potential environmental issues. We are responsible, or are alleged to be responsible, for ongoing environmental investigation and remediation of multiple sites, including as a result of our acquisition of Exelis. These sites are in various stages of investigation and/or remediation and in some of these proceedings our liability is considered de minimis. We have received notices from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) or equivalent state or international environmental agencies that a number of sites formerly or currently owned and/or operated by us or companies we have acquired, and other properties or water supplies that may be or have been impacted from those operations, contain disposed or recycled materials or wastes and require environmental investigation and/or remediation. These sites include instances where we have been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (commonly known as the “Superfund Act”) and/or equivalent state and international laws. For example, Exelis received notice in June 2014 from the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Environment and Natural Resources Division, that it may be potentially responsible for contribution to the environmental investigation and remediation of multiple locations in Alaska. In addition, the EPA issued on March 4, 2016, a record of decision selecting a remedy for the lower 8.3-mile stretch of the Lower Passaic River. The EPA’s selected remedy includes dredging the river bank to bank, installing an engineered cap and long-term monitoring. The EPA estimates the cost of the cleanup project will be $1.38 billion. On March 31, 2016, the EPA notified over 100 potentially responsible parties, including Exelis, of their potential liability for the cost of the cleanup project but their respective allocations have not been determined. We have found no evidence that Exelis contributed any of the primary contaminants of concern to the Passaic River. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter and we believe our ultimate costs will not be material. Although it is not feasible to predict the outcome of these environmental claims, based on available information, in the opinion of our management, any payments we may be required to make as a result of environmental claims in existence at June 30, 2017 are reserved against, covered by insurance or would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.