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Restructuring Programs
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Programs
In recent years, the Company has instituted restructuring programs to balance short-term profitability goals with long-term strategies. A primary objective of these programs has been to establish platforms upon which the affected businesses can grow with reduced fixed investment and generate annual operating expense savings.  The restructuring programs have been instituted in response to the continuing impact of global financial and economic uncertainty on the Company’s end markets. Restructuring costs incurred in these programs were recorded as part of the caption, Other expenses, of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The timing of associated cash payments is dependent on the type of restructuring cost and can extend over a multi-year period.
Project Orion
Under the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment Improvement Plan ("Project Orion"), the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment made organizational and process improvement changes that are expected to improve return on capital and deliver a higher and more consistent level of service to customers. These changes include improving several core processes and simplifying the organizational structure. Annual recurring benefits under Project Orion are expected to be approximately $37 million. The restructuring accrual for Project Orion at September 30, 2015 and the activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were as follows:
(In thousands)
 
Accrual at
December 31 2014
 
Other Adjustments
 
 Cash
Expenditures
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
 
Accrual at September 30 2015
Employee termination benefit costs
 
$
7,668

 
$
(1,003
)
 
$
(3,930
)
 
$
(85
)
 
$
2,650

Total
 
$
7,668

 
$
(1,003
)
 
$
(3,930
)
 
$
(85
)
 
$
2,650

The remaining accrual related to Project Orion is expected to paid, principally, through 2015 with the remainder in the first half of 2016.
Prior Restructuring Programs
The remaining accrual for prior restructuring programs was $2.0 million and $2.4 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The remaining accrual relates primarily to exit activity costs for lease terminations expected to be paid over the remaining life of the leases.