COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal and environmental

Peekskill Site. Lightron Corporation (“Lightron”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffon, once conducted operations at a location in the Town of Cortlandt, New York, just outside the city of Peekskill, New York (the “Peekskill Site”) which was owned by ISC Properties, Inc. (“ISCP”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffon, for approximately three years. ISCP sold the Peekskill Site in November 1982.

On May 15, 2019 the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") added the Peekskill Site to the National Priorities List under CERCLA and has since announced that it is performing a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study ("RI/FS"). On August 25, 2020, the EPA sent a letter to several parties, including Lightron and ISCP, requesting that each such party inform the EPA as to whether it would be willing to enter into discussions regarding implementation of the RI/FS. The EPA also sent a request for information under Section 104(e) of CERCLA to each party. Lightron and ISCP have informed the EPA that they are willing to participate in discussions regarding implementation of the RI/FS. Lightron and ISCP have also submitted responses to certain items contained in the Section 104(e) information request, with additional responses to follow. The current owner of the property, which acquired the Peekskill Site from ISCP in 1982 and has no relationship with Lightron or ISCP, has also informed the EPA that it is willing to discuss implementation of the RI/FS, and has also received, and submitted certain information in response to, a Section 104(e) information request. The EPA may decide to implement the RI/FS, on its own or through the use of consultants, may reach agreement with one or more parties to perform the RI/FS, or may offer to negotiate with one or more parties to accept a settlement addressing the potential liability of such parties for investigation and/or remediation at the Peekskill Site. Should the EPA implement the RI/FS, or perform further studies and/or subsequently remediate the site, without first reaching agreement with one or more relevant parties, the EPA would likely seek reimbursement for the costs incurred from such parties.

Lightron has not engaged in any operations in over three decades. ISCP functioned solely as a real estate holding company, and has not held any real property in over three decades. Griffon does not acknowledge any responsibility to perform any investigation or remediation at the Peekskill Site. One of Griffon’s insurers is defending Lightron, ISCP and Griffon subject to a reservation of rights.

Union Fork and Hoe, Frankfort, NY site. The former Union Fork and Hoe property in Frankfort, New York was acquired by AMES in 2006 as part of a larger acquisition, and has historic site contamination involving chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons and metals. AMES entered into an Order on Consent with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”). While the Order is without admission or finding of liability or acknowledgment that there has been a release of hazardous substances at the site, the Order required AMES to perform a remedial investigation of certain portions of the property and to recommend a remediation option. In 2011, remediation of chlorinated solvents in the groundwater was completed to the satisfaction of DEC. In June 2020, AMES completed the remediation required by the Record of Decision issued by DEC in 2019 ("ROD") and filed a Construction Completion Report, a Site Management Plan and an environmental easement with DEC. While AMES was implementing the remediation required by the ROD, DEC requested additional

investigation of a small area on the site and of an area adjacent to the site perimeter. AMES investigated the on-site area and has completed remediation of that small area under a workplan approved by DEC. AMES also completed a workplan approved by DEC to investigate the areas adjacent to the site perimeter. AMES has a number of defenses to liability in this matter, including its rights under a previous Consent Judgment entered into between DEC and a predecessor of AMES relating to the site. AMES’ insurer has accepted AMES’ claim for a substantial portion of the costs incurred and to be incurred for both the on-site and off-site activities.

General legal

Griffon is subject to various laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and is a party to legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes, based on facts presently known to it, that the resolution of the matters above and such other matters will not have a material adverse effect on Griffon’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.