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Liabilities for Dispositions and Discontinued Operations
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation [Abstract]  
Environmental Loss Contingency Disclosure [Text Block]
10.
LIABILITIES FOR DISPOSITIONS AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
An analysis of the liabilities for dispositions and discontinued operations follows:
 
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
Balance, beginning of period
$
93,160


 
$
98,591


 
Expenditures charged to liabilities
(4,916
)
 
(8,632
)
 
Increase to liabilities
309


 
3,201


 
Balance, end of period
88,553


 
93,160


 
Less: Current portion
(11,625
)
 
(11,500
)
 
Non-current portion
$
76,928


 
$
81,660


 


 
The Company is exposed to the risk of reasonably possible additional losses in excess of the established liabilities. As of June 30, 2011, this amount could range up to $40 million, allocable over several of the applicable sites, and arises from uncertainty over the availability or effectiveness of certain remediation technologies, additional or different contamination that may be discovered, development of new or more effective environmental remediation technologies and the exercise of discretion in interpretation of applicable law and regulations by governmental agencies.
Subject to the factors described in Note 14 - Liabilities for Dispositions and Discontinued Operations in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company believes established liabilities are sufficient for costs expected to be incurred over the next 20 years with respect to its dispositions and discontinued operations. Remedial actions for these sites vary, but include on-site (and in certain cases off-site) removal or treatment of contaminated soils and sediments, recovery and treatment/remediation of groundwater, and source remediation and/or control.