Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	10. Contingencies The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. When a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, the most likely amount of the estimated probable loss is recorded, or if a range of probable loss can be estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum amount in the range is recorded. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters, including those described below, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or overall trends in our results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or in future periods. New Idria Mercury Mine In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) informed a subsidiary of the Company, Buckhorn, Inc. (“Buckhorn”) via a notice letter and related documents (the “Notice Letter”) that it considers Buckhorn to be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) in connection with the New Idria Mercury Mine site (“New Idria Mine”). New Idria Mining & Chemical Company (“NIMCC”), which owned and/or operated the New Idria Mine through 1976, was merged into Buckhorn Metal Products Inc. in 1981, which was subsequently acquired by Myers Industries, Inc. in 1987. As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Administrative Order of Consent (“AOC”) proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives. During the fourth quarter of 2018, Buckhorn and the EPA finalized the AOC and related Statement of Work (“SOW”) with regards to the New Idria Mine. The AOC is effective as of November 27, 2018, the date that it was executed by the EPA. The AOC and accompanying SOW document the terms, conditions and procedures for Buckhorn’s performance of the RI/FS. In addition, the AOC required $2 million of financial assurance to be provided to the EPA to secure Buckhorn's performance during the estimated life of the RI/FS. In January 2019, a letter of credit was provided to satisfy this assurance requirement. The AOC also includes provisions for payment of the EPA’s costs of oversight of the RI/FS. A draft work plan for the RI/FS, in accordance with the AOC and related SOW, was submitted to the EPA for review and approval in July 2019. Upon preparation of the draft work plan for the RI/FS, Buckhorn received preliminary estimates from its environmental consultants for the cost of the execution of the work plan. These preliminary estimates will continue to be refined through the finalization and approval of the draft work plan, which is anticipated to occur in 2022. Buckhorn believes it has insurance coverage that applies to the New Idria Mine and thus may be able to recover a portion of the estimated costs; however, as of March 31, 2022, Buckhorn has not recognized potential recovery in its condensed consolidated financial statements. As part of the Notice Letter in 2015, the EPA also made a claim for approximately $1.6 million in past costs for actions it claims it has taken in connection with the New Idria Mine from 1993 through February 2014. In December 2020, the EPA updated its claim to include past costs incurred from March 2014 through June 2020, which has been further revised in March 2022 to a total claim of $2.0 million. Buckhorn is continuing to evaluate and negotiate this claim with the EPA. Since October 2011, when New Idria was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA, Buckhorn has recognized $11.8 million of costs, of which approximately $2.9 million has been paid through March 31, 2022, net of minor insurance recoveries. These costs are comprised primarily of estimates to perform the RI/FS, negotiation of the AOC, identification of possible other PRPs, EPA oversight fees, past cost claims made by the EPA, periodic monitoring, and responses to unilateral administrative orders issued by the EPA. Expenses of $0.7 million were recorded related to the New Idria Mine in the quarter ended March 31, 2022, primarily related to updated estimates of the cost to perform the RI/FS. No expenses were recorded during the quarter ended March 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2022, Buckhorn has a total reserve of $8.9 million related to the New Idria Mine, of which $1.1 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $7.8 million in Other Liabilities (long-term). It is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary as new information is obtained, including after finalization and EPA approval of the work plan for the RI/FS. Estimates of Buckhorn’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of Buckhorn’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of remedial actions that may be required, the extent of oversight by the EPA and the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation. At this time, Buckhorn has not accrued for remediation costs in connection with this site because it is unable to estimate the liability, given the circumstances referred to above, including the fact that the final remediation strategy has not yet been determined. New Almaden Mine A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn (as successor to NIMCC), were alleged by trustee agencies of the United States and the State of California to be responsible for natural resource damages due to environmental contamination of areas comprising the historical New Almaden mercury mines located in the Guadalupe River Watershed region in Santa Clara County, California (“County”). In 2005, Buckhorn and the Company, without admitting liability or chain of ownership of NIMCC, resolved the trustees’ claim against them through a consent decree that required them to contribute financially to the implementation by the County of an environmentally beneficial project within the impacted area. Buckhorn and the Company negotiated an agreement with the County, whereby Buckhorn and the Company agreed to reimburse one-half of the County’s costs of implementing the project. The latest estimates received in 2016 from the County provided for an expanded scope and revised the estimate of costs for implementing the project to between $3.3 million and $4.4 million. No costs were incurred related to New Almaden in the quarters ended March 31, 2022 or 2021. As of March 31, 2022, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine, of which $0.3 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $1.2 million in Other Liabilities (long-term). The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. The Company is currently awaiting notice from Santa Clara County on the expected timing of fieldwork to commence. As work on the project occurs, it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. In addition, the Company may have claims against and defenses to claims by the County under the 2005 agreement that could reduce or offset its obligation for reimbursement of some of these potential additional costs. With the assistance of environmental consultants, the Company will closely monitor this matter and will continue to assess its reserves as additional information becomes available. Patent Infringement On December 11, 2018, No Spill Inc. filed suit against Scepter Manufacturing LLC in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas asserting infringement of two patents, breach of contract, and trade dress claims in relation to plastic gasoline containers Scepter manufactures and sells in the United States. Scepter Canada, Inc. was later added in a second amended complaint. A claim construction hearing was held on May 13, 2021 and the District Court held on June 23, 2021, that the claims of the patents were definite. On December 28, 2019, Scepter Canada, Inc. had filed petitions with the District Court for inter partes review (“IPR”) of the two patents asserted by No Spill, Inc. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”) instituted one IPR and denied the other. With respect to the instituted IPR, the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued a final decision on July 2, 2021, finding the claims of the patent valid, which does not affect Scepter's primary defenses in the matter. On June 28, 2021, the Scepter companies filed with the District Court a motion for leave to add new parties and assert counterclaims alleging antitrust related violations of certain provisions of the Sherman Act and Clayton Act. The Court granted the motion and the Scepter companies filed a Second Amended Complaint on October 1, 2021. On November 15, 2021, No Spill and the new counterclaim defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the counterclaims, which was granted by the District Court on April 6, 2022. On January 6, 2022, the District Court bifurcated the patent infringement and invalidity issues from the antitrust and other issues in the case. The trial on patent infringement and invalidity is scheduled for March 2023. The Scepter companies intend to continue defending themselves vigorously in this matter. Based on available information, an unfavorable outcome is not considered to be probable, and any possible losses from an adverse outcome are not reasonably estimable.

Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2022

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

10. Contingencies

The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. When a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, the most likely amount of the estimated probable loss is recorded, or if a range of probable loss can be estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum amount in the range is recorded. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary.

Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters, including those described below, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or overall trends in our results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or in future periods.

New Idria Mercury Mine

In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) informed a subsidiary of the Company, Buckhorn, Inc. (“Buckhorn”) via a notice letter and related documents (the “Notice Letter”) that it considers Buckhorn to be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) in connection with the New Idria Mercury Mine site (“New Idria Mine”). New Idria Mining & Chemical Company (“NIMCC”), which owned and/or operated the New Idria Mine through 1976, was merged into Buckhorn Metal Products Inc. in 1981, which was subsequently acquired by Myers Industries, Inc. in 1987. As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Administrative Order of Consent (“AOC”) proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, Buckhorn and the EPA finalized the AOC and related Statement of Work (“SOW”) with regards to the New Idria Mine. The AOC is effective as of November 27, 2018, the date that it was executed by the EPA. The AOC and accompanying SOW document the terms, conditions and procedures for Buckhorn’s performance of the RI/FS. In addition, the AOC required $2 million of financial assurance to be provided to the EPA to secure Buckhorn's performance during the estimated life of the RI/FS. In January 2019, a letter of credit was provided to satisfy this assurance requirement. The AOC also includes provisions for payment of the EPA’s costs of oversight of the RI/FS. A draft work plan for the RI/FS, in accordance with the AOC and related SOW, was submitted to the EPA for review and approval in July 2019. Upon preparation of the draft work plan for the RI/FS, Buckhorn received preliminary estimates from its environmental consultants for the cost of the execution of the work plan. These preliminary estimates will continue to be refined through the finalization and approval of the draft work plan, which is anticipated to occur in 2022. Buckhorn believes it has insurance coverage that applies to the New Idria Mine and thus may be able to recover a portion of the estimated costs; however, as of March 31, 2022, Buckhorn has not recognized potential recovery in its condensed consolidated financial statements.

As part of the Notice Letter in 2015, the EPA also made a claim for approximately $1.6 million in past costs for actions it claims it has taken in connection with the New Idria Mine from 1993 through February 2014. In December 2020, the EPA updated its claim to include past costs incurred from March 2014 through June 2020, which has been further revised in March 2022 to a total claim of $2.0 million. Buckhorn is continuing to evaluate and negotiate this claim with the EPA.

Since October 2011, when New Idria was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA, Buckhorn has recognized $11.8 million of costs, of which approximately $2.9 million has been paid through March 31, 2022, net of minor insurance recoveries. These costs are comprised primarily of estimates to perform the RI/FS, negotiation of the AOC, identification of possible other PRPs, EPA oversight fees, past cost claims made by the EPA, periodic monitoring, and responses to unilateral administrative orders issued by the EPA. Expenses of $0.7 million were recorded related to the New Idria Mine in the quarter ended March 31, 2022, primarily related to updated estimates of the cost to perform the RI/FS. No expenses were recorded during the quarter ended March 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2022, Buckhorn has a total reserve of $8.9 million related to the New Idria Mine, of which $1.1 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $7.8 million in Other Liabilities (long-term).

It is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary as new information is obtained, including after finalization and EPA approval of the work plan for the RI/FS. Estimates of Buckhorn’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of Buckhorn’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of remedial actions that may be required, the extent of oversight by the EPA and the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation.

At this time, Buckhorn has not accrued for remediation costs in connection with this site because it is unable to estimate the liability, given the circumstances referred to above, including the fact that the final remediation strategy has not yet been determined.

New Almaden Mine

A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn (as successor to NIMCC), were alleged by trustee agencies of the United States and the State of California to be responsible for natural resource damages due to environmental contamination of areas comprising the historical New Almaden mercury mines located in the Guadalupe River Watershed region in Santa Clara County, California (“County”). In 2005, Buckhorn and the Company, without admitting liability or chain of ownership of NIMCC, resolved the trustees’ claim against them through a consent decree that required them to contribute financially to the implementation by the County of an environmentally beneficial project within the impacted area. Buckhorn and the Company negotiated an agreement with the County, whereby Buckhorn and the Company agreed to reimburse one-half of the County’s costs of implementing the project. The latest estimates received in 2016 from the County provided for an expanded scope and revised the estimate of costs for implementing the project to between $3.3 million and $4.4 million. No costs were incurred related to New Almaden in the quarters ended March 31, 2022 or 2021. As of March 31, 2022, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine, of which $0.3 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $1.2 million in Other Liabilities (long-term).

The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. The Company is currently awaiting notice from Santa Clara County on the expected timing of fieldwork to commence. As work on the project occurs, it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. In addition, the Company may have claims against and defenses to claims by the County under the 2005 agreement that could reduce or offset its obligation for reimbursement of some of these potential additional costs. With the assistance of environmental consultants, the Company will closely monitor this matter and will continue to assess its reserves as additional information becomes available.

Patent Infringement

On December 11, 2018, No Spill Inc. filed suit against Scepter Manufacturing LLC in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas asserting infringement of two patents, breach of contract, and trade dress claims in relation to plastic gasoline containers Scepter manufactures and sells in the United States. Scepter Canada, Inc. was later added in a second amended complaint. A claim construction hearing was held on May 13, 2021 and the District Court held on June 23, 2021, that the claims of the patents were definite. On December 28, 2019, Scepter Canada, Inc. had filed petitions with the District Court for inter partes review (“IPR”) of the two patents asserted by No Spill, Inc. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”) instituted one IPR and denied the other. With respect to the instituted IPR, the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued a final decision on July 2, 2021, finding the claims of the patent valid, which does not affect Scepter's primary defenses in the matter.

On June 28, 2021, the Scepter companies filed with the District Court a motion for leave to add new parties and assert counterclaims alleging antitrust related violations of certain provisions of the Sherman Act and Clayton Act. The Court granted the motion and the Scepter companies filed a Second Amended Complaint on October 1, 2021. On November 15, 2021, No Spill and the new counterclaim defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the counterclaims, which was granted by the District Court on April 6, 2022. On January 6, 2022, the District Court bifurcated the patent infringement and invalidity issues from the antitrust and other issues in the case. The trial on patent infringement and invalidity is scheduled for March 2023.

The Scepter companies intend to continue defending themselves vigorously in this matter. Based on available information, an unfavorable outcome is not considered to be probable, and any possible losses from an adverse outcome are not reasonably estimable.