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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

18. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company establishes an accrued liability when it believes it is both probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company will evaluate the range of reasonably estimated losses and record an accrued liability based on what it believes to be the minimum amount in the range, unless it believes an amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. In such cases, there may be an exposure to loss in excess of the amounts accrued. The Company evaluates quarterly whether further developments could affect the amount of the accrued liability previously established or would make a loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable.

The Company also provides disclosure when it believes it is reasonably possible that a material loss will be incurred or when it believes it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss will exceed the recorded liability. The Company reviews loss contingencies at least quarterly to determine whether the likelihood of loss has changed and to assess whether a reasonable estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. This estimated range of possible losses is based upon currently available information and is subject to significant judgment and a variety of assumptions, as well as known and unknown uncertainties. The matters underlying the estimated range will change from time to time, and actual results may vary significantly from the current estimate.

The Company is subject to a variety of litigation, claims, other disputes and governmental proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, including litigation related to its prior homebuilding and development activities. The Company cannot assure that it will be successful in defending these matters. Based on current knowledge, the Company does not believe that loss contingencies arising from pending litigation, claims, other disputes and governmental proceedings, including those described herein, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or liquidity of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in these matters, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular reporting period.

The Company is subject to costs arising out of environmental laws and regulations, which include obligations to remove or limit the effects on the environment of the disposal or release of certain wastes or substances at various sites, including sites which have been previously sold. It is the Company’s policy to accrue and charge against earnings environmental cleanup costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and a range of loss can be reasonably estimated. As assessments and cleanups proceed, these accruals are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, as additional information becomes available. The Company is in the process of assessing certain properties in regard to the effects, if any, on the environment from the disposal or release of wastes or substances. Management is unable to quantify future rehabilitation costs above present accruals at this time or provide a reasonably estimated range of loss.

Other litigation, claims, disputes and governmental proceedings, including environmental matters, are pending against the Company. Accrued aggregate liabilities related to the matters described above and other litigation matters were $1.3 million as of each September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether the amount of an exposure is reasonably estimable. Due to uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, management reassesses potential liabilities related to pending claims and litigation and may revise its previous estimates, which could materially affect the Company’s results of operations in a given period.

The Company has retained certain self-insurance risks with respect to losses for third party liability and property damage, including its timber assets.

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company was required to provide surety bonds that guarantee completion of certain infrastructure in certain development projects and mitigation banks of $8.1 million and $8.6 million, respectively and standby letters of credit of less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2017, which may potentially result in liability to the Company if certain obligations of the Company are not met.

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had a total of $41.5 million in contractual obligations.