Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

There are various legal and regulatory proceedings involving the Company and its subsidiaries.  The Company accrues estimated costs for a contingency when management believes that a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated.

A chemical release occurred at the Company’s Atchison facility on October 21, 2016, which resulted in emissions venting into the air (“the Atchison Chemical Release”). The Company reported the event to the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), and to Kansas and local authorities on that date, and has cooperated fully to investigate and ensure that all appropriate response actions were taken.

OSHA completed its investigation of the Atchison Chemical Release and, on April 19, 2017, issued its penalty to the Company in the amount of $138. Management settled this assessment with OSHA in full for $75, which was paid on May 16, 2017. A portion, or all, of the penalty amount may be covered by insurance.

The EPA informed the Company on August 1, 2017, that it intends to seek civil penalties of approximately $250 in connection with its investigation of the Atchison Chemical Release. Since the Company expects a negotiated resolution of the EPA civil case and EPA-proposed civil penalties are not material to the quarter and year to date ended June 30, 2019, the Company has not included an accrual in its results. A portion, or all, of the settled penalty amount may be covered by insurance.

On May 29, 2019, federal charges for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act related to the Atchison Chemical Release were filed against the Company, along with another unaffiliated company.  If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty could result in a fine of up to $1,500. The Company intends to offer a vigorous defense against the charges. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the matter and because the potential penalties are not material to the quarter and year to date ended June 30, 2019, the Company has not included an accrual in its results.

Private plaintiffs have also initiated, and additional private plaintiffs may initiate, legal proceedings for damages resulting from the Atchison Chemical Release, but the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the amount of any such damages that might result. The Company’s insurance is expected to provide coverage of any damages to private plaintiffs, subject to a deductible of $250, but certain regulatory fines or penalties may not be covered and there can be no assurance to the amount or timing of possible insurance recoveries if ultimately claimed by the Company.