Asset Retirement Obligations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset retirement obligations (AROs) are legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operation of such assets. AROs are initially recognized as incurred when sufficient information exists to estimate fair value. We have unrecorded AROs at our Verdigris facility that are conditional upon cessation of operations. These AROs include certain decommissioning and pond closure activities, and the removal and disposal of certain chemicals, waste materials, structures, equipment, vessels, piping and storage tanks. The most recent estimate of the aggregate cost of these AROs expressed in 2015 dollars is $4.1 million. We have not recorded a liability for these conditional AROs as of December 31, 2015 because we do not believe there is currently a reasonable basis for estimating a date or range of dates of cessation of operations at this facility, which is necessary in order to estimate fair value. In reaching this conclusion, we considered the historical performance of the facility and have taken into account factors such as planned maintenance, asset replacements and upgrades of plant and equipment, which if conducted as in the past, can extend the physical lives of the facility indefinitely. We also considered the possibility of changes in technology, risk of obsolescence, and availability of raw materials in arriving at our conclusion.