Commitments and Contingencies |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2025 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Litigation In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are from time to time subject to lawsuits, investigations and claims, including environmental claims and employee-related matters. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, including civil penalties or other enforcement actions, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding or proceedings to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our financial statements. Certain environmental matters that have or may result in penalties or assessments are discussed below in the "Environmental, Health and Safety" section of this note. Environmental, Health and Safety We are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental and safety laws and regulations enforced by various agencies, including the EPA, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as numerous state, regional and local environmental, safety and pipeline agencies. These laws and regulations govern the discharge of materials into the environment, waste management practices, pollution prevention measures and the composition of the fuels we produce, as well as the safe operation of our plants and pipelines and the safety of our workers and the public. Numerous permits or other authorizations are required under these laws and regulations for the operation of our refineries, renewable fuels facilities, terminals, pipelines, underground storage tanks, trucks, rail cars and related operations, and may be subject to revocation, modification and renewal. These laws and permits raise potential exposure to future claims and lawsuits involving environmental and safety matters which could include soil and water contamination, air pollution, personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by substances which we manufactured, handled, used, released or disposed of, transported, or that relate to pre-existing conditions for which we have assumed responsibility. We believe that our current operations are in substantial compliance with existing environmental and safety requirements. However, there have been and will continue to be ongoing discussions about environmental and safety matters between us and federal and state authorities, including notices of violations, citations and other enforcement actions, some of which have resulted or may result in changes to operating procedures and in capital expenditures. While it is often difficult to quantify future environmental or safety related expenditures, we anticipate that continuing capital investments and changes in operating procedures will be required for the foreseeable future to comply with existing and new requirements, as well as evolving interpretations and more strict enforcement of existing laws and regulations. As of March 31, 2025, we have recorded an environmental liability of approximately $36.3 million, primarily related to the estimated probable costs of remediating or otherwise addressing certain environmental issues of a non-capital nature at our refineries, as well as terminals, some of which we no longer own. This liability includes estimated costs for ongoing investigation and remediation efforts for known contamination of soil and groundwater. Approximately $4.0 million of the total is expected to be expended over the next 12 months, with most of the balance expended by 2039, although some costs may extend up to 25 years. In the future, we could be required to extend the expected remediation period or undertake additional investigations of our refineries, pipelines and terminal facilities, which could result in the recognition of additional remediation liabilities. We are also subject to various regulatory requirements related to carbon emissions and the compliance requirements to remit environmental credit obligations due to the EPA or other regulatory agencies, the most significant of which relates to the RINs Obligation subject to the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard - 2 ("RFS-2") regulations. The RFS-2 regulations are highly complex and evolving, requiring us to periodically update our compliance systems. As part of our on-going monitoring and compliance efforts, on an annual basis we engage a third party to perform procedures to review our RINs inventory, processes and compliance. The results of such procedures may include procedural findings but may also include findings regarding the usage of RINs to meet past obligations, the treatment of exported RINs, and the propriety of RINs on-hand and related adjustments to our RINs inventory, which (to the extent they are valued) offset our RINs Obligation. Such adjustments may also require communication with the EPA if they involve reportable non-compliance which could lead to the assessment of penalties.
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