ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

13.

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

Asset retirement obligations consist primarily of landfill capping and closure and post-closure costs. PCA is legally required to perform capping and closure and post-closure care on the landfills at each of the Company’s mills. In accordance with ASC 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” PCA recognizes the fair value of these liabilities as an asset retirement obligation for each landfill and capitalizes that cost as part of the cost basis of the related asset. The liability is accreted to its estimated value of the asset retirement obligation over time, and the related assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Upon settlement of the liability, PCA will recognize a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the recorded liability.

The following table describes changes to PCA’s asset retirement obligation liability:


	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Asset retirement obligation, January 1	$	5,095	$	4,884
Accretion expense		50		211

Asset retirement obligation, December 31	$	5,145	$	5,095

- Definition

The entire disclosure for an asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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