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ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2015
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Environmental Matters | ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS AND ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS Certain Eastman manufacturing sites generate hazardous and nonhazardous wastes, the treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal of which are regulated by various governmental agencies. In connection with the cleanup of various hazardous waste sites, the Company, along with many other entities, has been designated a potentially responsible party ("PRP") by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, which potentially subjects PRPs to joint and several liability for such cleanup costs. In addition, the Company will be required to incur costs for environmental remediation and closure and postclosure under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Reserves for environmental contingencies have been established in accordance with Eastman's policies described in Note 1, "Significant Accounting Policies", to the consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of the Company's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company's total reserve for environmental contingencies was $339 million and $345 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. At September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, this reserve included $8 million and $10 million, respectively, related to sites previously closed and impaired by Eastman and sites that have been divested by Eastman but for which the Company retains the environmental liability related to these sites. Estimated future environmental expenditures for remediation costs ranged from the minimum or best estimate of $315 million to the maximum of $526 million and from the minimum or best estimate of $324 million to the maximum of $548 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The maximum estimated future costs are considered to be reasonably possible and include the minimum or best estimate amounts accrued at both September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. Although the resolution of uncertainties related to these environmental matters may have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations in the period recognized, because of the availability of legal defenses, the Company's preliminary assessment of actions that may be required, and if applicable, the expected sharing of costs, management does not believe that the Company's liability for these environmental matters, individually or in the aggregate, will be material to the Company's consolidated financial position or cash flows. Reserves for environmental remediation that management believes to be probable and estimable are recognized as current and long-term liabilities in the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. These reserves include liabilities expected to be paid within 30 years. The amounts charged to pre-tax earnings for environmental remediation and related charges are included in cost of sales and other charges (income), net, and are summarized below:
(Dollars in millions) | Environmental Remediation Liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2014 | $ | 324 |
Changes in estimates recognized in earnings | 11 |
Cash reductions | (20 | )
Balance at September 30, 2015 | $ | 315 |
An asset retirement obligation is an obligation for the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that is incurred upon the acquisition, construction, development, or normal operation of that long-lived asset. The Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The asset retirement obligation is subsequently adjusted for changes in fair value. The associated estimated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying value of the long-lived assets and depreciated over their useful life. Environmental asset retirement obligations consist primarily of closure and post-closure costs. For facilities that have environmental asset retirement obligations, the best estimate accrued to date over the facilities' estimated useful lives for these environmental asset retirement obligation costs was $24 million and $21 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company's total environmental reserve for environmental contingencies, including remediation costs and asset retirement obligations, is recognized in the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as follows:
(Dollars in millions) | September 30, 2015 |  | December 31, 2014
Environmental contingent liabilities, current | $ | 35 |  |  | $ | 35 |
Environmental contingent liabilities, long-term | 304 |  |  | 310 |
Total | $ | 339 |  |  | $ | 345 |
The Company also has contractual asset retirement obligations other than for environmental liabilities. Eastman's non-environmental asset retirement obligations are primarily for the future closure of leased manufacturing assets at Pace, Florida and Oulu, Finland acquired from Taminco. These accrued non-environmental asset retirement obligations were $43 million and $44 million at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for environmental loss contingencies, such as presence of hazardous waste, relevant information from reports issued by regulators, and estimated costs to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements. This element may be used for all of an entity's disclosures about environmental loss contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13296-110859 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13328-110859 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13237-110859 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13185-110859 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section Y + Details
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