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Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] | CONTINGENCIES LP maintains reserves for various contingent liabilities as follows:
| December 31,
Dollar amounts in millions | 2011 |  | 2010
Environmental reserves | $ | 15.0 |  |  | $ | 14.3 |
Hardboard siding reserves | 6.2 |  |  | 17.8 |
Other | — |  |  | 0.8 |
Total contingencies | 21.2 |  |  | 32.9 |
Current portion | (4.0 | ) |  | (7.0 | )
Long-term portion | $ | 17.2 |  |  | $ | 25.9 |
LP’s estimates of its loss contingencies are based on various assumptions and judgments. Due to the numerous uncertainties and variables associated with these assumptions and judgments, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates of the related contingencies are subject to substantial uncertainties. LP regularly monitors its estimated exposure to contingencies and, as additional information becomes known, may change its estimates significantly. While no estimate of the range of any such change can be made at this time, the amount that LP may ultimately pay in connection with these matters could materially exceed, in either the near term or the longer term, the amounts accrued to date. LP’s estimates of its loss contingencies do not reflect potential future recoveries from insurance carriers except to the extent that recovery may from time to time be deemed probable as a result of an insurer’s agreement to payment terms. Environmental Proceedings LP is involved in a number of environmental proceedings and activities, and may be wholly or partially responsible for known or unknown contamination existing at a number of other sites at which it has conducted operations or disposed of wastes. Based on the information currently available, management believes that any fines, penalties or other costs or losses resulting from these matters will not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity of LP. LP maintains a reserve for undiscounted estimated environmental loss contingencies. This reserve is primarily for estimated future costs of remediation of hazardous or toxic substances at numerous sites currently or previously owned by the Company. LP’s estimates of its environmental loss contingencies are based on various assumptions and judgments, the specific nature of which varies in light of the particular facts and circumstances surrounding each environmental loss contingency. These estimates typically reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and/or monitoring activities and the probable cost of these activities, and in some cases reflect assumptions and judgments as to the obligation or willingness and ability of third parties to bear a proportionate or allocated share of the cost of these activities. Due to the numerous uncertainties and variables associated with these assumptions and judgments, and the effects of changes in governmental regulation and environmental technologies, both the precision and reliability of the resulting estimates of the related contingencies are subject to substantial uncertainties. LP regularly monitors its estimated exposure to environmental loss contingencies and, as additional information becomes known, may change its estimates significantly. However, no estimate of the range of any such change can be made at this time. In those instances in which LP’s estimated exposure reflects actual or anticipated cost-sharing arrangements with third parties, LP does not believe that it will be exposed to additional material liability as a result of non-performance by such third parties. There are three forms of cost-sharing arrangements under which costs are apportioned to others and are therefore not reflected in LP’s environmental reserves. The amounts involved, the number of sites and a description of each are as follows:
• | Approximately $1.8 million of costs, relating to three sites, pursuant to formal cost-sharing arrangements between LP and one or more third parties.
• | Approximately $2.4 million of costs, related to four transactions each covering multiple sites, pursuant to agreements contained in purchase and sale documents where LP has sold an asset to a third party and that third party has assumed responsibility for all or a portion of any remediation costs required for the sold asset.
• | Approximately $0.2 million of costs, related to one site undergoing cleanup pursuant to federal or state environmental laws, where multiple parties are involved.
LP considers the financial condition of third parties subject to the cost-sharing arrangements discussed above in determining the amounts to be reflected in LP’s environmental reserves. In addition, LP is a party to clean-up activities at two additional sites for which LP does not believe that the failure of a third party to discharge its allocated responsibility would significantly increase LP’s financial responsibility based on the manner in which financial responsibility has been, or is expected to be, allocated. LP’s estimates of its environmental loss contingencies do not reflect potential future recoveries from insurance carriers except to the extent that recovery may from time to time be deemed probable as a result of a carrier’s agreement to payment terms. The activity in LP’s reserve for estimated environmental loss contingency reserves for the last three years is summarized in the following table.
| Year ended December 31,
Dollar amounts in millions | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Beginning balance | $ | 14.3 |  |  | $ | 14.7 |  |  | $ | 6.5 |
Adjusted to expense (income) during the year | 1.5 |  |  | 0.3 |  |  | 8.7 |
Payments made | (0.8 | ) |  | (0.7 | ) |  | (0.5 | )
Ending balance | $ | 15.0 |  |  | $ | 14.3 |  |  | $ | 14.7 |
During 2011, 2010 and 2009, LP adjusted its reserves at a number of sites to reflect current estimates of remediation costs. ABT Hardboard Siding Matters Between 1995 and 1999, ABT Building Products Corporation (“ABT”), ABTco, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ABT (“ABTco” and, together with ABT, the “ABT Entities”), Abitibi-Price Corporation (“Abitibi”), a predecessor of ABT, and certain affiliates of Abitibi (the “Abitibi Affiliates” and, together with Abitibi, the “Abitibi Entities”) were named as defendants in numerous class action and non-class action proceedings brought on behalf of various persons or purported classes of persons (including nationwide classes in the United States and Canada) who own or have purchased or installed hardboard siding manufactured or sold by the defendants. In general, the plaintiffs in these actions have claimed unfair business practices, breach of warranty, fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, and other theories related to alleged defects, deterioration, or other failure of such hardboard siding, and seek unspecified compensatory, punitive, and other damages (including consequential damage to the structures on which the siding was installed), attorneys’ fees and other relief. LP acquired ABT in February 1999 and ABT was merged into LP in January of 2001. On September 21, 2000, the Circuit Court of Choctaw County, Alabama, under the caption Foster, et al. v. ABTco, Inc., ABT Building Products Corporation, Abitibi-Price, Inc. and Abitibi-Price Corporation (No. CV95-151-M), approved a settlement agreement among the defendants and attorneys representing a nationwide class composed of all persons who own or formerly owned homes or, subject to limited exceptions, other buildings or structures on which hardboard siding manufactured by the defendants was installed between May 15, 1975 and May 15, 2000. Except for approximately 30 persons who timely opted out, the settlement includes and binds all members of the settlement class and resolves all claims asserted in the various proceedings described above. Under the settlement agreement, class members will have twenty-five years after their siding was installed to file a claim. Under the settlement agreement, the defendants will be entitled to elect to make an offer of settlement to an eligible claimant based on the information set forth in the claim submitted by such claimant, and such claimant will be entitled to accept or reject the offer. If an eligible claimant declines the offer, or if no offer is made, such claimant will be entitled to a payment based on an independent inspection. Such payments will be based on a specified dollar amount (calculated on the basis of statewide averages and ranging from $2.65 to $6.21, depending upon the state) per square foot of covered siding that has experienced specified types of damage, subject to reduction based on the age of the damaged siding and any failure to paint the damaged siding within stated intervals (except in the case of damaged siding installed on mobile homes, as to which a uniform 50% reduction will apply in all circumstances). If applicable, payments under the settlement will also be subject to reduction to reflect any warranty payments or certain other payments previously recovered by a claimant on account of the damaged siding. Under the settlement agreement, LP (as a successor to ABT) will be required to pay the expenses of administering the settlement and certain other costs. ABT and Abitibi were parties to an agreement of an allocation of liability with respect to claims related to siding sold prior to October 22, 1992. On June 13, 2001, in exchange for a cash payment from Abitibi of approximately $19.0 million which was received in July 2001, LPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of LP, agreed to accept a transfer of all of Abitibi’s rights and obligations under the settlement agreement and the allocation agreement; and LP and LPC agreed to indemnify and hold harmless Abitibi from any cost or liability arising from its sale of hardboard siding in the United States. From the date of the agreement, Abitibi has no further rights, obligations or liabilities under either the class action settlement agreement or the allocation agreement. All such rights, obligations and liabilities have been assigned to and accepted and assumed by LPC. During 2009, LP increased its reserves in connection with this class action settlement. The additional reserves reflect revised estimates of undiscounted future claim payments and related administrative costs. During 2010 and 2011, LP decreased its reserves in connection with this settlement due to reductions in claims activity. LP believes that the reserve balance at December 31, 2011 will be adequate to cover future payments to claimants and related administrative costs. However, it is possible that additional charges may be required in the future. The activity in the portion of LP’s loss contingency reserves relating to hardboard siding contingencies for the last three years is summarized in the following table. Included in this table for 2011 and 2010 are reimbursements received by LP from an insurance company for a portion of the claims payments and administrative costs covered under a court judgment related to production and sales of the specific products for specific years.
| Year ended December 31,
Dollar amounts in millions | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Beginning balance | $ | 17.8 |  |  | $ | 24.2 |  |  | $ | 31.2 |
Accrued (reversed) to expense | (10.7 | ) |  | (2.5 | ) |  | 3.3 |
Claims reimbursement | 0.6 |  |  | 1.0 |  |  | 4.0 |
Payments made for claims | (1.1 | ) |  | (3.6 | ) |  | (10.6 | )
Payments made for administrative costs | (0.4 | ) |  | (1.3 | ) |  | (3.7 | )
Ending balance | $ | 6.2 |  |  | $ | 17.8 |  |  | $ | 24.2 |
Antitrust Litigation On December 1, 2008, LP was named as one of a number of defendants in Bailey Lumber & Supply and 84 Lumber Company v. Georgia-Pacific Corporation et. al. (Civil Action No. 1:08cv1394) filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division. The plaintiffs, who opted out of a class action settlement of substantially identical claims that was implemented in 2008, seek treble damages alleged to have resulted from a conspiracy among the defendants to fix, raise, maintain and stabilize the prices at which OSB and Plywood are sold in the United States during the period of 2002 into 2006, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §1, together with costs and attorneys’ fees. LP believed that the claims asserted were without merit. However, LP decided that in order to limit the risks and costs associated with a prolonged trial schedule, it would settle this lawsuit. LP accrued and paid the settlements in 2010. Other Proceedings LP and its subsidiaries are parties to other legal proceedings. Based on the information currently available, management believes that the resolution of such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations, cash flows or liquidity of LP.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for loss and gain contingencies. Describes any existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as of the balance sheet date (or prior to issuance of the financial statements) as to a probable or reasonably possible loss incurred by an entity that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur, and typically discloses the amount of loss recorded or a range of possible loss, or an assertion that no reasonable estimate can be made. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14453-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14615-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12053-110248 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 14 -Paragraph 3 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12021-110248 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14472-108349 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14394-108349 + Details
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