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Guarantees and Indemnifications | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Guarantees and Indemnifications | GUARANTEES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS LP is a party to contracts in which LP agrees to indemnify third parties for certain liabilities that arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the contract. In some cases, this indemnity extends to related liabilities arising out of the negligence of the indemnified parties, but usually excludes any liabilities caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified parties. LP cannot estimate the potential amount of future payments under these agreements until events arise that would trigger the liability. Additionally, in connection with certain sales of assets and divestures of businesses, LP has agreed to indemnify the buyer and related parties for certain losses or liabilities incurred by the buyer or such related parties with respect to (1) the representations and warranties made to the buyer by LP in connection with the sales and (2) liabilities related to the pre-closing operations of the assets sold. Indemnities related to pre-closing operations generally include environmental liabilities, tax liabilities and other liabilities not assumed by the buyer. Indemnities related to the pre-closing operations of sold assets normally do not represent added liabilities for LP, but simply serve to protect the buyer from potential liability associated with the obligations that existed (known and unknown) at the time of the sale. LP records accruals for those pre-closing obligations that are considered probable and estimable. LP is required to record a liability for the fair value of the guarantees that are entered into subsequent to December 31, 2002. LP has not accrued any additional amounts as a result of the indemnity agreements summarized below as LP believes the fair value of the guarantees entered into after December 31, 2002 is not material.
• | In connection with various sales of LP’s timberlands, LP has agreed to indemnify various buyers with respect to losses resulting from breaches of limited representations and warranties contained in these agreements. These indemnities generally are capped at a maximum potential liability and have an unspecified duration.
• | In connection with the sale of LP’s two inter-related interior hardboard facilities to Decorative Panels International Inc. in 2004, LP provided a 10-year indemnity for unknown environmental claims, capped at $4.0 million with a $0.3 million deductible. This indemnity will expire in May 2014.
• | In connection with the sale by LP Canada Pulp Ltd (LPCP) of its pulp mill in Chetwynd, BC, Canada to Tembec, Ltd in October 2002, LP provided an indemnity of unspecified duration provided by LPCP for liabilities arising out of pre-closing operations. These indemnities, which do not extend to environmental liabilities, are capped at C$15.0 million in the aggregate.
LP also has various other indemnities that are individually and in the aggregate immaterial. LP will record a liability related to specific indemnification when future payment is probable and the amount is estimable. Additionally, LP offers warranties on the sale of most of its products and records an accrual for estimated future claims. Such accruals are based upon historical experience and management’s estimate of the level of future claims. The activity in warranty 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 | $ | 29.5 |  |  | $ | 32.9 |  |  | $ | 33.7 |
Accrued to expense during the year | 13.7 |  |  | 11.2 |  |  | 9.5 |
Payments made | (12.9 | ) |  | (14.6 | ) |  | (10.3 | )
Total warranty reserves | 30.3 |  |  | 29.5 |  |  | 32.9 |
Current portion | (12.0 | ) |  | (10.0 | ) |  | (7.0 | )
Long term portion | $ | 18.3 |  |  | $ | 19.5 |  |  | $ | 25.9 |
The current portion of the warranty reserve is included in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” and the long-term portion is included in “Other long-term liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. During 2011, LP increased the warranty reserves related to discontinued composite decking products by $12.0 million following increases of $5.2 million in 2010 and $2.3 million in 2009. The additional reserves reflect revised estimates of future claim payments based upon an increase in decking warranty claims related to a specific operation and specific time period. During the fourth quarter of 2008, LP established a voluntary recall of the affected decking. During the second quarter of 2009, LP established a formal recall program under the Consumer Products Safety Board requirements for these products. No additional reserve increase was required in connection with the establishment of the formal program. LP continues to monitor warranty and other claims associated with these products and with the recall program (see Note 18) and believe as of December 31, 2011 that the reserves associated with these matters are adequate. Additionally in 2009 and 2010, LP increased the warranty reserve related to its discontinued vinyl siding products based upon an increase in warranty claims. The additional reserves reflect revised estimates of future claims. LP believes that the warranty reserve balances at December 31, 2011 are adequate to cover future warranty payments. However, it is possible that additional charges may be required.

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