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Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
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Jan. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies |
6. | CONTINGENCIES
Legal Proceedings In the ordinary course of our business and as a result of the extensive governmental regulation of the solid waste industry, we are subject to various judicial and administrative proceedings involving state and local agencies. In these proceedings, an agency may seek to impose fines or to revoke or deny renewal of an operating permit held by us. From time to time, we may also be subject to actions brought by special interest or other groups, adjacent landowners or residents in connection with the permitting and licensing of landfills and transfer stations, or alleging environmental damage or violations of the permits and licenses pursuant to which we operate. In addition, we have been named defendants in various claims and suits pending for alleged damages to persons and property, alleged violations of certain laws and alleged liabilities arising out of matters occurring during the ordinary operation of the waste management business. In accordance with FASB ASC 450-20, we accrue for legal proceedings when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, we review each of our legal proceedings to determine whether it is probable, reasonably possible or remote that a liability has been incurred and, if it is at least reasonably possible, whether a range of loss can be reasonably estimated under the provisions of FASB ASC 450-20. In instances where we determine that a loss is probable and we can reasonably estimate a range of losses we may incur with respect to such a matter, we record an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate of the possible loss. If we are able to reasonably estimate a range, but no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we record an accrual in the amount that is the low end of such range. When a loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, we will not record an accrual, but we will disclose our estimate of the possible range of loss where such estimate can be made in accordance with ASC 450-20. Environmental Liability We are subject to liability for environmental damage, including personal injury and property damage, that our solid waste, recycling and power generation facilities may cause to neighboring property owners, particularly as a result of the contamination of drinking water sources or soil, possibly including damage resulting from conditions existing before we acquired the facilities. We may also be subject to liability for similar claims arising from off-site environmental contamination caused by pollutants or hazardous substances if we or our predecessors arrange or arranged to transport, treat or dispose of those materials. The following matters represent our potential or outstanding material claims. Potsdam Environmental Liability On December 20, 2000, the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) issued an Order on Consent (“Order”) which named Waste-Stream, Inc. (“WSI”), our subsidiary, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (“NiMo”) as Respondents. The Order required that the Respondents undertake certain work on a 25-acre scrap yard and solid waste transfer station owned by WSI, including the preparation of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (“Study”). A draft of the Study was submitted to the DEC in January 2009 (followed by a final report in May 2009). The Study estimated that the undiscounted costs associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $10,219. On February 28, 2011, the DEC issued a Proposed Remedial Action Plan for the site and accepted public comments on the proposed remedy through March 29, 2011. We submitted comments to the DEC on this matter. In April 2011, the DEC issued the final Record of Decision (“ROD”) for the site. The ROD was subsequently rescinded by the DEC for failure to respond to all submitted comments. The preliminary ROD, however, estimated that the present cost associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $12,130. The DEC issued the final ROD in June 2011 with proposed remedies consistent with its earlier ROD. An Order on Consent and Administrative Settlement naming WSI and NiMo as Respondents was executed by the Respondents and DEC with an effective date of October 25, 2013. It is unlikely that any costs relating to onsite remediation will be incurred until fiscal year 2015. WSI is jointly and severally liable for the total cost to remediate and we initially expected to be responsible for approximately 30% of such costs pursuant to a cost-sharing agreement with NiMo and GM. Based on these estimates, we recorded an environmental remediation charge of $2,823 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recognized an additional charge of $1,532, representing an additional 15% of the estimated costs, in recognition of the deteriorating financial condition and eventual bankruptcy filing of GM. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010, we recognized an additional charge of $335 based on changes in the expected timing of cash outflows. Based on the estimated costs in the ROD, and changes in the estimated timing of cash flows, we recorded an environmental remediation charge of $549 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. Such charges could be significantly higher if costs exceed estimates. We inflate these estimated costs in current dollars until the expected time of payment and discount the cost to present value using a risk free interest rate (2.70%). As of January 31, 2014 and April 30, 2013, we have recorded liabilities of $5,406 and $5,297, respectively, including the recognition of $34 of accretion expense in the three months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013 and the recognition of $103 of accretion expense in the nine months ended January 31, 2014 and 2013. In September 2011, the DEC settled its environmental claim against the estate of the former GM (known as “Motors Liquidation Trust”) for future remediation costs relating to the WSI site for face value of $3,000. In addition, in November 2011 we settled our own claim against the Motors Liquidation Trust for face value of $100. These claims will be paid by GM in warrants to obtain stock of the reorganized GM. We began receiving the warrants in May 2013 and at this time no way to accurately estimate when the remainder of these claims will be paid. We have not assumed that any proceeds from the sale of securities received in payment of these claims will reduce our exposure. Southbridge Landfill Environmental Liability On or about August 24, 2013, we experienced the movement of stockpiled earth at our Southbridge, Massachusetts Landfill (“SBL”). The materials stockpiled consisted of soil removed and relocated to create space for the construction of additional landfill airspace at SBL. The earth had been relocated and stored during the fall, winter and spring construction season of fiscal year 2013. The movement caused some of the stockpiled earth to enter wetlands on property owned by us. On or about August 29, 2013, we notified the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MADEP”), and the Towns of Southbridge and Charlton, Massachusetts, of the occurrence of the movement. On or about September 6, 2013, MADEP issued an “Administrative Unilateral Order” to us, which ordered that we provide MADEP with a plan to clean the wetlands of any materials deposited therein as a result of the movement (“Plan”). On or about October 3, 2013, we submitted the Plan to MADEP, and on or about October 15, 2013, MADEP approved the Plan and verbally issued permission for us to proceed with the execution of the Plan. We are currently engaged, under the supervision of MADEP, in the execution of the Plan. We have also received correspondence from the Massachusetts’ Office of the Attorney General (“MAAG”), dated January 28, 2014, advising us that the MAAG intends to schedule a meeting with us to discuss this incident at SBL, and to possibly file suit against us for violation of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection, Clean Air and Solid Waste Acts. A meeting was held with the MAAG on March 6, 2014 to discuss the ongoing remediation effort and the parties have initiated discussions regarding the resolution of this matter. It is anticipated that execution of the Plan and related matters will involve remediation costs of $2,100 and such costs could be higher if actual costs exceed estimates. We have provided notice to our insurer of the Plan, and the costs expended by us to date to comply with the Plan. We have also provided notice to certain of our contractors and technical advisors that the movement has occurred, that significant remediation costs will be incurred in executing the Plan and related matters, and that we expect our contractors and technical advisors to assist in the execution of the Plan and related matters, to share in the remediation costs thereof as responsible parties, and to provide notice to their insurers. We believe that a loss in the range of $400 to $2,100, after considering amounts to be reimbursed from our insurer and third parties, is probable and have therefore recorded a charge of $250 and $400 in the three and nine months ended January 31, 2014 as an environmental remediation charge. Loss Contingency Casella-Altela Regional Environmental Services, LLC (“CARES”) is a joint venture that owns and operates one water and leachate treatment facility for the natural gas drilling industry in Pennsylvania. Our joint venture partner in CARES is Altela, Inc. In accordance with ASC 810-10-15, we consolidate the assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interest and results of operations of CARES into our consolidated financial statements due to our controlling financial interest in the joint venture. During the three months ended January 31, 2014, we determined that certain water treatment assets (“Equipment”) of CARES were no longer operational or were not operating within product performance parameters. We are currently working to secure replacements for the Equipment at no cost to CARES. We believe that a loss in the range of $0 to $864 is probable and have therefore not recorded a charge in the three and nine months ended January 31, 2014.

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