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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | Note 12 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES We have been notified by federal and state environmental agencies and by private parties that we may be a potentially responsible party (PRP) in connection with the environmental investigation and remediation of certain sites. While government agencies frequently assert that PRPs are jointly and severally liable at these sites, in our experience, the interim and final allocations of liability costs are generally made based on the relative contribution of waste. We may also initiate corrective and preventive environmental projects of our own to support safe and lawful activities at our operations. We believe that compliance with current governmental regulations at all levels will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In September 2007, the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky (Court) in the case of Westlake Vinyls, Inc. v. Goodrich Corporation, et al., held that Avient must pay the remediation costs at the former Goodrich Corporation Calvert City facility (now largely owned and operated by Westlake Vinyls, Inc. (Westlake Vinyls)), together with certain defense costs of Goodrich Corporation. The rulings also provided that Avient can seek indemnification for contamination attributable to Westlake Vinyls. Following the rulings, the parties to the litigation agreed to settle all claims regarding past environmental costs incurred at the site. The settlement agreement provides a mechanism to pursue allocation of future remediation costs at the Calvert City site to Westlake Vinyls. We continue to pursue available insurance coverage related to this matter and are in current litigation to recover previously incurred costs. It is reasonably possible that insurance recoveries could result in a material benefit to our Consolidated Statements of Income in a future period, though the amounts, if any, nor the timing are currently known. The environmental obligation at the site arose as a result of an agreement between The B.F. Goodrich Company (n/k/a Goodrich Corporation) and our predecessor, The Geon Company, at the time of the initial public offering in 1993. Under the agreement, The Geon Company agreed to indemnify Goodrich Corporation for certain environmental costs at the site. Neither Avient nor The Geon Company ever operated the facility. Since 2009, Avient, along with respondents Westlake Vinyls and Goodrich Corporation, has worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to address the remedial activities at the site. The USEPA issued its Record of Decision (ROD) in September 2018. In April 2019, the respondents signed an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent with the USEPA to conduct the remedial actions at the site. In February 2020, three companies signed the agreed Consent Decree and remedial action Work Plan, which received Federal Court approval in January 2021. In August 2023, the Company received construction bids for components of the remedial action and we updated our accruals to align to the selected bid costs. We are currently in the process of remedial action for a portion of the site, while continuing to progress through remedial design for other portions of the site. As we have progressed through remedial design and action, additional charges have been recognized to reflect the actual costs of completion. As of December 31, 2023, we had accrued $148.9 million for this matter. Total environmental accruals of $157.2 million and $118.3 million are reflected within Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. These undiscounted accruals represent our best estimate of probable future costs that we can reasonably estimate, based upon currently available information and technology and how the remedy will be implemented. It is reasonably possible that we could incur additional costs in excess of the amount accrued, which could be material to our Consolidated Statements of Income. However, such additional costs cannot currently be estimated as they are dependent upon the results of future testing and findings during the execution of remedial design and remedial action, the ultimate remedial action undertaken, changes in regulations, technology development, new information, newly discovered conditions and other factors that are not currently known. The following table details the changes in the environmental accrued liabilities:
(In millions) |  | 2023 |  | 2022 |  | 2021
Balance at beginning of the year |  | $ | 118.3 |  |  | $ | 124.5 |  |  | $ | 119.7 |
Environmental expenses |  | 69.6 |  |  | 24.1 |  |  | 23.0 |
Net cash payments |  | (30.7) |  |  | (30.2) |  |  | (18.2) |
Currency translation and other |  | — |  |  | (0.1) |  |  | — |
Balance at the end of year |  | $ | 157.2 |  |  | $ | 118.3 |  |  | $ | 124.5 |
The environmental expenses noted in the table above, primarily related to the ongoing remedial action at Calvert City, are included in Cost of sales as are insurance recoveries received for previously incurred environmental costs. We received insurance recoveries of $1.7 million, $8.3 million, and $4.5 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Such insurance recoveries are recognized as income when realization of the proceeds is deemed as probable. Avient is subject to a broad range of claims, administrative and legal proceedings such as lawsuits that relate to contractual allegations, tax audits, product claims, personal injuries, and employment related matters. Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the outcome or cost of these matters, the Company believes our current reserves are appropriate and these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements.

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