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Ravenswood impairment
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract]  
Ravenswood impairment
Ravenswood impairment
At June 30, 2015, we recorded an impairment charge of $30,850 related to the Ravenswood, West Virginia aluminum smelter. The charge included $21,500 to write down property, plant and equipment to estimated net salvage value and $7,800 to write down inventory to its net realizable value. We also accrued $1,550 for employee severance and other exit costs which are expected to be substantially paid by the end of 2015. We classified the estimated salvage value of the property, plant and equipment within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as its fair value was determined based on recent comparable transactions with inputs that are not readily observable in the market.
On July 27, 2015, we announced the immediate and permanent closure of Ravenswood. The Ravenswood smelter has been idled since February 2009. The decision to permanently close the Ravenswood smelter was based on the inability to secure a competitive power contract for the smelter, compounded by challenging aluminum market conditions largely driven by increased exports of aluminum from China. As a result, the economics of restarting and operating the facility are unfavorable.