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Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are from time to time subject to lawsuits, investigations and claims, including environmental claims and employee-related matters. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, including civil penalties or other enforcement actions, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceedings to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Rate Regulation of Petroleum Pipelines
The rates and terms and conditions of service on certain of our pipelines are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) under the Interstate Commerce Act (“ICA”) and by the state regulatory commissions in the states in which we transport crude oil and refined products, including the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Louisiana Public Service Commission, and the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Certain of our pipeline systems are subject to such regulation and have filed tariffs with the appropriate authorities. We also comply with the reporting requirements for these pipelines. Other of our pipelines have received a waiver from the application of FERC's tariff requirements but comply with other applicable regulatory requirements.
FERC regulates interstate transportation under the ICA, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the rules and regulations promulgated under those laws. The ICA and its implementing regulations require that tariff rates for interstate service on oil pipelines, including pipelines that transport crude oil and refined products in interstate commerce (collectively referred to as “petroleum pipelines”), be just and reasonable and non-discriminatory and that such rates and terms and conditions of service be filed with FERC. Under the ICA, shippers may challenge new or existing rates or services. FERC is authorized to suspend the effectiveness of a challenged rate for up to seven months, though rates are typically not suspended for the maximum allowable period. Tariff rates are typically contractually subject to increase or decrease annually, by the amount of any change in various inflation-based indices, including the FERC oil pipeline index, the consumer price index and the producer price index; provided, however, that in no event will the fees be adjusted below the amount initially set forth in the applicable agreement.
While FERC regulates rates for shipments of crude oil or refined products in interstate commerce, state agencies may regulate rates and service for shipments in intrastate commerce. We own pipeline assets in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, and accordingly, such assets may be subject to additional regulation by the applicable governmental authorities in those states.
Environmental Health and Safety
We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental and safety laws enforced by agencies including the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Railroad Commission, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinating Office, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, as well as other state and federal agencies. Numerous permits or other authorizations are required under these laws for the operation of our terminals, pipelines, and related operations, and such permits and authorizations may be subject to revocation, modification and renewal.
These laws and permits raise potential exposure to future claims and lawsuits involving environmental and safety matters, which could include soil and water contamination, air pollution, personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by substances we manufactured, stored, transported, handled, used, released or disposed of, or that relate to pre-existing conditions for which we have assumed responsibility. We believe that our current operations are in substantial compliance with existing environmental and safety requirements. However, there have been and will continue to be ongoing discussions about environmental and safety matters between us and federal and state authorities, including notices of violations, citations and other enforcement actions, some of which have resulted or may result in changes to operating procedures and in capital expenditures. While it is often difficult to quantify future environmental or safety related expenditures, we anticipate that continuing capital investments and changes in operating procedures will be required for the foreseeable future to comply with existing and new requirements, as well as evolving interpretations and more strict enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
Crude Oil Releases
We have detected several crude oil releases involving our assets, including, without limitation, a release at our Magnolia Station in March 2013, a release near Macedonia, Arkansas in October 2013 and a release in Haynesville, Louisiana in April 2014. We do not believe the total costs associated with these events, whether alone or in the aggregate, including any fines or penalties and net of partial insurance reimbursement, will have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Contracts and Agreements
The majority of the petroleum products we sell in west Texas are purchased from Noble Petro, Inc. ("Noble Petro"). Under the terms of a supply contract (the "Abilene Contract") with Noble Petro, we have the right to purchase up to 20,350 bpd of petroleum products at the Abilene, Texas terminal, which we own, for sales at the Abilene and San Angelo terminals and to exchange barrels with third parties. We lease the Abilene and San Angelo, Texas terminals to Noble Petro, under a separate Terminal and Pipeline Lease and Operating Agreement, with a term that runs concurrent with that of the Abilene Contract. The Abilene Contract expires on December 31, 2017 and does not include any options for renewal. We also purchase spot barrels from various third parties and from Delek for sale to wholesale customers in west Texas.
Letters of Credit
As of March 31, 2015, we had in place letters of credit totaling approximately $4.5 million under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, primarily securing obligations with respect to gasoline and diesel purchases. No amounts were drawn under these letters of credit at March 31, 2015.
Operating Leases
We lease certain equipment and have surface leases under various operating lease arrangements, most of which provide the option to renew after the current lease term. None of these lease arrangements includes fixed rental rate increases. Lease expense for all operating leases totaled $0.2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.