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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
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 proceeding or proceedings to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. See "Crude Oil Releases" below for a potential enforcement action.

Environmental Health and Safety

We are subject to extensive and periodically changing federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, health and safety. Among other things, these laws and regulations govern the emission or discharge of pollutants into or onto the land, air and water, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and the remediation of contamination and the protection of workers and the public. Compliance with existing and anticipated environmental laws and regulations increases our overall cost of business, including our capital costs to develop, maintain, operate and upgrade equipment and facilities. Numerous permits or other authorizations are required under these laws for the operation of our terminals, pipelines and related operations, and may be subject to revocation, modification and renewal. These laws and permits may become the basis for 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 which we manufactured, handled, used, released or disposed of, or that relate to pre-existing conditions for which we have assumed or are assigned responsibility. Releases of hydrocarbons or hazardous substances into the environment could, to the extent the event is not insured, or is not a reimbursable event under the Omnibus Agreement, subject us to substantial expenses, including costs to respond to, contain and remediate a release, to comply with applicable laws and regulations and to resolve claims by third parties for personal injury, property damage or natural resources damages. These impacts could directly and indirectly affect our business. We cannot currently determine the amounts of such future impacts; however, we accrue liabilities for such events when we are able to determine if an amount is probable and can be reasonably estimated.

Crude Oil Releases

We have experienced several crude oil releases involving our assets, including, but not limited to, the following releases:

In January 2016, a crude oil release of less than 30 barrels occurred from a gathering line at the Modisette pumping station near El Dorado, Arkansas;
In January 2016, a crude oil release of approximately 350 barrels occurred from the Paline Pipeline near Woodville, Texas (the "Paline Release");
In April 2015, a crude oil release of an estimated 130 barrels was discovered from a gathering line near Fouke, Arkansas; and
In March 2013, a release of approximately 5,900 barrels of crude oil, the majority of which was contained on-site, occurred from a pumping facility at our Magnolia Station located west of the El Dorado Refinery (the "Magnolia Release").

Cleanup operations and site maintenance and remediation efforts on these and other releases have been substantially completed. We may incur additional expenses as a result of further scrutiny by regulatory authorities and continued compliance with laws and regulations to which our assets are subject. Expenses incurred for the remediation of these crude oil releases are included in operating expenses in our consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and are subsequently reimbursed by Delek pursuant to the terms of the Omnibus Agreement. Reimbursements are recorded as a reduction to operating expense. 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, as we are reimbursed by Delek for such costs.

In June 2015, the United States Department of Justice notified the Partnership that it was pursuing an enforcement action on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") with regard to potential Clean Water Act violations arising from the Magnolia Release. We are currently attempting to negotiate a resolution to this matter with the EPA and the State of Arkansas, which may include monetary penalties and/or other relief. As of December 31, 2017, we have accrued $1.0 million, which we have recorded in pipeline release liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet, for the Magnolia Release in connection with these proceedings.

Contracts and Agreements

The majority of the petroleum products we sold prior to December 31, 2017 in west Texas were purchased from Noble Petro, Inc. ("Noble Petro"). Under the terms of a supply contract (the "Abilene Contract") with Noble Petro that expired on December 31, 2017, we purchased petroleum products based on monthly average prices from Noble Petro at the Abilene, Texas terminal, which we own, for sales and exchange with third parties at the Abilene and San Angelo terminals. We leased the Abilene and San Angelo, Texas terminals to Noble Petro under a separate Terminal and Pipeline Lease and Operating Agreement, that expired on December 31, 2017. We purchase spot barrels from various third parties, which may continue to include Noble Petro, and from Delek for sale to wholesale customers in west Texas.

Letters of Credit

As of December 31, 2017, we had in place letters of credit totaling $9.0 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 December 31, 2017.

Operating Leases

We lease certain equipment and have surface leases under various operating lease arrangements, most of which provide the option, after the initial lease term, to renew the leases. None of these lease arrangements include fixed rental rate increases. Lease expense for all operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 totaled $5.6 million, $5.7 million and $5.3 million, respectively.

The following is an estimate of our future minimum lease payments for operating leases having remaining noncancelable terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

2018
 
$
2,482

2019
 
546

2020
 
483

2021
 
293

2022
 
173

Thereafter
 
8

Total future minimum rentals
 
$
3,985