XML 32 R20.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.2

Commitments and Contingencies | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Environmental Matters EPA Action During 2008 and 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) contacted all U.S. carbon black producers as part of an industry-wide EPA initiative, requesting extensive and comprehensive information under Section 114 of the U.S. Clean Air Act. The EPA used that information to determine, for each facility, that either: (i) the facility has been in compliance with the Clean Air Act; (ii) violations have occurred and enforcement litigation may be undertaken; or (iii) violations have occurred and a settlement of an enforcement case is appropriate. In response to information requests received by the Company’s U.S. facilities, the Company furnished information to the EPA on each of its U.S. facilities. EPA subsequently sent notices under Section 113(a) of the Clean Air Act in 2010 alleging violations of Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) and Title V permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act at the Company’s Belpre (Ohio) facility. In October 2012, the Company received a corresponding notice and finding of violation (a “NOV”) alleging the failure to obtain PSD and Title V permits reflecting Best Available Control Technology (“BACT”) at several units of the Company’s Ivanhoe (Louisiana) facility, and in January 2013 the Company also received a NOV issued by the EPA for its facility in Borger (Texas) alleging the failure to obtain PSD and Title V permits reflecting BACT during the years 1996 to 2008. A comparable NOV for the Company’s U.S. facility in Orange (Texas) was issued by the EPA in February 2013; and EPA issued an additional NOV in March 2016 alleging more recent non-PSD air emissions violations primarily at the dryers and the incinerator of the Orange facility. In 2013, Orion began discussions with the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) about a potential settlement to resolve the NOVs received, which ultimately led to a consent decree executed between Orion Engineered Carbons LLC (for purpose of this note M. “Orion”) and the United States (on behalf of the EPA), as well as the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. The consent decree (the “EPA CD”) became effective on June 7, 2018. The EPA CD resolves and settles the EPA’s claims of noncompliance set forth in the NOVs and in a respective complaint filed in court against Orion by the United States immediately prior to the filing of the consent decree. All five U.S. carbon black producers have settled with the U.S. government. Under Orion’s EPA CD, Orion is installing certain pollution control technology in order to further reduce emissions at its four U.S. manufacturing facilities in Ivanhoe (Louisiana), Belpre (Ohio), Borger (Texas), and Orange (Texas) over approximately five years. The EPA CD also requires the continuous monitoring of emissions reductions that Orion will need to comply with over a number of years. Orion has commenced the installation works for its Ivanhoe and Orange facilities. While the construction at Orange has been completed according to schedule, the construction at the Ivanhoe facility has been subject to COVID-19 and hurricane Ida-related delays. As a result, we have declared force majeure with respect to the EPA CD and requested an extension of the timeline for completion of installations. Orion is negotiating the extension of the EPA CD deadlines, but that extension has not yet been approved by the government as of this date, and, when it is, it must also be submitted to the court for approval. In line with EPA’s respective request, Orion continues to provide regular updates to the EPA on the Ivanhoe installation works timeline and respective COVID-19 related impacts and mitigation measures. Under the EPA CD, Orion can choose either its Belpre or Borger facilities as the next site for installation of pollution control equipment with comparable effectiveness. We estimate the installations of monitoring and pollution control equipment at all four Orion plants in the U.S. will require capital expenditures in an approximate range between $270 million to $290 million of which approximately $181 million has been spent to date. However, factors, such as timing, locations, target levels, changing scope or cost estimates as well as local regulations or unforeseen necessities could cause actual capital expenditures to exceed or be lower than current expectations or could affect Orion’s ability to meet the agreed target emission levels or target dates for installing required equipment as anticipated or at all. Under the EPA CD, Orion also agreed to and paid a civil penalty of $0.8 million and agreed to perform environmental mitigation projects totaling $0.6 million. Noncompliance with applicable emissions limits could lead to further penalty payments to the EPA. As part of Orion’s compliance plan under the EPA CD, in April 2018 Orion signed a contract with Haldor Topsoe group to install its SNOX TM emissions control technology to remove SO2, NOx and dust particles from tail gases at Orion’s Ivanhoe, Louisiana Carbon Black production plant. The SNOX TM technology has not been used previously in the carbon black industry. Orion’s Share Purchase Agreement with Evonik in connection with the acquisition of the carbon black business line from Evonik Industries AG, completed on July 29, 2011 (“Acquisition), provided for a partial indemnity from Evonik against various exposures, including, but not limited to, capital investments, fines and costs arising in connection with Clean Air Act violations that occurred prior to July 29, 2011. In June 2019, Orion initiated arbitration proceedings to enforce its rights against Evonik. In June 2021, Orion and Evonik agreed to settle all claims made under this partial indemnity as well as certain other claims and counterclaims Orion and Evonik asserted against each other. Evonik made a one-time cash payment of €66.55 million ($79.5 million) to Orion which resolved all pending claims as well as counterclaims of $3.4 million. In the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Orion recorded a gain aggregating $82.9 million. Pledges and guarantees The Company has pledged the majority of its assets (amongst others shares in affiliates, bank accounts and receivables) within the different regions excluding China as collateral under the Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had guarantees totaling $16.4 million issued by various financial institutions.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2127136 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2144648 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 954 -SubTopic 440 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6491277&loc=d3e6429-115629 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123406679&loc=d3e25336-109308 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123406679&loc=d3e25336-109308 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration