Commitments and Contingencies |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2024 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Commitments and Contingencies |
9. Commitments and Contingencies
Hazardous Waste
In connection with our waste management services, the Company processes hazardous, non-hazardous, low-level radioactive and mixed (containing both hazardous and low-level radioactive) waste, which the Company transports to its own, or other, facilities for destruction or disposal. As a result of disposing of hazardous substances, in the event any cleanup is required at the disposal site, the Company could be a potentially responsible party for the costs of the cleanup notwithstanding any absence of fault on our part.
Legal Matters
In the normal course of conducting our business, the Company may be involved in various litigation. The Company is not a party to any litigation or governmental proceeding which our management believes could result in any judgments or fines against us that would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity or results of future operations.
Tetra Tech EC, Inc. (“Tetra Tech”)
During July 2020, Tetra Tech EC, Inc. (“Tetra Tech”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (the “Court”) against CH2M Hill, Inc. (“CH2M”) and four subcontractors of CH2M, including the Company (“Defendants”). The complaint alleges various claims, including a claim for negligence, negligent misrepresentation, equitable indemnification and related business claims against all Defendants related to alleged damages suffered by Tetra Tech in respect of certain draft reports prepared by Defendants at the request of the U.S. Navy as part of an investigation and review of certain whistleblower complaints about Tetra Tech’s environmental restoration at the Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco.
CH2M was hired by the Navy in 2016 to review Tetra Tech’s work. CH2M subcontracted with environmental consulting and cleanup firms Battelle Memorial Institute, Cabrera Services, Inc., SC&A, Inc. and the Company to assist with the review, according to the complaint.
The Company’s insurance carrier is providing a defense on our behalf in connection with this lawsuit, subject to a $100,000 self-insured retention and the terms and limitations contained in the insurance policy.
The majority of Tetra Tech’s claims have been dismissed by the Court. Remaining claims include: (1) intentional interference with contractual relations; and (2) inducing a breach of contract. The Company continues to believe it has no liability exposure to Tetra Tech.
Perma-Fix Canada Inc. (“PF Canada”)
During the fourth quarter of 2021, PF Canada received a Notice of Termination (“NOT”) from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, LTD. (“CNL”) on a Task Order Agreement (“TOA”) that PF Canada entered into with CNL in May 2019 for remediation work within Ontario, Canada (“Agreement”). The NOT was received after work under the TOA was substantially completed and work under the TOA has since been completed. CNL may terminate the TOA at any time for convenience. At year-end 2023, PF Canada had approximately $2,389,000 in outstanding receivables due from CNL as a result of work performed under the TOA. A settlement agreement was reached between PF Canada and CNL on the payment of the aforementioned amount by CNL, subject to certain conditions/terms precedents being met, including release of certain liens. The Company received a partial payment from CNL of the outstanding receivables during the first quarter of 2024. As of March 31, 2024, approximately $1,612,000 in outstanding receivables remain payable by CNL to PF Canada upon completion of the settlement conditions/terms, which the Company believes should occur by the end of 2024.
Insurance
The Company has a 25-year finite risk insurance policy entered into in June 2003 (“2003 Closure Policy”) with AIG Specialty Insurance Company (“AIG”), which provides financial assurance to the applicable states for our permitted facilities in the event of unforeseen closure. The 2003 Closure Policy, as amended, provides for a maximum allowable coverage of $28,177,000 which includes available capacity to allow for annual inflation and other performance and surety bond requirements. Total coverage under the 2003 Closure Policy, as amended, was $23,376,000 at March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, finite risk sinking funds contributed by the Company related to the 2003 Closure Policy which is included in other long term assets on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets totaled $12,222,000 and $12,074,000, respectively, which included interest earned of $2,751,000 and $2,603,000 on the finite risk sinking funds as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, was approximately $148,000 and $67,000, respectively. If the Company so elects, AIG is obligated to pay the Company an amount equal to 100% of the finite risk sinking fund account balance in return for complete release of liability from both us and any applicable regulatory agency using this policy as an instrument to comply with financial assurance requirements.
Letter of Credits and Bonding Requirements
From time to time, the Company is required to post standby letters of credit and various bonds to support contractual obligations to customers and other obligations, including facility closures. At March 31, 2024, the total amount of standby letters of credit outstanding was approximately $3,950,000 and the total amount of bonds outstanding was approximately $26,747,000.
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