Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

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ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations
NOTE 13 - ASSET RETIREMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBLIGATIONS
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The accrued closure obligation provides for contractual and legal obligations related to our indefinitely idled and closed operations and for the eventual closure of our active operations. The closure date for each of our active mine sites was determined based on the exhaustion date of the remaining mineral reserves, and the amortization of the related asset and accretion of the liability is recognized over the estimated mine lives. The closure date and expected timing of the capital requirements to meet our obligations for our indefinitely idled or closed mines is determined based on the unique circumstances of each property. For indefinitely idled or closed mines, the accretion of the liability is recognized over the anticipated timing of remediation. Asset retirement obligations at our steelmaking operations primarily include the closure and post-closure care for on-site landfills and other waste containment facilities. Asset retirement obligations have been recorded at present values using settlement dates based on when we expect these facilities to reach capacity and close.
The following is a summary of our asset retirement obligations:
December 31,
(In millions) 2024 2023
Asset retirement obligations1
$ 526  $ 459 
Less: current portion 25  15 
Long-term asset retirement obligations $ 501  $ 444 
1 Includes $302 million and $259 million related to our active operations as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The following is a roll-forward of our asset retirement obligation:
(In millions) 2024 2023
Asset retirement obligation as of January 1 $ 459  $ 520 
Increase from Stelco Acquisition 20  — 
Decrease from sale of business   (76)
Accretion expense 22  26 
Remediation payments (33) (21)
Revision in estimated cash flows 58  10 
Asset retirement obligation as of December 31 $ 526  $ 459 
During the first quarter of 2024, we announced the indefinite idle of our Weirton tinplate production plant, resulting in an increase to our asset retirement obligations as a result of acceleration of the timing and refinement in the cost required.
ENVIRONMENTAL OBLIGATIONS
Our operations currently use, and have in the past used, hazardous materials and substances, and we have generated, and expect to continue to generate, solid and hazardous waste. We have been, and may in the future be, subject to claims under laws and regulations for toxic torts, natural resource damages and other damages, as well as for the investigation and clean-up of soil,
surface water, sediments, groundwater, and other natural resources and reclamation of properties. If we reasonably can, we estimate potential remediation expenditures for those sites where future remediation efforts are probable based on identified conditions, regulatory requirements, or contractual obligations arising from the sale of a business or facility. For sites involving government required investigations, including pursuant to RCRA and CERCLA, we typically make an estimate of potential remediation expenditures only after the investigation is complete and when we better understand the nature and scope of the remediation. In general, the material factors in these estimates include the costs associated with investigations, delineations, risk assessments, remedial work, governmental response and oversight, site monitoring and preparation of reports to the appropriate environmental agencies.
The following is a summary of our environmental obligations:
December 31,
(In millions) 2024 2023
Environmental obligations $ 114  $ 134 
Less: current portion 14  21 
Long-term environmental obligations $ 100  $ 113