Alcoa Corporation participates in environmental assessments and cleanups at several locations. These include currently or previously owned or operated facilities and adjoining properties, and waste sites, including Superfund (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)) sites.

Alcoa Corporation’s environmental remediation reserve balance reflects the most probable costs to remediate identified environmental conditions for which costs can be reasonably estimated. The following table details the changes in the carrying value of recorded environmental remediation reserves:

Balance at December 31, 2018	$	280
Liabilities incurred		73
Cash payments		(17	)
Reversals of previously recorded liabilities		(1	)
Balance at December 31, 2019		335
Liabilities incurred		7
Cash payments		(19	)
Foreign currency translation and other		(1	)
Balance at December 31, 2020		322
Liabilities incurred		21
Cash payments		(23	)
Reversals of previously recorded liabilities		(17	)
Foreign currency translation and other		6
Balance at December 31, 2021	$	309

At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the current portion of the remediation reserve balance was $44 and $29, respectively.

In 2021, the Company incurred liabilities of $21 primarily related to remediation design considerations at the Longview site in Washington, closure of the Wenatchee aluminum smelter in Washington, environmental activities at the Point Comfort site in Texas, closure of the anode plant at the Lake Charles site in Louisiana, and wetlands mitigation at the Longview site in Washington, as well as other increases for ongoing monitoring and maintenance at various sites. These charges are primarily recorded in Cost of goods sold and Restructuring and other charges, net on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Operations. Payments related to remediation expenses applied against the reserve were $23. These amounts include mandated expenditures as well as those not required by any regulatory authority or third-party. Further, the Company recorded reversals of reserves of $17 related to:

In 2020, the Company incurred liabilities of $7 which were primarily related to ongoing remediation work at various sites. The additional accruals were recorded to Cost of goods sold except for $1 which was recorded to Restructuring and other charges, net on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Operations (see Note D).

In 2019, the Company incurred liabilities of $73 which were primarily related to the closure of the Point Comfort alumina refinery and recorded in Restructuring and other charges, net on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Operations (see Note D). The remaining amount was recorded to Cost of goods sold.

The estimated timing of cash outflows from the environmental remediation reserve at December 31, 2021 is as follows:

2022	$	44
2023 - 2027		155
Thereafter		110
Total	$	309

Reserve balances at December 31, 2021 and 2020, associated with significant sites with active remediation underway or for future remediation were $247 and $259, respectively. In management’s judgment, the Company’s reserves are sufficient to satisfy the provisions of the respective action plans. Upon changes in facts or circumstances, a change to the reserve may be required. The Company’s significant sites include:

Poços de Caldas, Brazil—The reserve associated with the 2015 closure of the Alcoa Alumínio S.A. smelter in Poços de Caldas, Brazil, is for remediation of historic spent potlining storage and disposal areas. The final remediation plan is currently under review; such review could require the reserve balance to be adjusted.

Fusina and Portovesme, Italy—Alcoa Corporation’s subsidiary Alcoa Trasformazioni S.r.l. has remediation projects underway for its closed smelter sites at Fusina and Portovesme which have been approved by the Italian Ministry for Ecologic Transition (MET). Work is ongoing for soil remediation at the Fusina site with expected completion by the end of 2023 and at the Portovesme site with expected completion in the first half of 2022. The final remedial design for the groundwater remediation project at Portovesme was completed in 2020 and is awaiting approval from the MET.

Suriname—The reserve associated with the 2017 closure of the Suralco refinery and bauxite mine is for treatment and disposal of refinery waste and soil remediation. The work began in 2017 and is expected to be completed at the end of 2025.

Hurricane Creek, Arkansas—The reserve associated with the 1990 closure of two mining areas and refineries near Hurricane Creek, Arkansas is for ongoing monitoring and maintenance for water quality surrounding the mine areas and residue disposal areas.

Massena, New York—The reserve associated with the 2015 closure of the Massena East smelter by the Company’s subsidiary, Reynolds Metals Company, is for subsurface soil remediation to be performed after demolition of the structures. Remediation work commenced in 2021 and will take four to eight years to complete.

Point Comfort, Texas—The reserve associated with the 2019 closure of the Point Comfort alumina refinery is for disposal of industrial wastes contained at the site, subsurface remediation, and post-closure monitoring and maintenance. The final remediation plan is currently under review, which may result in a change to the existing reserve.

Sherwin, Texas—In connection with the 2018 settlement of a dispute related to the previously-owned Sherwin alumina refinery, the Company’s subsidiary, Copano Enterprises LLC, accepted responsibility for the final closure of four bauxite residue waste disposal areas (known as the Copano facility). Work commenced on the first residue disposal area in 2018 and will take up to six additional years to complete, depending on the nature of its potential re-use. Work on the next three areas has not commenced but is expected to be completed by 2048, depending on its potential re-use.

Longview, Washington—In connection with a 2018 Consent Decree and Cleanup Action Plan with the State of Washington Department of Ecology, the Company’s subsidiary, Northwest Alloys as landowner, accepted certain responsibilities for future remediation of contaminated soil and sediments at the site located near Longview, Washington. In December 2020, the lessee of the land, who was a partner in the remediation of the site, filed for bankruptcy and exited the site in January 2021. Remediation design changes for consolidation and remediation of the onsite industrial waste landfills, groundwater remediation, and post-closure monitoring and maintenance at the site was completed in 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the reserve related to the site is deemed to be sufficient.

Other Sites—The Company is in the process of decommissioning various other plants and remediating sites in several countries for potential redevelopment or to return the land to a natural state. In aggregate, there are approximately 35 remediation projects at these other sites that are planned or underway. These activities will be completed at various times in the future with the latest expected to be in 2026, after which ongoing monitoring and other activities may be required. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the reserve balance associated with these activities was $62 and $63, respectively.

Spain—In July 2013, following a corporate income tax audit covering the 2006 through 2009 tax years, an assessment was received from Spain’s tax authorities disallowing certain interest deductions claimed by ParentCo’s Spanish consolidated tax group. Through various stages of subsequent appeal, denial and re-assessment through the third quarter of 2018, Alcoa Corporation management came to believe that it was no longer more likely than not (greater than 50%) to prevail in this matter. Accordingly, in the third quarter of 2018, Alcoa Corporation recorded a charge of $30 (€26) in Provision for income taxes to establish a liability for its portion of the estimated loss in this matter, representing management’s best estimate at the time.

On November 8, 2018, Alcoa filed a petition for appeal to the Supreme Court of Spain. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Supreme Court of Spain met and ruled in favor of Alcoa on the 2006 through 2009 tax year assessment. The ruling is final and cannot be further appealed. As a result of the final ruling, in the fourth quarter of 2020 Alcoa reversed the $32 (€26) reserve that was established in 2018 and the matter is now considered closed. Additionally, a lien secured with the San Ciprián smelter to Spain’s tax authorities that was provided in relation to this matter has been released.

Brazil (AWAB)—In March 2013, AWAB was notified by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Office (RFB) that approximately $110 (R$220) of value added tax credits previously claimed are being disallowed and a penalty of 50% assessed. Of this amount, AWAB received $41 (R$82) in cash in May 2012. The value-added tax credits were claimed by AWAB for both fixed assets and export sales related to the Juruti bauxite mine and São Luís refinery expansion. The RFB has disallowed credits they allege belong to the consortium in which AWAB owns an interest and should not have been claimed by AWAB. Credits have also been disallowed as a result of challenges to apportionment methods used, questions about the use of the credits, and an alleged lack of documented proof. AWAB presented defense of its claim to the RFB on April 8, 2013. If AWAB is successful in this administrative process, the RFB would have no further recourse. If unsuccessful in this process, AWAB has the option to litigate at a judicial level. Separately from AWAB’s administrative appeal, in June 2015, new tax law was enacted repealing the provisions in the tax code that were the basis for the RFB assessing a 50% penalty in this matter. As such, the estimated range of reasonably possible loss for these matters is $0 to $39 (R$220). It is management’s opinion that the allegations have no basis; however, at this time, the Company is unable to reasonably predict an outcome for this matter.

Australia (AofA)—In December 2019, AofA received a statement of audit position (SOAP) from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) related to the pricing of certain historic third-party alumina sales. The SOAP proposed adjustments that would result in additional income tax payable by AofA. During 2020, the SOAP was the subject of an independent review process within the ATO. At the conclusion of this process, the ATO determined to continue with the proposed adjustments and issued Notices of Assessment (the Notices) that were received by AofA on July 7, 2020. The Notices asserted claims for income tax payable by AofA of approximately

$156 (A$214). The Notices also included claims for compounded interest on the tax amount totaling approximately $516 (A$707). On September 17, 2020, the ATO issued a position paper with its preliminary view on the imposition of administrative penalties related to the tax assessment issued to AofA. This paper proposed penalties of approximately $94 (A$128).

AofA disagreed with the Notices and with the ATO’s proposed position on penalties. In September 2020, AofA lodged formal objections to the Notices. In the fourth quarter of 2020, AofA provided a submission on the ATO’s imposition of interest and also submitted a response to the ATO’s position paper on penalties. After the ATO completes its review of AofA’s response to the penalties position paper, the ATO could issue a penalty assessment.

To date, AofA has not received a determination from the objections team on the Notices, nor has it received a response to its submission on the ATO’s imposition of interest or its response to the ATO’s position paper on penalties.

On February 1, 2022, AofA submitted statutory notices to the ATO requiring the ATO to make decisions on AofA’s objections within a 60-day period.

The Company does not agree with the ATO’s positions, and AofA will continue to defend this matter and pursue all available dispute resolution methods, up to and including the filing of proceedings in the Australian Courts, a process which could last several years and could involve significant expenses. The Company maintains that the sales subject to the ATO’s review, which were ultimately sold to Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C., were the result of arm’s length transactions by AofA over two decades and were made at arm’s length prices consistent with the prices paid by other third-party alumina customers.

In accordance with the ATO’s dispute resolution practices, AofA paid 50% of the assessed income tax amount exclusive of interest and any penalties, or approximately $74 (A$107), during the third quarter 2020, and the ATO is not expected to seek further payment prior to final resolution of the matter. If AofA is ultimately successful, any amounts paid to the ATO as part of the 50% payment would be refunded. AofA funded the payment with cash on hand and recorded the payment within Other noncurrent assets as a noncurrent prepaid tax asset; the related December 31, 2021 balance is $78 (A$107).

Further interest on the unpaid tax and interest amounts will continue to accrue during the dispute. The initial interest assessment and the additional interest accrued are deductible against taxable income by AofA but would be taxable as income in the year the dispute is resolved if AofA is ultimately successful. AofA applied this deduction beginning in the third quarter of 2020 which reduced cash tax payments by approximately $169 (A$219) in 2020 and $14 (A$19) in 2021. This amount has been reflected within Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits as a noncurrent accrued tax liability; the related December 31, 2021 balance is $174 (A$238) (see Note U).

The Company continues to believe it is more likely than not that AofA’s tax position will be sustained and therefore is not recognizing any tax expense in relation to this matter. However, because the ultimate resolution of this matter is uncertain at this time, the Company cannot predict the potential loss or range of loss associated with the outcome, which may materially affect its results of operations and financial condition. References to any assessed U.S. dollar amounts presented in connection with this matter have been converted into U.S. dollars from Australian dollars based on the exchange rate in the respective period.

AofA is part of the Company’s joint venture with Alumina Limited, an Australian public company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Company and Alumina Limited own 60% and 40%, respectively, of the joint venture entities, including AofA.

Spain—In July 2019, the Company completed the divestiture of the Avilés and La Coruña (Spain) aluminum facilities to PARTER Capital Group AG (PARTER) in a sale process endorsed by the Spanish government and supported by the workers’ representatives following a collective dismissal process. In connection with the divestiture, Alcoa committed to make financial contributions to the divested entities of up to $95; a total of $78 was paid through December 31, 2021. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company reversed the remaining reserve of $17, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, as the period for which the divested entities could incur qualifying capital expenditures had lapsed.

In early 2020, PARTER sold a majority stake in the facilities to an unrelated party. Alcoa had no knowledge of the subsequent transaction prior to its announcement and on August 28, 2020, Alcoa filed a lawsuit with the Court of First Instance in Madrid, Spain asserting that the sale was in breach of the sale agreement between Alcoa and PARTER.

Related to this subsequent sale transaction, certain proceedings and investigations have been initiated by or at the request of the employees of the facilities against their current employers, the new owners of the current employers, and Alcoa, alleging that certain agreements from the 2019 collective dismissal process remain in force and that, under such agreements, Alcoa remains liable for certain related employment benefits. One such proceeding is a collective case before the Spanish National Court, filed on November 10, 2020, wherein the workers’ representatives and employees are seeking to have the terms of a Collective Dismissal Agreement signed between Alcoa and the workers in January 2019 be fulfilled. Other proceedings include: a second collective claim filed in National Court on behalf employees that were not affected by the 2019 collective dismissal process, numerous individual labor claims filed in the labor courts of Avilés and La Coruña and the initiation of a separate criminal investigation by the National Court.

On June 15, 2021, the Spanish National Court ruled that the collective dismissal agreement for the divested Avilés and La Coruña aluminum facilities should be applied to the situation of the claimant workers, and that Alcoa should be liable for the severance of those employees to the extent they were affected by the 2019 collective dismissal process. Alcoa has appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court of Spain.

In July 2021, the Spanish National Court appointed a judicial director to oversee the facilities and later declared the facilities insolvent. In early 2022, the insolvency administrators appointed by the courts (one for each facility) announced their intention to collectively dismiss all employees at the two facilities.

In February 2022, Alcoa and relevant stakeholders initiated discussions to explore a potential global resolution of all pending matters involving Alcoa arising from the prior sale of the two facilities, including a waiver of all claims and investigations previously initiated by or at the request of the employees of the facilities. As of the date of this filing, these initial discussions are ongoing.

If a global resolution is not reached, Alcoa will continue with its appeal to the National Court ruling to the Spanish Supreme Court and will strongly defend all other pending and future legal proceedings arising from the sale of the Avilés and La Coruña facilities. Alcoa believes it has acted in good faith, in full compliance with the law and with all of the terms that it committed to in the contract for the sale of the Avilés and La Coruña facilities to PARTER and in the agreements that it entered into with the representatives of the workers of both facilities.

The estimated range of reasonably possible loss is $0 to $70. Due to the uncertainty regarding both the outcome of the discussions and the likelihood of securing waivers for all claims, Alcoa is unable to reasonably predict the ultimate outcome of this matter.

In addition to the matters discussed above, various other lawsuits, claims, and proceedings have been or may be instituted or asserted against Alcoa Corporation, including those pertaining to environmental, safety and health, commercial, tax, product liability, intellectual property infringement, employment, and employee and retiree benefit matters, and other actions and claims arising out of the normal course of business. While the amounts claimed in these other matters may be substantial, the ultimate liability is not readily determinable because of the considerable uncertainties that exist. Accordingly, it is possible that the Company’s liquidity or results of operations in a particular period could be materially affected by one or more of these other matters. However, based on facts currently available, management believes that the disposition of these other matters that are pending or asserted will not have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the financial position of the Company.

Purchase Obligations. Alcoa Corporation is party to unconditional purchase obligations for energy that expire between 2040 and 2041. Commitments related to these contracts total $57 in 2022, $60 in 2023, $62 in 2024, $64 in 2025, $66 in 2026, and $1,155 thereafter. Expenditures under these contracts totaled $86 in 2021, $79 in 2020, and $146 in 2019. Additionally, the Company has entered into other purchase commitments for energy, raw materials, and other goods and services, which total $3,829 in 2022 $1,853, in 2023, $1,585 in 2024, $1,637 in 2025, $1,594 in 2026, and $10,547 thereafter.

AofA has a gas supply agreement to power its three alumina refineries in Western Australia which began in July 2020 for a 12-year period. The terms of this agreement required AofA to make a prepayment of $500 in two installments, the first of which was made in June 2015 for $300. The second installment of $200 was made in April 2016. At December 31, 2021, Alcoa Corporation had a total asset of $417 (A$571), which was included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($40) and Other noncurrent assets ($377) (see Note U) on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet related to these prepayments. At December 31, 2020, Alcoa Corporation had a total asset of $481 (A$625), which was included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($42) and Other noncurrent assets ($439) (see Note U) on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Guarantees of Third Parties. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no outstanding potential future payments for guarantees issued on behalf of a third-party.

Bank Guarantees and Letters of Credit. Alcoa Corporation has outstanding bank guarantees and letters of credit related to, among others, energy contracts, environmental obligations, legal and tax matters, leasing obligations, workers compensation, and customs duties. The total amount committed under these instruments, which automatically renew or expire at various dates between 2022 and 2026, was $312 (includes $110 issued under a standby letter of credit agreement —see below) at December 31, 2021. Additionally, ParentCo has outstanding bank guarantees and letters of credit related to the Company in the amount of $15 at December 31, 2021. In the event ParentCo would be required to perform under any of these instruments, ParentCo would be indemnified by Alcoa Corporation in accordance with the Separation and Distribution Agreement. Likewise, the Company has outstanding bank guarantees and letters of credit related to ParentCo in the amount of $11 at December 31, 2021. In the event Alcoa Corporation would be required to perform under any of these instruments, the Company would be indemnified by ParentCo in accordance with the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

In August 2017, Alcoa Corporation entered into a standby letter of credit agreement, which expires on May 3, 2023 (extended in August 2018, May 2019, and May 2021), with three financial institutions. The agreement provides for a $150 facility used by the Company for matters in the ordinary course of business. Alcoa Corporation’s obligations under this facility are secured in the same manner as obligations under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Additionally, this facility contains similar representations and warranties and affirmative, negative, and financial covenants as the Company’s revolving credit facility (see Note M). As of December 31, 2021, letters of credit aggregating $110 were issued under this facility.

Surety Bonds. Alcoa Corporation has outstanding surety bonds primarily related to tax matters, contract performance, workers compensation, environmental-related matters, and customs duties. The total amount committed under these bonds, which automatically renew or expire at various dates between 2022 and 2026, was $158 at December 31, 2021. Additionally, ParentCo has outstanding surety bonds related to the Company in the amount of $12 at December 31, 2021. In the event ParentCo would be required to perform under any of these instruments, ParentCo would be indemnified by Alcoa Corporation in accordance with the Separation and Distribution Agreement. Likewise, the Company has outstanding surety bonds related to ParentCo in the amount of $3 at December 31, 2021. In the event Alcoa Corporation would be required to perform under any of these instruments, the Company would be indemnified by ParentCo in accordance with the Separation and Distribution Agreement.