Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves [Abstract]

Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves

Activity related to casualty, environmental and other reserves is as follows:



	Casualty			Environmental			Other
(Dollars in Millions)	Reserves			Reserves			Reserves			Total
December 30, 2016	$	229		$	95		$	50		$	374
Charged to Expense	43			26			45			114
Payments	(44		)	(31		)	(39		)	(114		)
December 31, 2017	228			90			56			374
Charged to Expense	21			10			41			72
Payments	(50		)	(20		)	(52		)	(122		)
December 31, 2018	199			80			45			324
Charged to Expense	56			17			34			107
Payments	(68		)	(23		)	(35		)	(126		)
December 31, 2019	$	187		$	74		$	44		$	305

NOTE 5. Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves, continued

Personal injury and environmental reserves are considered critical accounting estimates due to the need for management judgment. In the table above, the impacts of changes in estimates are included in the charged to expense amount and were not material in 2019, 2018, or 2017. Casualty, environmental and other reserves are provided for in the consolidated balance sheets as shown in the table below.



	December 2019						December 2018
(Dollars in Millions)	Current		Long-term		Total		Current		Long-term		Total
Casualty:
Personal Injury	$	42	$	87	$	129	$	40	$	103	$	143
Occupational	6		52		58		10		46		56
Total Casualty	$	48	$	139	$	187	$	50	$	149	$	199
Environmental	31		43		74		39		41		80
Other	21		23		44		24		21		45
Total	$	100	$	205	$	305	$	113	$	211	$	324

These liabilities are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with the Contingencies Topic in the ASC. Actual settlements and claims received could differ and final outcomes of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty. Considering the legal defenses currently available, the liabilities that have been recorded and other factors, it is the opinion of management that none of these items individually, when finally resolved, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Should a number of these items occur in the same period, however, their combined effect could be material in that particular period.

Casualty

Casualty reserves of $187 million and $199 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, represent accruals for personal injury, occupational disease and occupational injury claims. The Company increased its self-insured retention amount for these claims from $50 million to $75 million per occurrence for claims occurring on or after June 1, 2018. Currently, no individual claim is expected to exceed the self-insured retention amount. Most of the Company's casualty claims relate to CSXT. In accordance with the Contingencies Topic in the ASC, to the extent the value of an individual claim exceeds the self-insured retention amount, the Company would present the liability on a gross basis with a corresponding receivable for insurance recoveries.

These reserves fluctuate based upon the timing of payments as well as changes in estimate. Actual results may vary from estimates due to the number, type and severity of the injury, costs of medical treatments and uncertainties in litigation. Defense and processing costs, which historically have been insignificant and are anticipated to be insignificant in the future, are not included in the recorded liabilities. Changes in casualty reserves are included in materials, supplies and other on the consolidated income statements.

NOTE 5. Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves, continued

Personal Injury

Personal injury reserves represent liabilities for employee work-related and third-party injuries. Work-related injuries for CSXT employees are primarily subject to the Federal Employers' Liability Act ("FELA"). CSXT retains an independent actuary to assist management in assessing the value of personal injury claims. An analysis is performed by the actuary quarterly and is reviewed by management. The methodology used by the actuary includes a development factor to reflect growth or reduction in the value of these personal injury claims based largely on CSXT's historical claims and settlement experience. This analysis did not result in a material adjustment to the personal injury reserve in 2019, 2018 or 2017.

Occupational

Occupational reserves represent liabilities for occupational disease and injury claims. Occupational disease claims arise primarily from allegations of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Occupational injury claims arise from allegations of exposure to certain other materials in the workplace, such as solvents, soaps, chemicals (collectively referred to as “irritants”) and diesel fuels (like exhaust fumes) or allegations of chronic physical injuries resulting from work conditions, such as repetitive stress injuries. An analysis performed by management did not result in a material adjustment to the occupational reserve in 2019, 2018 or 2017.

Environmental

Environmental reserves were $74 million and $80 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company is a party to various proceedings related to environmental issues, including administrative and judicial proceedings involving private parties and regulatory agencies. The Company has been identified as a potentially responsible party at approximately 220 environmentally impaired sites. Many of these are, or may be, subject to remedial action under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"), also known as the Superfund Law, or similar state statutes. Most of these proceedings arose from environmental conditions on properties used for ongoing or discontinued railroad operations. A number of these proceedings, however, are based on allegations that the Company, or its predecessors, sent hazardous substances to facilities owned or operated by others for treatment, recycling or disposal. In addition, some of the Company’s land holdings were leased to others for commercial or industrial uses that may have resulted in releases of hazardous substances or other regulated materials onto the property and could give rise to proceedings against the Company.

In any such proceedings, the Company is subject to environmental clean-up and enforcement actions under the Superfund Law, as well as similar state laws that may impose joint and several liability for clean-up and enforcement costs on current and former owners and operators of a site without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct. These costs could be substantial.

NOTE 5. Casualty, Environmental and Other Reserves, continued

In accordance with the Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations Topic in the ASC, the Company reviews its role with respect to each site identified at least quarterly, giving consideration to a number of factors such as:


•	type of clean-up required;


•	nature of the Company’s alleged connection to the location (e.g., generator of waste sent to the site or owner or operator of the site);


•	extent of the Company’s alleged connection (e.g., volume of waste sent to the location and other relevant factors); and


•	number, connection and financial viability of other named and unnamed potentially responsible parties at the location.

Based on the review process, the Company has recorded amounts to cover contingent anticipated future environmental remediation costs with respect to each site to the extent such costs are reasonably estimable and probable. The recorded liabilities for estimated future environmental costs are undiscounted. The liability includes future costs for remediation and restoration of sites as well as any significant ongoing monitoring costs, but excludes any anticipated insurance recoveries. Payments related to these liabilities are expected to be made over the next several years. Environmental remediation costs are included in materials, supplies and other on the consolidated income statements.

Currently, the Company does not possess sufficient information to reasonably estimate the amounts of additional liabilities, if any, on some sites until completion of future environmental studies. In addition, conditions that are currently unknown could, at any given location, result in additional exposure, the amount and materiality of which cannot presently be reasonably estimated. Based upon information currently available, however, the Company believes its environmental reserves accurately reflect the estimated cost of remedial actions currently required.

Other

Other reserves were $44 million and $45 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively. These reserves include liabilities for various claims, such as property, automobile and general liability. Also included in other reserves are longshoremen disability claims related to a previously owned international shipping business (these claims are in runoff) as well as claims for current port employees.