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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill by Segment
The following table reflects the changes in carrying amounts of goodwill by each reporting unit for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
(In thousands)
Harsco Environmental
Clean Earth
Consolidated
Totals
Balance at December 31, 2021$399,230 $483,879 $883,109 
Goodwill impairment— (104,580)(104,580)
Foreign currency translation(19,276)— (19,276)
Balance at December 31, 2022379,954 379,299 759,253 
Foreign currency translation8,699 — 8,699 
Balance at December 31, 2023$388,653 $379,299 $767,952 

The Company's methodology for determining the fair value for its reporting units is described in Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company tests for goodwill impairment annually as of October 1, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist or a decision is made to dispose of a business.

The performance of the Company's 2023 annual quantitative impairment tests did not result in any impairment of the Company's goodwill. In the second quarter of 2022, the Company determined that an interim test of goodwill was required for the Clean Earth reporting unit. The triggering event was principally due to lower earnings expectations due to the impacts of inflation. The Company used a DCF model to estimate the current fair value of the Clean Earth reporting unit (Level 3), which is defined as the Clean Earth segment. A number of significant assumptions and estimates are involved in the preparation of DCF models including future revenues, operating margin growth, the WACC, tax rates, capital spending, pension funding, the impact of business initiatives and working capital projections. The DCF model is based on approved forecasts for the early years and historical relationships and projections for later years. The WACC rate is derived from internal and external factors including, but not limited to, the average market price of the Company's stock, shares outstanding, book value of the Company's debt, the long-term risk-free interest rate, and both market and size-specific risk premiums. As a result of this testing, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $104.6 million for the Clean Earth reporting unit in the second quarter of 2022, which is included in Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year-ended December 31, 2022. This charge had no impact on the Company's cash flows or compliance with debt covenants.    

Intangible Assets
Net intangible assets totaled $324.9 million and $352.2 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The following table reflects these intangible assets by major category:
December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
(In thousands)Gross Carrying
Amount		Accumulated
Amortization		Gross Carrying
Amount		Accumulated
Amortization
Customer related$97,963 $64,040 $95,573 $54,482 
Permits309,679 66,733 309,177 50,703 
Technology related21,803 17,001 20,800 15,491 
Trade names30,409 11,816 30,212 9,198 
Air rights26,139 3,281 26,139 2,411 
Patents206 178 189 155 
Non-compete agreement2,500 2,344 2,500 1,718 
Other3,063 1,508 3,147 1,419 
Total$491,762 $166,901 $487,737 $135,577 
Based on the current economic conditions, to include inflation and higher energy prices, the Company lowered its long-range projections for the Altek Group of the Harsco Environmental Segment. Due to the lower revenue projections, the Company tested the recoverability of Altek's asset group in the fourth quarter of 2022. The asset group primarily consists of technology and customer-related intangible assets. Undiscounted estimated cash flows of the Altek asset group were lower than the carrying value, therefore, the Company used a DCF model to estimate the current fair value of the Altek asset group (Level 3). A number of significant assumptions and estimates are involved in the preparation of DCF models including future revenues and operating margin growth, the WACC, capital spending, and the impact of business initiatives and working capital projections. The DCF model is based on approved forecasts for the early years and historical relationships and projections for later years. The WACC rate is based on the Company's WACC, adjusted for market participant assumptions. As a result of this testing, an impairment charge of $15.0 million was recorded, which is included in Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year-ended December 31, 2022. The carrying value of Altek's intangible assets after the impairment charge was $14.2 million at December 31, 2023 and $15.3 million at December 31, 2022.
Amortization expense for intangible assets was $28.6 million, $31.1 million and $32.2 million for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Intangible assets are principally amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life, except for the air rights, which are amortized based on usage. The following table shows the estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years based on current intangible assets.
(In thousands)20242025202620272028
Estimated amortization expense (a)
$28,000 $27,800 $25,900 $24,600 $23,000 
(a)    These estimated amortization expense amounts do not reflect the potential effect of future foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.