1.0.0.3 false Contingencies and Legal Matters false 1 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 5 Contingencies and Legal Matters 3 kmb_ContingenciesAndLegalMattersTextBlock kmb false na duration string Contingencies and Legal Matters [Text Block] false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div> Note 15.    Contingencies and Legal Matters   Contingency   One of the Corporation’s North American tissue mills has an agreement to provide its local utility company a specified amount of electric power for each of the next seven years. In the event that the mill were to be shut down, the Corporation would be required to continue to operate the power generation facility on behalf of its owner, the local utility company. The net present value of the cost to fulfill this agreement as of December 31, 2009 is estimated to be approximately $65 million.   Litigation   The following is a brief description of certain legal and administrative proceedings to which the Corporation or its subsidiaries is a party or to which the Corporation’s or its subsidiaries’ properties are subject. In management’s opinion, none of the legal and administrative proceedings described below, individually or in the aggregate, is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.   Environmental Matters   The Corporation has been named as a potentially responsible party under the provisions of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or analogous state statutes, at a number of waste disposal sites, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, in management’s opinion, is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.   In May 2007, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation was served a summons in Pennsylvania state court by the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Authority (“Delcora”). Also in May 2007, Delcora initiated an administrative action against the Corporation. Delcora is a public agency that operates a sewerage system and a wastewater treatment facility serving industrial and municipal customers, including Kimberly-Clark’s Chester Mill. Delcora also regulates the discharge of wastewater from the Chester Mill. Delcora has alleged in the summons and the administrative action that the Corporation underreported the quantity of effluent discharged to Delcora from the Chester Mill for several years due to an inaccurate effluent metering device and owes additional amounts. The Corporation’s action for declaratory judgment in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania was dismissed in December 2007 on grounds of abstention. The Corporation appealed this dismissal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Third Circuit directed the parties to mediation, which during the third quarter of 2008 resulted in a procedural agreement to appoint a neutral and qualified hearing officer. As a result of this arrangement with Delcora, the Corporation has dismissed its appeal to the Third Circuit. The Corporation continues to believe that Delcora’s allegations lack merit and is vigorously defending against Delcora’s actions. In management’s opinion, this matter is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. </div> Note 15.    Contingencies and Legal Matters   Contingency   One of the Corporation’s North American tissue mills has an false false Contingencies and Legal Matters [Text Block] No authoritative reference available. false false 1 1 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true