Long-lived Asset Impairment	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Long-lived Asset Impairment	Note 3—Long-lived asset impairment — Waste Control Specialists LLC: As previously reported, in November 2015 we entered into an agreement with Rockwell Holdco, Inc. ("Rockwell"), for the sale of WCS to Rockwell. The agreement, as amended, was for $270 million in cash plus the assumption of all of WCS’ third-party indebtedness incurred prior to the date of the agreement. Additionally, Rockwell and its affiliates would have assumed all financial assurance obligations related to the WCS business. Rockwell is the parent company of EnergySolutions, Inc. Completion of the sale was subject to certain customary closing conditions, including the receipt of U.S. anti-trust approval. The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) did not give the parties anti-trust clearance, and on November 16, 2016, the DOJ filed an anti-trust action in the U.S. federal district court for the District of Delaware styled United States of America vs. Energy Solutions, Inc., et al (Case No. 1:16-cv-01056-UNA), seeking an injunction to enjoin completion of the sale of WCS. Trial was held in late April and early May 2017. On June 21, 2017, the court issued an order enjoining the sale of WCS. While we disagreed with the court’s decision, the parties determined that they would not appeal the decision to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and on June 22, 2017, we provided written notice to Rockwell terminating the purchase agreement for the sale of WCS to Rockwell effective June 22, 2017. As part of the terms of the fourth amendment to the purchase agreement, in the event of termination of the purchase agreement for any reason (including termination of the purchase agreement if completion of the sale of WCS is enjoined on anti-trust grounds), we would be entitled to receive a termination fee from Rockwell. Such termination fee (net of applicable expenses) aggregated $4 million, was received in June 2017 and is recognized as other non-operating income in the second quarter of 2017; see Note 12. The Court’s decision and resulting termination of the purchase agreement with Rockwell constitute triggering events under ASC 360-10-35-21, requiring WCS’ long-lived assets to be tested for recoverability. Given the challenges facing WCS’ disposal operations we have concluded that the long-lived assets associated with WCS’ operations are impaired at June 30, 2017. Accordingly, we have recognized an aggregate $170.6 million impairment charge as of June 30, 2017, to reduce the carrying value of WCS’ long-lived assets recognized for financial reporting purposes to their estimated fair value. Such $170.6 million impairment charge relates to the following long-lived assets of WCS: net property and equipment - $127.5 million; waste disposal site operating permits, net - $42.0 million; and other assets - $1.1 million. With respect to the operating permits, we concluded such long-lived assets were fully impaired, as these permits are specific to WCS’ land and facility in Andrews County and have no salvage value as there is no alternative use for permits. Similarly, with respect to the net property and equipment, we concluded such long-lived assets were fully impaired except to the extent certain items of property and equipment had an alternate use outside of WCS’ operations; for those items of property and equipment, they were written down to estimated salvage value, primarily using dealer or auction-site quotes (Level 3 inputs) as the basis for salvage value. The salvage value for such items of property and equipment aggregated $5.7 million at June 30, 2017.

Note 3—Long-lived asset impairment — Waste Control Specialists LLC:

As previously reported, in November 2015 we entered into an agreement with Rockwell Holdco, Inc. ("Rockwell"), for the sale of WCS to Rockwell. The agreement, as amended, was for $270 million in cash plus the assumption of all of WCS’ third-party indebtedness incurred prior to the date of the agreement. Additionally, Rockwell and its affiliates would have assumed all financial assurance obligations related to the WCS business. Rockwell is the parent company of EnergySolutions, Inc. Completion of the sale was subject to certain customary closing conditions, including the receipt of U.S. anti-trust approval. The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) did not give the parties anti-trust clearance, and on November 16, 2016, the DOJ filed an anti-trust action in the U.S. federal district court for the District of Delaware styled United States of America vs. Energy Solutions, Inc., et al (Case No. 1:16-cv-01056-UNA), seeking an injunction to enjoin completion of the sale of WCS. Trial was held in late April and early May 2017. On June 21, 2017, the court issued an order enjoining the sale of WCS. While we disagreed with the court’s decision, the parties determined that they would not appeal the decision to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and on June 22, 2017, we provided written notice to Rockwell terminating the purchase agreement for the sale of WCS to Rockwell effective June 22, 2017.

As part of the terms of the fourth amendment to the purchase agreement, in the event of termination of the purchase agreement for any reason (including termination of the purchase agreement if completion of the sale of WCS is enjoined on anti-trust grounds), we would be entitled to receive a termination fee from Rockwell. Such termination fee (net of applicable expenses) aggregated $4 million, was received in June 2017 and is recognized as other non-operating income in the second quarter of 2017; see Note 12.

The Court’s decision and resulting termination of the purchase agreement with Rockwell constitute triggering events under ASC 360-10-35-21, requiring WCS’ long-lived assets to be tested for recoverability. Given the challenges facing WCS’ disposal operations we have concluded that the long-lived assets associated with WCS’ operations are impaired at June 30, 2017. Accordingly, we have recognized an aggregate $170.6 million impairment charge as of June 30, 2017, to reduce the carrying value of WCS’ long-lived assets recognized for financial reporting purposes to their estimated fair value. Such $170.6 million impairment charge relates to the following long-lived assets of WCS: net property and equipment - $127.5 million; waste disposal site operating permits, net - $42.0 million; and other assets - $1.1 million. With respect to the operating permits, we concluded such long-lived assets were fully impaired, as these permits are specific to WCS’ land and facility in Andrews County and have no salvage value as there is no alternative use for permits. Similarly, with respect to the net property and equipment, we concluded such long-lived assets were fully impaired except to the extent certain items of property and equipment had an alternate use outside of WCS’ operations; for those items of property and equipment, they were written down to estimated salvage value, primarily using dealer or auction-site quotes (Level 3 inputs) as the basis for salvage value. The salvage value for such items of property and equipment aggregated $5.7 million at June 30, 2017.