XML 136 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Contingencies [Abstract]  
Contingencies
CONTINGENCIES
Environmental.  FCX subsidiaries are subject to various national, state and local environmental laws and regulations that govern emissions of air pollutants; discharges of water pollutants; and generation, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances, hazardous wastes and other toxic materials, including remediation, restoration and reclamation of environmental contamination. FCX subsidiaries that operate in the U.S. also are subject to potential liabilities arising under CERCLA and similar state laws that impose responsibility on current and previous owners and operators of a facility for the remediation of hazardous substances released from the facility into the environment, including damages to natural resources, irrespective of when the damage to the environment occurred or who caused it. This remediation liability also extends to persons who arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances or transported the hazardous substances to a disposal site selected by the transporter. This liability often is shared on a joint and several basis, meaning that each responsible party is fully responsible for the remediation, although in many cases some or all of the other historical owners or operators no longer exist, do not have the financial ability to respond or cannot be found. As a result, because of FCX’s acquisition of FMC in 2007, many of the subsidiary companies FCX now owns are responsible for a wide variety of environmental remediation projects throughout the U.S., and FCX expects to spend substantial sums annually for many years to address those remediation issues. Certain FCX subsidiaries have been advised by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture and several state agencies that, under CERCLA or similar state laws and regulations, they may be liable for costs of responding to environmental conditions at a number of sites that have been or are being investigated to determine whether releases of hazardous substances have occurred and, if so, to develop and implement remedial actions to address environmental concerns. FCX is also subject to claims where the release of hazardous substances is alleged to have damaged natural resources (NRD). As of December 31, 2013, FCX had more than 100 active remediation projects, including NRD claims, in 28 U.S. states.

A summary of changes in environmental obligations for the years ended December 31 follows:
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Balance at beginning of year
$
1,222

 
$
1,453

 
$
1,422

Accretion expensea
79

 
80

 
88

Additions
73

 
70

 
132

Reductionsb
(77
)
 
(182
)
 
(68
)
Spending
(130
)
 
(199
)
 
(121
)
Balance at end of year
1,167

 
1,222

 
1,453

Less current portion
(121
)
 
(186
)
 
(205
)
Long-term portion
$
1,046

 
$
1,036

 
$
1,248

a.
Represented accretion of the fair value of environmental obligations assumed in the 2007 acquisition of FMC, which were determined on a discounted cash flow basis.
b.
Reductions primarily reflected revisions for changes in the anticipated scope and timing of environmental remediation projects and the noncash adjustments of environmental matters.

Estimated environmental cash payments (on an undiscounted and unescalated basis) total $121 million in 2014, $151 million in 2015, $116 million in 2016, $122 million in 2017, $110 million in 2018 and $2.0 billion thereafter. The amount and timing of these estimated payments will change as a result of changes in regulatory requirements, changes in scope and timing of remediation activities, the settlement of environmental matters and as actual spending occurs.

In 2007, FCX recorded FMC’s environmental obligations at fair value on the acquisition date in accordance with business combination accounting guidance. Significant adjustments to these obligations may occur in the future. New environmental obligations will be recorded as described in Note 1 under “Environmental Expenditures.” At December 31, 2013, FCX’s environmental obligations totaled $1.2 billion, including $1.1 billion recorded on a discounted basis for those obligations assumed in the FMC acquisition at fair value. On an undiscounted and unescalated basis, these obligations totaled $2.6 billion. FCX estimates it is reasonably possible that these obligations could range between $2.1 billion and $2.7 billion on an undiscounted and unescalated basis.

FCX believes that there may be potential claims for recovery from third parties, including the U.S. government and other PRPs. These potential recoveries are not recognized unless realization is considered probable.

At December 31, 2013, the most significant environmental obligations were associated with the Pinal Creek site in Arizona; the Newtown Creek site in New York City; historical smelter sites principally located in Arizona, Kansas, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania; and uranium mining sites in the western U.S. The recorded environmental obligations for these sites totaled $1.0 billion at December 31, 2013. A discussion of these sites follows.

Pinal Creek. The Pinal Creek site was listed under the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund program in 1989 for contamination in the shallow alluvial aquifers within the Pinal Creek drainage near Miami, Arizona. Since that time, environmental remediation was performed by members of the Pinal Creek Group (PCG), consisting of FMC Miami, Inc. (Miami), a wholly owned subsidiary of FMC, and two other companies. Pursuant to a 2010 settlement agreement, Miami agreed to take full responsibility for future groundwater remediation at the Pinal Creek site, with limited exceptions. Remediation work continues at this time and is expected to continue for many years in the future.

Newtown Creek. From the 1930s until 1964, Phelps Dodge Refining Corporation (PDRC), a subsidiary of FMC, operated a smelter, and from the 1930s until 1984, it operated a refinery on the banks of Newtown Creek (the creek), which is a 3.5-mile-long waterway that forms part of the boundary between Brooklyn and Queens in New York City. Heavy industrialization along the banks of the creek and discharges from the City of New York’s sewer system over more than a century resulted in significant environmental contamination of the waterway. In 2010, EPA notified PDRC and five others that EPA considers them to be PRPs under CERCLA. The notified parties began working with EPA to identify other PRPs, and EPA proposed that the notified parties perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at their expense and reimburse EPA for its oversight costs. EPA is not expected to propose a remedy until after a RI/FS is completed. Additionally, in 2010, EPA designated the creek as a Superfund site, and in 2011, PDRC and five other parties entered an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to perform a RI/FS to assess the nature and extent of environmental contamination in the creek and identify potential remedial options. The parties' RI/FS work under the AOC and their identification of other PRPs are ongoing and expected to take several years to complete. The actual costs of fulfilling this remedial obligation and the allocation of costs among PRPs are uncertain and subject to change based on the results of the RI/FS, the remediation remedy ultimately selected by EPA and related allocation determinations. Depending on the overall cost and the portion allocated to PDRC, that share could be material to FCX.

Historical Smelter Sites. FMC and its predecessors at various times owned or operated copper and zinc smelters in states including Arizona, Kansas, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. For some of these smelter sites, certain FCX subsidiaries have been advised by EPA or state agencies that they may be liable for costs of investigating and, if appropriate, remediating environmental conditions associated with the smelters. At other sites, certain FCX subsidiaries have entered into state voluntary remediation programs to investigate and, if appropriate, remediate site conditions associated with the smelters. The historical smelter sites are in various stages of assessment and remediation. FCX has been in the past and may again in the future be subject to litigation brought by private parties, regulators and local governmental authorities related to these historical smelter sites.

Uranium Mining Sites. During a period between 1940 and the early 1970s, certain FMC predecessor entities and/or subsidiaries were involved in uranium exploration and mining in the western U.S., primarily on federal and tribal lands in the Four Corners region of the southwest. Similar exploration and mining activities by other companies have also caused environmental impacts warranting remediation, and EPA and local authorities are currently evaluating the need for significant cleanup activities in the region. To date, FMC has undertaken remediation at a limited number of sites associated with these predecessor entities. Initiatives to gather additional information about sites in the region are ongoing.

Other. In December 2013, a lawsuit was filed against FCX's subsidiary that operates the Candelaria mine in Chile by the neighboring municipality of Tierra Amarilla (Municipality of Tierra Amarilla v. Compania Contractual Minera Candelaria, Second Environmental Court, Santiago, Chile, filed December 12, 2013). The complaint, which as of February 21, 2014, had not been served, was filed in a recently established environmental court and alleges extensive environmental harm, including alleged contamination of soils, air, surface water and groundwater, and depletion of water supplies, in addition to allegations regarding climate damage, traffic, dust, noise and nuisance associated with blastings. The complaint seeks broad relief that if granted could require FCX to cease some or all of its operations at Candelaria and nearby facilities and restore the environment to its original condition. Because of the early stage of the proceedings, FCX is currently unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that could result from this matter.

Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs). FCX’s ARO estimates are reflected on a third-party cost basis and comply with FCX’s legal obligation to retire tangible, long-lived assets. A summary of changes in FCX’s AROs for the years ended December 31 follows:
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Balance at beginning of year
$
1,146

 
$
921

 
$
856

Liabilities assumed in the acquisitions of PXP and MMRa
1,028

 

 

Liabilities incurred
45

 
6

 
9

Settlements and revisions to cash flow estimates, net
123

 
211

 
48

Accretion expense
95

 
55

 
58

Spending
(107
)
 
(47
)
 
(49
)
Other
(2
)
 

 
(1
)
Balance at end of year
2,328

 
1,146

 
921

Less: current portion
(115
)
 
(55
)
 
(31
)
Long-term portion
$
2,213

 
$
1,091

 
$
890


a.
The fair value of AROs assumed in the acquisitions of PXP and MMR ($741 million and $287 million, respectively) were estimated based on projected cash flows, an estimated long-term annual inflation rate of 2.5 percent, and discount rates based on FCX's estimated credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rates ranging from 1.3 percent to 6.3 percent.

ARO costs may increase or decrease significantly in the future as a result of changes in regulations, changes in engineering designs and technology, permit modifications or updates, changes in mine plans, changes in drilling plans, settlements, inflation or other factors and as actual reclamation spending occurs. ARO activities and expenditures for mining operations generally are made over an extended period of time commencing near the end of the mine life; however, certain reclamation activities may be accelerated if legally required or if determined to be economically beneficial. The methods used or required to plug and abandon non-producing oil and gas wellbores, remove platforms, tanks, production equipment and flow lines, and restore wellsites could change over time.

New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and other states require financial assurance to be provided for the estimated costs of mine reclamation and closure, including groundwater quality protection programs. FCX has satisfied financial assurance requirements by using a variety of mechanisms, primarily involving parent company performance guarantees and financial capability demonstrations, but also including trust funds, surety bonds, letters of credit and collateral. The applicable regulations specify financial strength tests that are designed to confirm a company’s or guarantor’s financial capability to fund estimated reclamation and closure costs. The amount of financial assurance FCX is required to provide will vary with changes in laws, regulations, reclamation and closure requirements, and cost estimates. At December 31, 2013, FCX’s financial assurance obligations associated with these closure and reclamation/restoration costs totaled $2.4 billion, of which $1.7 billion was in the form of guarantees issued by FCX and financial capability demonstrations of FCX. At December 31, 2013, FCX had trust assets totaling $158 million (included in other assets), which are legally restricted to be used to satisfy its financial assurance obligations for its mining properties in New Mexico.

New Mexico Environmental and Reclamation Programs. FCX’s New Mexico operations are regulated under the New Mexico Water Quality Act and regulations adopted under that act by the Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC). The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has required each of these operations to submit closure plans for NMED’s approval. The closure plans must include measures to assure meeting groundwater quality standards following the closure of discharging facilities and to abate any groundwater or surface water contamination. In 2013, the WQCC adopted Supplemental Permitting Requirements for Copper Mining Facilities, which became effective on October 31, 2013. These rules identify closure requirements for copper mine facilities. The rules were adopted after an extensive stakeholder process in which FCX participated and were jointly supported by FCX and NMED. Although the rules are being challenged in the New Mexico courts by certain environmental organizations and the New Mexico Attorney General, their adoption, along with other commitments in a settlement agreement between NMED and FCX, have allowed NMED and FCXs Tyrone operation to dismiss its appeal of a WQCC Final Order, dated February 4, 2009, regarding closure conditions applicable to the Tyrone mine. Finalized closure plan requirements, including those resulting from the newly adopted rules, could result in increases in closure costs for FCX's New Mexico operations.

FCX’s New Mexico operations also are subject to regulation under the 1993 New Mexico Mining Act (the Mining Act) and the related rules that are administered by the Mining and Minerals Division (MMD) of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Under the Mining Act, mines are required to obtain approval of plans describing the reclamation to be performed following cessation of mining operations. At December 31, 2013, FCX had accrued reclamation and closure costs of $465 million for its New Mexico operations. As stated above, additional accruals may be required based on the state’s review of FCX’s updated closure plans and any resulting permit conditions, and the amount of those accruals could be material.

Arizona Environmental and Reclamation Programs. FCX’s Arizona properties are subject to regulatory oversight in several areas. ADEQ has adopted regulations for its aquifer protection permit (APP) program that require permits for, among other things, certain facilities, activities and structures used for mining, concentrating and smelting and require compliance with aquifer water quality standards at an applicable point of compliance well or location. The APP program also may require mitigation and discharge reduction or elimination of some discharges.

An application for an APP requires a description of a closure strategy that will meet applicable groundwater protection requirements following cessation of operations and an estimate of the cost to implement the closure strategy. An APP may specify closure requirements, which may include post-closure monitoring and maintenance. A more detailed closure plan must be submitted within 90 days after a permitted entity notifies ADEQ of its intent to cease operations. A permit applicant must demonstrate its financial ability to meet the closure costs estimated in the APP.

Portions of Arizona mining facilities that operated after January 1, 1986, also are subject to the Arizona Mined Land Reclamation Act (AMLRA). AMLRA requires reclamation to achieve stability and safety consistent with post-mining land use objectives specified in a reclamation plan. Reclamation plans must be approved by the State Mine Inspector and must include an estimate of the cost to perform the reclamation measures specified in the plan.
FCX will continue to evaluate options for future reclamation and closure activities at its operating and non-operating sites, which are likely to result in adjustments to FCX’s ARO liabilities. At December 31, 2013, FCX had accrued reclamation and closure costs of $237 million for its Arizona operations.

Colorado Reclamation Programs. FCX's Colorado operations are regulated by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act (Reclamation Act) and regulations promulgated thereunder. Under the Reclamation Act, mines are required to obtain approval of reclamation plans describing the reclamation of lands affected by mining operations to be performed during mining or upon cessation of mining operations.  As of December 31, 2013, FCX had accrued reclamation and closure costs of $50 million for its Colorado operations.

Chilean Reclamation and Closure Programs. In July 2011, the Chilean senate passed legislation regulating mine closure, which establishes new requirements for closure plans and became effective in November 2012. FCX's Chilean operations are required to update closure plans and provide financial assurance for these obligations. FCX cannot predict at this time the cost of these closure plans or the levels or forms of financial assurance that may be required. Revised closure plans for the Chilean mine sites are due in November 2014. At December 31, 2013, FCX had accrued reclamation and closure costs of $69 million for its Chilean operations.

Peruvian Reclamation and Closure Programs. Cerro Verde is subject to regulation under the Mine Closure Law administered by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines. Under the closure regulations, mines must submit a closure plan that includes the reclamation methods, closure cost estimates, methods of control and verification, closure and post-closure plans and financial assurance. The updated closure plan for the Cerro Verde mine expansion was submitted to the Peruvian regulatory authorities in November 2013. At December 31, 2013, Cerro Verde had accrued reclamation and closure costs of $79 million.

Indonesian Reclamation and Closure Programs. The ultimate amount of reclamation and closure costs to be incurred at PT-FI’s operations will be determined based on applicable laws and regulations and PT-FI’s assessment of appropriate remedial activities in the circumstances, after consultation with governmental authorities, affected local residents and other affected parties and cannot currently be projected with precision. Some reclamation costs will be incurred during mining activities, while most closure costs and the remaining reclamation costs will be incurred at the end of mining activities, which are currently estimated to continue for nearly 30 years. At December 31, 2013, PT-FI had accrued reclamation and closure costs of $249 million.

In 1996, PT-FI began contributing to a cash fund ($18 million balance at December 31, 2013, which is included in other assets) designed to accumulate at least $100 million (including interest) by the end of its Indonesia mining activities. PT-FI plans to use this fund, including accrued interest, to pay mine closure and reclamation costs. Any costs in excess of the $100 million fund would be funded by operational cash flow or other sources.

In December 2009, PT-FI submitted its revised mine closure plan to the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources for review and has addressed comments received during the course of this review process. In December 2010, the President of Indonesia issued a regulation regarding mine reclamation and closure, which requires a company to provide a mine closure guarantee in the form of a time deposit placed in a state-owned bank in Indonesia. In accordance with its Contract of Work, PT-FI is working with the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources to review these requirements, including discussion of other options for the mine closure guarantee.

Oil and Gas Properties. Substantially all of FM O&G's oil and gas leases require that, upon termination of economic production, the working interest owners plug and abandon non-producing wellbores, remove equipment and facilities from leased acreage and restore land in accordance with applicable local, state and federal laws. FM O&G operating areas include the GOM, offshore and onshore California, the Gulf Coast and the Rocky Mountain area. FM O&G AROs cover more than 6,600 wells and more than 200 platforms and other structures. At December 31, 2013, FM O&G had accrued $1.1 billion associated with its AROs.

Litigation. FCX is involved in numerous legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business or are associated with environmental issues arising from legacy operations conducted over the years by FMC and its affiliates as discussed in this note under “Environmental.” FCX is also involved periodically in other reviews, investigations and proceedings by government agencies, some of which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief. Management does not believe, based on currently available information, that the outcome of any legal proceeding reported below will have a material adverse effect on FCX's financial condition, although individual outcomes could be material to FCX's operating results for a particular period, depending on the nature and magnitude of the outcome and the operating results for the period. Refer to Note 1 for further discussion of FCX's accounting policy for litigation contingencies.

Asbestos Claims. Since approximately 1990, FMC and various subsidiaries have been named as defendants in a large number of lawsuits that claim personal injury either from exposure to asbestos allegedly contained in electrical wire products produced or marketed many years ago or from asbestos contained in buildings and facilities located at properties owned or operated by FMC affiliates, or from alleged asbestos in talc products. Many of these suits involve a large number of codefendants. Based on litigation results to date and facts currently known, FCX believes there is a reasonable possibility that losses may have been incurred related to these matters; however, FCX also believes that the amounts of any such losses, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to its consolidated financial statements. There can be no assurance, however, that future developments will not alter this conclusion.

Shareholder Litigation. Fourteen derivative actions challenging the PXP merger and/or the MMR merger were filed on behalf of FCX by purported FCX stockholders. Ten were filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and three were filed in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona, County of Maricopa. On January 25, 2013, the Delaware Court of Chancery consolidated the Delaware actions into a single action, In Re Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Derivative Litigation, No. 8145-VCN. On March 5, 2013, an additional complaint was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Stephen Blau MD Money Purchase Pension Plan Trust v. Moffett et al., No. 8389-VCN. A motion to consolidate that action with In Re Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Derivative Litigation is pending. On January 17, 2013, the Arizona Superior Court consolidated two of the Arizona actions into In Re Freeport-McMoRan Derivative Litigation, No. CV2012-018351. A third Arizona complaint, Harris v. Adkerson et al., No. CV2013-004163, was consolidated with the first two Arizona actions on February 8, 2013. On March 18, 2013, the Delaware Court of Chancery granted the stipulation made by the parties to allow the plaintiffs in In Re Freeport-McMoRan Derivative Litigation, No. CV2012-01835, to intervene in the consolidated Delaware action. On October 17, 2013, the Arizona Superior Court extended the permanent stay of the Arizona actions until March 31, 2014. The actions name some or all of the following as defendants: the directors and certain officers of FCX, two FCX subsidiaries, PXP and certain of its directors, and MMR and certain of its directors and officers. The actions allege, among other things, that the FCX directors breached their fiduciary duties to FCX stockholders because they, among other things, pursued their own interests at the expense of stockholders in approving the PXP and MMR mergers. The complaints also allege that some or all of the following parties aided and abetted the wrongful acts allegedly committed by the directors and certain officers of FCX: two FCX subsidiaries, PXP and certain of its directors, and MMR and certain of its directors and officers. The actions seek as relief, among other things, an injunction barring or rescinding both the PXP merger and the MMR merger and requiring submission of the proposed PXP merger and MMR merger to a vote of FCX stockholders, damages, and attorneys' fees and costs. On October 10, 2013, FCX and the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended consolidated complaint that was filed by plaintiffs on July 19, 2013. Oral argument on the motion to dismiss is scheduled in the Delaware Chancery Court on March 12, 2014. FCX intends to vigorously defend itself in these matters.

Ten putative class actions challenging the MMR merger were filed on behalf of MMR stockholders. Nine were filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. On January 25, 2013, the Court of Chancery consolidated the actions into a single action, In Re McMoRan Exploration Co. Stockholder Litigation, No. 8132-VCN. On June 28, 2013, the parties entered into a settlement agreement, and on October 11, 2013, the court held a hearing to consider the evidence in support of the proposed settlement. On October 16, 2013, the court entered an order approving the settlement, the terms of which were not material to FCX. One action was also filed in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans of the State of Louisiana: Langley v. Moffett et al., No. 2012-11904, filed December 19, 2012. On April 19, 2013, the Louisiana Civil District Court granted defendants' motion to stay the action pending the resolution of the consolidated action brought by MMR stockholders in the Delaware Court of Chancery. As a result of the settlement of the consolidated Delaware action, the Louisiana action will be dismissed. Each of the actions names some or all of the following as defendants, in addition to MMR and its directors: FCX, two FCX subsidiaries, the Gulf Coast Ultra Deep Royalty Trust and PXP. The actions alleged that MMR's directors breached their fiduciary duties because they, among other things, pursued their own interests at the expense of stockholders and failed to maximize stockholder value with respect to the merger, and that PXP, FCX, or both, aided and abetted the breach of fiduciary duty by MMR's directors. The Delaware action also asserted claims derivatively on behalf of MMR. The actions sought, among other things, injunctive relief barring or rescinding the MMR merger, damages, and attorneys' fees and costs.

Kay County Litigation. On May 23, 2012, the Board of Commissioners of Kay County, Oklahoma, filed suit in Oklahoma District Court against FCX and several affiliates, including Blackwell Zinc Company, Inc. (BZC), an indirect subsidiary of FCX that owned and operated a zinc smelter in Blackwell, Oklahoma, from 1916 to 1974, entitled Board of Commissioners of the County of Kay, Oklahoma v. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., et al., United States District Court, Western District of Oklahoma, Case No. 5:12-cv-00601-C. The suit alleged that BZC permitted large quantities of smelter waste to be used as road building and fill material throughout Kay County over a period of decades and sought unspecified financial assistance for removing or covering much of the material and unspecified damages for the alleged public nuisance created by the presence of the material. On November 25, 2013, the case was settled for an amount that is not material to FCX.

Tax and Other Matters. Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute. SUNAT, the Peruvian national tax authority, has assessed mining royalties on ore processed by the Cerro Verde concentrator, which commenced operations in late 2006. These assessments cover the period October 2006 to December 2007 and the years 2008 and 2009. In July 2013, the Peruvian Tax Tribunal issued two decisions affirming SUNAT's assessments for the period October 2006 through December 2008. Decisions by the Tax Tribunal end the administrative stage of the appeal procedures for the assessments. In September 2013, Cerro Verde filed judiciary appeals related to the assessments because it continues to believe that its 1998 stability agreement exempts all minerals extracted from its mining concession from royalties, irrespective of the method used for processing those minerals. Although FCX believes its interpretation of the stability agreement is correct, if Cerro Verde is ultimately found responsible for these assessments, it may also be liable for penalties and interest, which accrues at rates that range from approximately 7 percent to 18 percent based on the year accrued and the currency in which the amounts would be payable.

On October 1, 2013, SUNAT served Cerro Verde with a demand for payment totaling 492 million Peruvian nuevo soles ($176 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2013, including interest and penalties of $104 million, or a total of $94 million net of noncontrolling interests) based on the Peruvian Tax Tribunal’s July 2013 decisions for the period October 2006 through December 2008. As permitted by law, Cerro Verde requested and was granted an installment payment program that defers payment for six months and thereafter satisfies the amount via sixty-six equal monthly payments. On July 19, 2013, a hearing on SUNAT's assessment for 2009 was held, but no decision has been issued by the Tax Tribunal for that year. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate amount of the assessments, including interest and penalties, for the year 2009 was 206 million Peruvian nuevo soles ($74 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2013, or a total of $39 million net of noncontrolling interests). SUNAT may make additional assessments for mining royalties and associated penalties and interest for the years 2010 through 2013, which Cerro Verde will contest; FCX believes any such assessments for the years 2010 through 2013, if made, would in the aggregate be similar to the aggregate assessments received for the periods October 2006 through December 2009. No amounts were accrued for these assessments or the installment payment program as of December 31, 2013, because Cerro Verde believes its 1998 stability agreement exempts it from these royalties and believes any payments will be recoverable.

Indonesia Tax Matters. PT-FI has received assessments from the Indonesian tax authorities for additional taxes and interest related to various audit exceptions for income taxes and other taxes as follows:
Date of Assessment
 
Tax Year
 
Tax Assessment
 
Interest Assessment
 
Total
October 2010
 
2005
 
$
103

 
$
49

 
$
152

November 2011
 
2006
 
22

 
10

 
32

March 2012
 
2007
 
91

 
44

 
135

First-quarter 2013
 
2008
 
62

 
52

 
114

Second-quarter 2013
 
2011
 
56

 
13

 
69

Total
 
 
 
$
334

 
$
168

 
$
502



PT-FI has filed objections to the assessments because it believes it has properly determined and paid its taxes. During 2013, the Indonesian tax authorities agreed to refund $291 million ($320 million was included in income taxes receivable in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2012) associated with income tax overpayments made by PT-FI for 2011. PT-FI received a cash refund of $165 million in July 2013, and the Indonesian tax authorities withheld $126 million of the 2011 overpayment for unrelated assessments from 2005 and 2007, which PT-FI is disputing. PT-FI filed objections for $22 million of the remaining 2011 overpayments that it believes it is due. As of December 31, 2013, PT-FI had $255 million included in other assets for amounts paid on disputed tax assessments, which it believes are collectible, including the $126 million discussed above for the 2011 refunds.

In December 2009, PT-FI was notified by the Large Taxpayer's Office of the Government of Indonesia of its view that PT-FI is obligated to pay value added taxes on certain goods imported after the year 2000. The amount of such taxes and related penalties under this view would be significant. PT-FI believes that, pursuant to the terms of its Contract of Work, it is only required to pay value added taxes on these types of goods imported after December 30, 2009. PT-FI has not received a formal assessment and is working with the applicable government authorities to resolve this matter.

Columbian Chemicals Company (Columbian) Claims. In July 2012, FCX and Columbian (formerly a subsidiary of FMC) reached an agreement regarding the extent of FCXs indemnity obligations under the 2005 agreement pursuant to which Columbian was sold. Under the agreement, FCX's remaining possible exposure, net of amounts reserved or paid, totaled $107 million at December 31, 2013.

Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees and Surety Bonds.  Letters of credit and bank guarantees totaled $326 million at December 31, 2013, primarily for the Cerro Verde royalty dispute (bank guarantee secured by a time deposit - refer to discussion above), environmental and asset retirement obligations, workers’ compensation insurance programs, tax and customs obligations, and other commercial obligations. In addition, FCX had surety bonds totaling $331 million at December 31, 2013, associated with environmental and asset retirement obligations ($268 million), self-insurance bonds primarily for workers’ compensation ($21 million) and other bonds ($42 million).

Insurance.  FCX purchases a variety of insurance products to mitigate potential losses. The various insurance products typically have specified deductible amounts or self-insured retentions and policy limits. FCX generally is self-insured for U.S. workers’ compensation, but purchases excess insurance up to statutory limits. An actuarial analysis is performed twice a year on the various casualty insurance programs covering FCX's U.S. based mining operations, including workers’ compensation, to estimate expected losses. At December 31, 2013, expected losses under these insurance programs totaled $52 million, which consisted of a current portion of $8 million (included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities) and a long-term portion of $44 million (included in other liabilities).

FCX's oil and gas operations are subject to all of the risks normally incident to the exploration for and the production of oil and gas, including well blowouts, cratering, explosions, oil spills, releases of gas or well fluids, fires, pollution and releases of toxic gas, each of which could result in damage to or destruction of oil and gas wells, production facilities or other property or injury to persons. Although FCX maintains insurance coverage considered to be customary in the oil and gas industry, FCX is not fully insured against all risks either because insurance is not available or because of high premium costs. FCX is self-insured for named windstorms in the GOM. FCX's insurance policies provide limited coverage for losses or liabilities relating to pollution, with broader coverage for sudden and accidental occurrences.

FCX and its insurers entered into an agreement in December 2012 to settle an insurance claim for business interruption and property damage relating to the 2011 incidents affecting PT-FI's concentrate pipelines. The insurers agreed to pay an aggregate of $63 million, including PT-FI's joint venture partner's share. As a result of the settlement, FCX recorded a gain of $59 million in 2012.