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Other Matters
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
OTHER MATTERS
OTHER MATTERS

We are a party to various claims, complaints and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our continuing business operations including, but not limited to, those relating to commercial and employment claims, environmental matters, risk management matters (e.g., vehicle liability, workers’ compensation, etc.) and administrative assessments primarily associated with operating taxes. We have established loss provisions for matters in which losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. For matters from continuing operations, we believe that the resolution of these claims, complaints and legal proceedings will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Our estimates regarding potential losses and materiality are based on our judgment and assessment of the claims utilizing currently available information. Although we will continue to reassess our reserves and estimates based on future developments, our objective assessment of the legal merits of such claims may not always be predictive of the outcome and actual results may vary from our current estimates.
Although we discontinued our South American operations in 2009, we continue to be party to various federal, state and local legal proceedings involving labor matters, tort claims and tax assessments. We have established loss provisions for any matters where we believe a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. We believe that such losses will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In Brazil, various matters related to income taxes and social contribution taxes, as well as tax credits used to offset those taxes, were assessed by the Revenue Department for the 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005 and 2006 tax years. When available and appropriate, we have entered into various amnesty programs offered by the Brazilian tax authorities to settle some of these assessments at a discount and continue to evaluate these when offered.  Payments to resolve open matters through these amnesty programs were not material and were reflected as costs in discontinued operations.  Open matters, combined, total approximately $4 million in assessments, penalties and interest and are pending at various levels of the administrative tax courts.  We believe it is more likely than not that our position will ultimately be sustained either in these administrative courts or in actions before the judicial courts, if required. We do not believe these matters will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.