CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER MATTERS (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2011

CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER MATTERS

Environmental matters

Our estimates are based primarily on investigations and remediation plans established by independent consultants, regulatory agencies and potentially responsible third parties. Accordingly, our estimates may change based on future developments, including new or changes in existing environmental laws or policies, differences in costs required to complete anticipated actions from estimates provided, future findings of investigation or remediation actions, or alteration to the expected remediation plans. It is our policy to realize a change in estimate once it becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. We do not discount our environmental accruals and do not reduce them by anticipated insurance recoveries. We do take into account third-party indemnification from financially viable parties in determining our accruals where there is no dispute regarding the right to indemnification.