Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

  [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2011

Or

 

  [   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                    .

LOGO

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-16811

 

25-1897152

(State or other

jurisdiction of

incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA

 

15219-2800

(Address of principal executive offices)

  (Zip Code)

(412) 433-1121

(Registrant’s telephone number,

including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes Ö  No    

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [ Ö ] No [    ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  Ö    Accelerated filer        Non-accelerated filer          Smaller reporting company        
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes      No Ö 

Common stock outstanding at October 20, 2011 – 143,997,819 shares


Table of Contents

INDEX

 

      Page  

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  
  Item 1.   

Financial Statements:

  
    

Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

     1   
    

Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

     2   
    

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

     3   
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

     4   
  Item 2.   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     31   
  Item 3.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     51   
  Item 4.   

Controls and Procedures

     52   
    

Supplemental Statistics (Unaudited)

     53   

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

  
  Item 1.   

Legal Proceedings

     54   
  Item 1A.   

Risk Factors

     64   
  Item 6.   

Exhibits

     64   

SIGNATURE

     66   

WEB SITE POSTING

     66   


Table of Contents

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Net sales:

       

Net sales

  $ 4,769      $ 4,221      $ 14,110      $ 12,119   

Net sales to related parties (Note 19)

    312        276        955        955   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    5,081        4,497        15,065        13,074   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses (income):

       

Cost of sales (excludes items shown below)

    4,560        4,321        13,679        12,144   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    181        148        550        448   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (Note 5)

    172        163        512        490   

Income from investees

    (27     (9     (66     (13

Net (gain) loss on disposal of assets (Notes 4 and 20)

    -        14        (10     9   

Other income, net

    (4     (2     (8     (7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    4,882        4,635        14,657        13,071   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

    199        (138     408        3   

Interest expense

    47        50        145        145   

Interest income

    (1     (1     (4     (5

Other financial costs (income) (Note 7)

    98        (127     (5     40   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest and other financial costs (income)

    144        (78     136        180   

Income (loss) before income taxes

    55        (60     272        (177

Income tax provision (benefit) (Note 9)

    33        (9     114        56   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

    22        (51     158        (233

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

    -        -        -        -   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation

  $ 22      $ (51   $ 158      $ (233

Income (loss) per common share (Note 10):

                               

Net income (loss) per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation shareholders:

       

- Basic

  $ 0.15      $ (0.35   $ 1.10      $ (1.62

- Diluted

  $ 0.15      $ (0.35   $ 1.02      $ (1.62

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

(Dollars in millions)    (Unaudited)
September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 270      $ 578   

Receivables, less allowance of $52 and $48

     2,398        1,921   

Receivables from related parties (Note 19)

     129        102   

Receivables sold to third party conduits (Note 13)

     75        -   

Inventories (Note 11)

     2,843        2,352   

Income tax receivable (Note 9)

     11        175   

Deferred income tax benefits (Note 9)

     128        125   

Other current assets

     80        51   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     5,934        5,304   

Property, plant and equipment

     16,455        15,890   

Less accumulated depreciation and depletion

     9,867        9,404   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

     6,588        6,486   

Investments and long-term receivables, less allowance of $19 and $22

     685        670   

Intangibles – net (Note 5)

     264        275   

Goodwill (Note 5)

     1,749        1,760   

Deferred income tax benefits (Note 9)

     400        515   

Other noncurrent assets

     311        340   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 15,931      $ 15,350   

Liabilities

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 2,070      $ 1,738   

Accounts payable to related parties (Note 19)

     91        66   

Bank checks outstanding

     52        30   

Payroll and benefits payable

     1,005        938   

Accrued taxes (Note 9)

     128        116   

Accrued interest

     75        43   

Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt (Note 13)

     217        216   

Borrowings under Receivables Purchase Agreement (Note 13)

     75        -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     3,713        3,147   

Long-term debt, less unamortized discount (Note 13)

     3,641        3,517   

Employee benefits

     3,942        4,365   

Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities

     465        469   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     11,761        11,498   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Contingencies and commitments (Note 20)

    

Stockholders’ Equity (Note 18):

    

Common stock (150,925,911 shares issued) (Note 10)

     151        151   

Treasury stock, at cost (6,928,092 and 7,251,715 shares)

     (550     (580

Additional paid-in capital

     3,643        3,650   

Retained earnings

     3,834        3,698   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (2,909     (3,068
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total United States Steel Corporation stockholders’ equity

     4,169        3,851   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests

     1        1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 15,931      $ 15,350   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Dollars in millions)        2011             2010      

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    

Operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 158      $ (233

Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (Note 5)

     512        490   

Provision for doubtful accounts

     4        8   

Pensions and other postretirement benefits

     (74     (183

Deferred income taxes

     10        20   

Net (gain) loss on disposal of assets (Notes 4 and 20)

     (10     9   

Distributions received, net of equity investees income

     (49     (8

Changes in:

    

Current receivables

     (576     (767

Inventories

     (511     (712

Current accounts payable and accrued expenses

     443        689   

Income taxes receivable/payable (Note 9)

     148        107   

Bank checks outstanding

     21        62   

Currency remeasurement (gain)/loss

     (26     9   

All other, net

     58        31   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     108        (478
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (626     (426

Disposal of assets

     16        103   

Change in restricted cash, net

     21        (6

Investments, net

     (22     (29
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (611     (358
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

    

Revolving credit facilities – borrowings

     3,316        25   

– repayments

     (3,163     (297

Proceeds from (payments on) Receivables Purchase Agreement

     75        -   

Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs

     -        669   

Repayment of long-term debt

     (18     (105

Common stock issued

     4        3   

Distributions from (to) noncontrolling interests

     1        -   

Dividends paid

     (22     (22
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     193        273   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     2        (12
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (308     (575

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     578        1,218   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 270      $ 643   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel) produces and sells steel mill products, including flat-rolled and tubular products, in North America and Central Europe. Operations in North America also include transportation services (railroad and barge operations) and real estate operations.

The year-end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited statements but does not include all disclosures required for complete financial statements by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The other information in these financial statements is unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods covered. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. These financial statements, including notes, have been prepared in accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. Additional information is contained in the United States Steel Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 which should be read in conjunction with these financial statements.

 

2. New Accounting Standards

 

On May 12, 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (ASU 2011-04). The amendments in ASU 2011-04 change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments are intended to create comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. U. S. Steel does not expect material financial statement implications relating to the adoption of this ASU.

On June 16, 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-05). The amendments in ASU 2011-05 require entities to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Additionally, the amendments in ASU 2011-05 require an entity to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement(s) where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. ASU 2011-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. U. S. Steel does not expect material financial statement implications relating to the adoption of this ASU.

On September 15, 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment (ASU 2011-08), which amends the guidance in ASC 350-20. The amendments in ASU 2011-08 provide entities with the option of performing a qualitative assessment before performing the first step of the two-step impairment test. If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting

 

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unit is less than the carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test would be unnecessary. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing the fair value with the carrying amount of the reporting unit. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then the entity is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. ASU 2011-08 also provides entities with the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to the first step of the two-step impairment test. ASU 2011-08 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 but early adoption is permitted. U. S. Steel did not elect early adoption. U. S. Steel does not expect material financial statement implications relating to the adoption of this ASU.

On September 21, 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-09, Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Multiemployer Plans (ASU 2011-09), which amends the guidance in ASC 715-80. The amendments in ASU 2011-09 are intended to provide more information about an employer’s financial obligations to multiemployer pension plans and multiemployer other postretirement benefits plans and, therefore, help financial statement users better understand the financial health of all of the significant plans in which the employer participates. ASU 2011-09 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2011. U. S. Steel will provide increased disclosures related to its participation in the Steelworkers Pension Trust, a multi-employer pension plan, upon adoption of this ASU.

 

3. Segment Information

 

U. S. Steel has three reportable segments: Flat-rolled Products (Flat-rolled), U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular). The results of several other operating segments that do not constitute reportable segments are combined and disclosed in the Other Businesses category.

The chief operating decision maker evaluates performance and determines resource allocations based on a number of factors, the primary measure being income (loss) from operations. Income (loss) from operations for reportable segments and Other Businesses does not include net interest and other financial costs (income), income taxes, postretirement benefit expenses (other than service cost and amortization of prior service cost for active employees) and certain other items that management believes are not indicative of future results. Information on segment assets is not disclosed, as it is not reviewed by the chief operating decision maker.

The accounting principles applied at the operating segment level in determining income from operations are generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level. The transfer value for steel rounds from Flat-rolled to Tubular is based on cost. All other intersegment sales and transfers are accounted for at market-based prices and are eliminated at the corporate consolidation level. Corporate-level selling, general and administrative expenses and costs related to certain former businesses are allocated to the reportable segments and Other Businesses based on measures of activity that management believes are reasonable.

In the second quarter 2011, we changed our segment allocation methodology for postretirement benefit expenses, which consists of pensions, retiree health care and life insurance. Historically, we directly attributed all service cost and amortization of prior service costs for active employees and allocated a portion of interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial gains and losses to our segments. Under the revised allocation methodology, active service cost and amortization of prior service costs, which represent the cost of providing these benefits to our active employees, continue to be attributed to our segments. Interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial gains and losses are included in

 

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postretirement benefit expenses within items not allocated to segments as these cost elements are managed at the corporate level. The change did not affect consolidated income from operations or net income.

The change in our allocation methodology was made to focus on the recurring costs of operating the segments without the volatility of the financing and interest components of net periodic benefit cost. We have revised prior-period segment information to conform to the current period presentation.

The results of segment operations for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are:

 

(In millions)

Third Quarter 2011

  Customer
Sales
    Intersegment
Sales
    Net
Sales
    Income
(loss)
from
investees
    Income
(loss)
from
operations
 

Flat-rolled

  $ 3,136      $ 351      $ 3,487      $ 29      $ 203   

USSE

    1,072        6        1,078        -        (50

Tubular

    846        2        848        (2     134   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reportable segments

    5,054        359        5,413        27        287   

Other Businesses

    27        74        101        -        8   

Reconciling Items and Eliminations

    -        (433     (433     -        (96

Total

  $ 5,081      $ -      $ 5,081      $ 27      $ 199   

Third Quarter 2010

         

Flat-rolled

  $ 2,763      $ 255      $ 3,018      $ 11      $ (161

USSE

    1,034        -        1,034        -        (25

Tubular

    680        1        681        (2     113   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reportable segments

    4,477        256        4,733        9        (73

Other Businesses

    20        69        89        -        8   

Reconciling Items and Eliminations

    -        (325     (325     -        (73

Total

  $ 4,497      $ -      $ 4,497      $ 9      $ (138

 

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The results of segment operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are:

 

(In millions)

First Nine Months 2011

  Customer
Sales
    Intersegment
Sales
    Net
Sales
    Income
(loss)
from
investees
    Income
(loss)
from
operations
 

Flat-rolled

  $ 9,409      $ 1,002      $ 10,411      $ 76      $ 541   

USSE

    3,391        67        3,458        -        (73

Tubular

    2,183        5        2,188        (11     197   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reportable segments

    14,983        1,074        16,057        65        665   

Other Businesses

    82        210        292        1        30   

Reconciling Items and Eliminations

    -        (1,284     (1,284     -        (287

Total

  $ 15,065      $ -      $ 15,065      $ 66      $ 408   

First Nine Months 2010

         

Flat-rolled

  $ 8,181      $ 777      $ 8,958      $ 15      $ (118

USSE

    2,983        46        3,029        1        6   

Tubular

    1,804        4        1,808        (3     256   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reportable segments

    12,968        827        13,795        13        144   

Other Businesses

    106        264        370        -        47   

Reconciling Items and Eliminations

    -        (1,091     (1,091     -        (188

Total

  $ 13,074      $ -      $ 13,074      $ 13      $ 3   

The following is a schedule of reconciling items to (loss) income from operations:

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Items not allocated to segments:

       

Postretirement benefit expense (a)

  $ (96   $ (58   $ (287   $ (173

Other items not allocated to segments:

       

Net loss on the sale of assets (Note 4)

    -        (15     -        (15
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other items not allocated to segments

    -        (15     -        (15
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reconciling items

  $ (96   $ (73   $ (287   $ (188

 

  (a) 

Consists of the net periodic benefit cost elements, other than service cost and amortization of prior service cost for active employees, associated with our pension, retiree health care and life insurance benefit plans.

 

4. Acquisitions and Dispositions

 

Wabush Mines Joint Venture

On February 1, 2010, U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC) completed the previously announced sale of its 44.6 percent interest in the Wabush Mines Joint Venture (Wabush) for approximately $60 million. Wabush owns and operates iron ore mining and pellet facilities in Labrador, Newfoundland and Quebec, Canada. U. S. Steel recognized an immaterial financial impact from the sale.

 

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Fintube Technologies

On September 1, 2010, U. S. Steel completed the sale of a majority of the operating assets of Fintube Technologies (Fintube) for approximately $22 million. Fintube has operations in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Monterrey, Mexico where it manufactures specialty tubular products used in heat recovery technology applications. As a result of the transaction, U. S. Steel recognized a pretax loss of approximately $15 million in the third quarter 2010.

 

5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 are as follows:

 

      Flat-rolled
Segment
    USSE
Segment
     Tubular
Segment
     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2010

   $ 922      $ 4       $ 834       $ 1,760   

Currency translation and other adjustments

     (11     -         -         (11
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2011

   $ 911      $ 4       $ 834       $ 1,749   

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of acquired identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities assumed from businesses acquired. We have two reporting units that have a significant amount of goodwill. Our Flat-rolled reporting unit was allocated goodwill from the Stelco Inc. (Stelco) and Lone Star Technologies Inc. (Lone Star) acquisitions in 2007. These amounts reflect the benefits we expect the Flat-rolled reporting unit to realize from expanding our flexibility in meeting our customers’ needs and running our Flat-rolled facilities at higher operating rates to source our semi-finished product needs. Our Texas Operations reporting unit, which is part of our Tubular reportable segment, was allocated goodwill from the Lone Star acquisition, reflecting the benefits we expect the reporting unit to realize from the expansion of our tubular operations. Other adjustments relate to revisions to purchase price allocations.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually in the third quarter and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The evaluation of impairment involves comparing the estimated fair value of the associated reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. U. S. Steel completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the third quarter of 2011 and determined that there was no goodwill impairment for any of the reporting units. Fair value was determined in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 820 which requires consideration of the income, market and cost approaches as applicable.

For the 2011 annual goodwill impairment test, U. S. Steel used fair values estimated under the income approach and the market approach. U. S. Steel did not utilize the cost approach as relevant data was not available.

The income approach is based upon projected future cash flows discounted to present value using factors that consider the timing and risk associated with the future cash flows. Fair values for the Flat-rolled and Texas Operations reporting units were estimated using probability weighted scenarios of future cash flow projections based on management’s long range estimates of market conditions over a multiple year horizon. A three percent perpetual growth rate was used to arrive at an estimated terminal value. A discount rate of 10 percent was used for both reporting units and was based upon the cost of capital of other comparable steel companies, which we view as the most likely market participants, as of the date of our goodwill impairment test.

 

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The market approach is based upon an analysis of valuation metrics for companies comparable to each reporting unit. Fair values for the Flat-rolled and Texas Operations reporting units were estimated using an appropriate valuation multiple based on this analysis, estimated normalized earnings and an estimated control premium.

In order to validate the reasonableness of the estimated fair values of the reporting units, a reconciliation of the aggregate fair values of all reporting units to market capitalization, using a reasonable control premium, was performed as of the valuation date. We further validated the reasonableness of the estimated fair values of our reporting units using other valuation metrics that included data from U. S. Steel’s historical transactions as well as published industry analyst reports.

Goodwill impairment tests in 2010 and prior years also indicated that goodwill was not impaired for any reporting unit. Accordingly, there are no accumulated impairment losses for goodwill.

Amortizable intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are detailed below:

 

          As of September 30, 2011     As of December 31, 2010  
(In millions)   Useful
Lives
    Gross
Carrying
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Amount
    Gross
Carrying
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Amount
 

Customer relationships

    22-23 Years      $ 217      $ 41      $ 176      $ 220      $ 34      $ 186   

Other

    2-20 Years        23        10        13        23        9        14   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total amortizable intangible assets

          $ 240      $ 51      $ 189      $ 243      $ 43      $ 200   

The carrying amount of acquired water rights with indefinite lives as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 totaled $75 million. The water rights are tested for impairment annually in the third quarter by comparing the fair value of acquired water rights with their carrying amount. The 2011 and prior year tests indicated that the fair value of the water rights exceeded the carrying value. Accordingly, no impairment loss was recognized.

Amortization expense was $2 million in both the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and was $8 million and $7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense of identifiable intangible assets during the next five years is $3 million for the remaining portion of 2011 and $11 million each year from 2012 to 2015.

 

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6. Pensions and Other Benefits

 

The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Pension
Benefits
    Other
Benefits
 
(In millions)    2011     2010     2011     2010  

Service cost

   $ 28      $ 25      $ 6      $ 6   

Interest cost

     128        135        52        57   

Expected return on plan assets

     (157     (167     (26     (27

Amortization of prior service cost

     6        6        6        5   

Amortization of net loss (gain)

     88        55        1        (3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below

     93        54        39        38   

Multiemployer plans

     17        14        -        -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 110      $ 68      $ 39      $ 38   

The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

     Pension
Benefits
    Other
Benefits
 
(In millions)    2011     2010     2011     2010  

Service cost

   $ 84      $ 76      $ 18      $ 16   

Interest cost

     384        406        157        171   

Expected return on plan assets

     (469     (502     (79     (81

Amortization of prior service cost

     16        18        19        17   

Amortization of net loss (gain)

     264        164        4        (9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below

     279        162        119        114   

Multiemployer plans

     48        42        -        -   

Settlement, termination and curtailment benefits

     -        3        -        -   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 327      $ 207      $ 119      $ 114   

Employer Contributions

During the first nine months of 2011, U. S. Steel made voluntary contributions of $140 million to its main defined benefit pension plan. U. S. Steel also made $70 million in required cash contributions to the USSC pension plans, cash payments of $46 million to the Steelworkers’ Pension Trust and $21 million to other defined benefit pension plans.

During the first nine months of 2011, cash payments of $233 million were made for other postretirement benefit payments not funded by trusts.

Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $10 million and $8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $29 million and $14 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Health Care Legislation

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“PPACA”) includes many provisions impacting health care and health insurance coverage in the U.S. Beginning in 2013, PPACA eliminates the tax deductibility of retiree prescription drug expenses allocable to the Medicare

 

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Part D subsidies received by an employer. U. S. Steel recorded a tax charge of $27 million in the first quarter of 2010 to adjust deferred tax assets in order to recognize the estimated future tax effects. The Company believes that its retiree health indemnity plans are exempt from the PPACA’s group market reform requirements, but that the HMO plans in which many retirees participate may be required to implement these new requirements, thereby potentially resulting in higher premiums for these retirees. Based on the guidance that has been issued to date with respect to the PPACA provision which imposes an excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health plan coverage beginning in 2018, the Company believes it has a de minimis liability exposure for such future excise taxes on retiree medical benefits. Also, the Federal government has approved the Company’s applications under the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP), which is a temporary program established under the PPACA to reimburse the sponsor of employment-based health plans for a portion of the cost of health care benefits provided to pre-Medicare participants. The Company received approximately $12 million of ERRP reimbursements in the first nine months of 2011 and expects to receive additional reimbursements in the fourth quarter of 2011.

 

7. Other Financial Costs (Income)

 

Other financial costs (income) include financing costs as well as foreign currency gains and losses as a result of transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of U. S. Steel’s subsidiaries. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, net foreign currency losses of $92 million and gains of $135 million, respectively, were recorded in other financial costs (income). During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, net foreign currency gains of $26 million and losses of $19 million, respectively, were recorded in other financial costs (income). The foreign currency gains and losses were primarily due to the accounting remeasurement of a $1.6 billion U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loan to a European subsidiary, partially offset by gains on euro-U.S. dollar derivatives activity. See note 12 for additional information on U. S. Steel’s use of derivatives to mitigate its foreign currency exchange rate exposure.

 

8. Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

U. S. Steel has outstanding stock-based compensation awards that were granted by the Compensation & Organization Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee) under several stock-based employee compensation plans, which are more fully described in note 14 of the United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. An aggregate of 15,450,000 shares of U. S. Steel common stock may be issued under the Plan. As of September 30, 2011, 8,694,281 shares are available for future grants.

U. S. Steel recognized pre-tax stock-based compensation cost in the amount of $8 million and $9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $24 million and $20 million in the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

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Recent grants of stock-based compensation consist of stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards. The following table is a general summary of the awards made under the Plan.

 

     May 2011 Grant      May 2010 Grant  
Grant Details    Shares (a)      Fair Value (b)      Shares (a)      Fair Value (b)  

Stock Options

     707,060       $ 24.39         612,270       $ 24.31   

Restricted Stock Units

     421,000       $ 45.81         358,240       $ 45.65   

Performance Awards (c)

     85,040       $ 65.47         105,640       $ 57.02   
  (a)

The share amounts shown in this table do not reflect an adjustment for estimated forfeitures.

  (b)

Per share amounts

  (c)

The number of Performance Awards shown represents the target value of the award.

As of September 30, 2011, total future compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements was $45 million, and the weighted average period over which this cost is expected to be recognized is approximately 1.3 years.

Compensation expense for stock options is recorded over the vesting period based on the fair value on the date of grant, as calculated by U. S. Steel using the Black-Scholes model and the assumptions listed below. The stock options vest ratably over a three-year service period and have a term of ten years.

 

Black-Scholes Assumptions    May 2011 Grant     May 2010 Grant  

Grant date price per share of option award

   $ 45.81      $ 45.65   

Expected annual dividends per share, at grant date

   $ 0.20      $ 0.20   

Expected life in years

     5.0        5.0   

Expected volatility

     64     64

Risk-free interest rate

     1.8     2.1

Grant date fair value per share of unvested option awards as calculated from above

   $ 24.39      $ 24.31   

The expected annual dividends per share are based on the latest annualized dividend rate at the date of grant; the expected life in years is determined primarily from historical stock option exercise data; the expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of U. S. Steel stock; and the risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury strip rate for the expected life of the option.

Restricted stock units generally vest ratably over three years. The fair value of the restricted stock units is the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant.

Performance awards vest at the end of a three-year performance period as a function of U. S. Steel’s total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder return of a group of peer companies over the three-year performance period. Performance awards can vest at between zero and 200 percent of the target award. The fair value of the performance awards is calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation.

 

9. Income Taxes

 

Tax provision

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we recorded a tax provision of $114 million on our pretax income of $272 million and a tax provision of $56 million on our pretax loss of $177 million, respectively. The tax provision does not reflect any tax benefit for pretax

 

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losses in Canada and Serbia, which are jurisdictions where we have recorded full valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, and also does not reflect any tax provision or benefit for certain foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses that are not recognized in any tax jurisdiction. Included in the first nine months of the 2010 tax provision is a net tax benefit of $30 million relating to adjustments to tax reserves, offset by a tax charge of $27 million as a result of the U.S. health care legislation enacted in the first quarter of 2010 (see note 6).

The tax provision for the first nine months of 2011 is based on an estimated annual effective rate, which requires management to make its best estimate of annual pretax income or loss. During the year, management regularly updates forecasted annual pretax results for the various countries in which we operate based on changes in factors such as prices, shipments, product mix, plant operating performance and cost estimates. To the extent that actual 2011 pretax results for U.S. and foreign income or loss vary from estimates applied at the end of the most recent interim period, the actual tax provision or benefit recognized in 2011 could be materially different from the forecasted amount used to estimate the tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Income tax receivable

During 2011, U. S. Steel received a net federal income tax refund of $121 million. The income tax receivable of $11 million at September 30, 2011 reflects additional income tax refunds that we expect to receive.

Unrecognized tax benefits

Unrecognized tax benefits are the differences between a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return and the benefit recognized for accounting purposes pursuant to the guidance found in ASC Topic 740 on income taxes. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $112 million at September 30, 2011 and $115 million at December 31, 2010. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $101 million and $100 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

U. S. Steel records interest related to uncertain tax positions as a part of net interest and other financial costs in the Statement of Operations. Any penalties are recognized as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, U. S. Steel had accrued liabilities of $7 million and $4 million, respectively, for interest related to uncertain tax positions. U. S. Steel currently does not have any liabilities recorded for income tax penalties.

It is reasonably expected that during the next 12 months unrecognized tax benefits related to income tax issues will not change by a significant amount.

Deferred taxes

As of September 30, 2011, the net domestic deferred tax asset was $453 million compared to $563 million at December 31, 2010. A substantial amount of U. S. Steel’s domestic deferred tax assets relate to employee benefits that will become deductible for tax purposes over an extended period of time as cash contributions are made to employee benefit plans and retiree benefits are paid in the future. As a result of our cumulative historical earnings, we continue to believe it is more likely than not that the net domestic deferred tax asset will be realized.

As of September 30, 2011, the net foreign deferred tax asset was $75 million, net of established valuation allowances of $955 million. At December 31, 2010, the net foreign deferred tax asset was $77 million, net of established valuation allowances of $870 million. Net foreign deferred tax assets will fluctuate as the value of the U.S. dollar changes with respect to the Canadian dollar, the euro, and the Serbian dinar. A full valuation allowance is recorded for both the Canadian and

 

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Serbian deferred tax assets primarily due to cumulative losses in these jurisdictions in recent years. If evidence changes and it becomes more likely than not that the Company will realize the deferred tax assets, the valuation allowance of $863 million for Canadian deferred tax assets and $83 million for Serbian deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2011, would be partially or fully reversed. Any reversals of these amounts would result in a decrease to income tax expense.

 

10. Net Income (Loss) and Dividends Per Common Share

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to United States Steel Corporation Shareholders

Basic net income (loss) per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted net income (loss) per common share assumes the exercise of stock options, the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards and the conversion of convertible notes (under the “if-converted” method), provided in each case that the effect is dilutive.

The computations for basic and diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)    2011      2010     2011      2010  

Net income (loss) attributable to United States Steel

          

Corporation shareholders

   $ 22       $ (51   $ 158       $ (233

Plus income effect of assumed conversion-interest on convertible notes

     -         -        16         -   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) after assumed conversion

   $ 22       $ (51   $ 174       $ (233
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):

          

Basic

     144,067         143,660        143,932         143,521   

Effect of convertible notes

     -         -        27,059         -   

Effect of stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards

     385         -        543         -   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted

     144,452         143,660        171,534         143,521   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.15       $ (0.35   $ 1.10       $ (1.62
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.15       $ (0.35   $ 1.02       $ (1.62

The following table summarizes the securities that were antidilutive, and therefore, were not included in the computations of diluted loss per common share:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(in thousands)        2011              2010              2011              2010      

Securities granted under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan

     2,657         3,525         1,924         3,525   

Securities convertible under the Senior Convertible Notes

     27,059         27,059         -         27,059   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     29,716         30,584         1,924         30,584   

 

Dividends Paid Per Share

The dividend for each of the first three quarters of 2011 and 2010 was five cents per common share.

 

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11. Inventories

 

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market. The first-in, first-out method is the predominant method of inventory costing in Europe and Canada. The last-in, first-out (LIFO) method is the predominant method of inventory costing in the United States. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the LIFO method accounted for 49 percent and 48 percent of total inventory values, respectively.

 

(In millions)    September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Raw materials

   $ 1,161       $ 949   

Semi-finished products

     972         851   

Finished products

     608         449   

Supplies and sundry items

     102         103   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,843       $ 2,352   

Current acquisition costs were estimated to exceed the above inventory values by $1.2 billion and $885 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Cost of sales was increased by $3 million and reduced by $1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as a result of liquidations of LIFO inventories. Cost of sales was reduced by less than $1 million and $2 million in the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively, as a result of liquidations of LIFO inventories.

Lower of cost or market charges were approximately $15 million and $20 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and were approximately $25 million in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

Inventory includes $89 million and $91 million of land held for residential or commercial development as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

From time to time, U. S. Steel enters into coke swap agreements designed to reduce transportation costs. U. S. Steel shipped and received approximately 720,000 tons and 540,000 tons of coke under swap agreements during the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

U. S. Steel also has entered into iron ore pellet swap agreements. U. S. Steel shipped and received approximately 1,629,000 tons and 1,260,000 tons of iron ore pellets under swap agreements during the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The coke and iron ore pellet swaps are recorded at cost as nonmonetary transactions. There was no income statement impact related to these swaps in either 2011 or 2010.

 

12. Derivative Instruments

 

U. S. Steel is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks as a result of our European and Canadian operations. USSE’s revenues are primarily in euros and costs are primarily in U.S. dollars and euros. USSC’s revenues and costs are denominated in both Canadian and U.S. dollars. In addition, foreign cash requirements have been, and in the future, may be funded by intercompany loans, creating intercompany monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than the functional currency of the entities involved, which can affect income when remeasured at the end of each period. A $1.6 billion U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loan (the Intercompany Loan) from a U.S. subsidiary to a European subsidiary was the primary exposure at September 30, 2011.

 

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U. S. Steel uses euro forward sales contracts with maturities no longer than 12 months to exchange euros for U.S. dollars to manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Derivative instruments are required to be recognized at fair value in the balance sheet. U. S. Steel has not elected to designate these euro forward sales contracts as hedges. Therefore, changes in their fair value are recognized immediately in the results of operations. The gains and losses recognized on these euro forward sales contracts may also partially offset the accounting remeasurement gains and losses recognized on the Intercompany Loan.

As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel held euro forward sales contracts with a total notional value of approximately $463 million. We mitigate the risk of concentration of counterparty credit risk by purchasing our forward sales contracts from several counterparties.

Additionally, we routinely enter into fixed-price forward physical purchase contracts to partially manage our exposure to price risk related to the purchases of natural gas and certain nonferrous metals used in the production process. During 2011 and 2010, all forward physical purchase contracts for natural gas and nonferrous metals have qualified for the normal purchases and normal sales exemption described in ASC Topic 815 and were not subject to mark-to-market accounting.

The following summarizes the location and amounts of the fair values and gains or losses related to derivatives included in U. S. Steel’s financial statements as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

September 30, September 30, September 30,
(In millions)  

Balance Sheet

Location

  Fair Value
September 30, 2011
    Fair Value
December 31, 2010
 

Foreign exchange
forward contracts

  Accounts receivable

(payable)

    $15        ($11
     

 

September 30, September 30, September 30,
    

Statement of

Operations
Location

  Amount of Gain
(Loss)
    Amount of Gain
(Loss)
 
    Three Months ended
September 30, 2011
    Nine Months ended
September 30, 2011
 

Foreign exchange forward contracts

  Other financial
costs (income)
    $28        ($6
     

 

September 30, September 30, September 30,
    

Statement of

Operations
Location

  Amount of Gain
(Loss)
    Amount of Gain
(Loss)
 
    Three Months ended
September 30, 2010
    Nine Months ended
September 30, 2010
 

Foreign exchange forward contracts

  Other financial
costs (income)
    ($40     ($5
     

In accordance with the guidance found in ASC Topic 820 on fair value measurements and disclosures, the fair value of our euro forward sales contracts was determined using Level 2 inputs, which are defined as “significant other observable” inputs. The inputs used are from market sources that aggregate data based upon market transactions.

 

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13. Debt

 

 

(In millions)   Interest
Rates %
  Maturity   September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

2037 Senior Notes

  6.65   2037   $ 350      $ 350   

2020 Senior Notes

  7.375   2020     600        600   

2018 Senior Notes

  7.00   2018     500        500   

2017 Senior Notes

  6.05   2017     450        450   

2014 Senior Convertible Notes

  4.00   2014     863        863   

2013 Senior Notes

  5.65   2013     300        300   

Province Note (C$150 million)

  1.00   2015     144        150   

Environmental Revenue Bonds

  4.75 - 6.88   2011 - 2030     458        458   

Recovery Zone Facility Bonds

  6.75   2040     70        70   

Fairfield Caster Lease

    2011  - 2012     10        20   

Other capital leases and all other obligations

    2011 - 2014     10        18   

Amended Credit Agreement, $875 million

  Variable   2016     -        -   

USSK Revolver, 200 million

  Variable   2013     142        -   

USSK credit facilities, 80 million

  Variable   2012  - 2015     -        -   

USSS credit facilities, 20 and 1 billion Serbian Dinar

  Variable   2012     -        -   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Debt

        3,897        3,779   

Less Province Note fair value adjustment

        30        36   

Less unamortized discount

        9        10   

Less short-term debt and long-term debt due within one year

        217        216   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt

          $ 3,641      $ 3,517   

To the extent not otherwise discussed below, information concerning the Senior Notes, the Senior Convertible Notes and other listed obligations can be found in note 16 of the audited financial statements in the 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Issuance of Senior Notes due 2020

On March 16, 2010, U. S. Steel issued $600 million of 7.375% Senior Notes due April 1, 2020 (2020 Senior Notes). The 2020 Senior Notes were issued at 99.125% of their principal amount. U. S. Steel received net proceeds from the offering of $582 million after fees of $13 million related to the underwriting discount and third party expenses. Interest is payable semi-annually on April 1st and October 1st of each year. The 2020 Senior Notes contain covenants restricting our ability to create liens, to enter into sale-leaseback transactions and to consolidate, merge or transfer all, or substantially all of our assets. They also contain provisions requiring the purchase of the 2020 Notes upon a change of control under certain specified circumstances, as well as other customary provisions.

Obligations relating to Environmental Revenue Bonds

U. S. Steel is the ultimate obligor on $458 million of Environmental Revenue Bonds. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has refunded a portion of these bonds and is the direct underlying obligor on $260 million of these bonds. U. S. Steel is obligated on the remainder ($198 million, which includes $2 million of call premiums) under an agreement that was entered into when it separated from Marathon Oil Corporation (Marathon) on December 31, 2001 (the Separation). The agreement provides that on or before the tenth anniversary of the Separation (December 31, 2011), U. S. Steel will provide for the discharge of Marathon from any remaining liability under any of these bond obligations by retiring or refunding these bonds, or amending them to relieve Marathon’s liability.

 

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Amended Credit Agreement

On July 20, 2011, U. S. Steel entered into an amendment and restatement of its $750 million Credit Agreement dated as of June 12, 2009 (Amended Credit Agreement) which increased the facility to $875 million, extended the term to July 20, 2016, added a minimum liquidity requirement to address the maturity of the 4% Senior Convertible Notes due in May 2014, reduced the fixed charge coverage ratio and increased the availability by $25 million prior to its measurement and made amendments to other terms and conditions.

As of September 30, 2011, there were no amounts drawn on the Amended Credit Agreement and inventory values calculated in accordance with the Amended Credit Agreement supported the full $875 million of the facility. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, U. S. Steel must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio (as further defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent four consecutive quarters when availability under the Amended Credit Agreement is less than the greater of 10% of the total aggregate commitments and $87.5 million. Since availability was greater than $87.5 million, compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant was not applicable. However, based on the most recent four quarters, as of September 30, 2011, we would not meet this covenant if we were to borrow more than $787.5 million under this agreement. If the value of inventory does not support the full amount of the facility or we are not able to meet this covenant in the future, the full amount of this facility would not be available to the Company.

Receivables Purchase Agreement

As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has a Receivables Purchase Agreement (RPA) under which eligible trade accounts receivable are sold, on a daily basis without recourse, to U. S. Steel Receivables, LLC (USSR), a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote, special purpose entity used only for the securitization program. If U. S. Steel decides to access this facility, USSR then sells senior undivided interests in the eligible receivables to certain third-party commercial paper conduits for cash, while maintaining a subordinated undivided interest in a portion of the eligible receivables. U. S. Steel has agreed to continue servicing the sold receivables at market rates. Because U. S. Steel receives adequate compensation for these services, no servicing asset or liability is recorded. On July 18, 2011, U. S. Steel entered into an amendment of our RPA that increased the maximum amount of receivables eligible for sale by $100 million to $625 million, extended the term until July 18, 2014 and made amendments to other terms and conditions.

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, eligible accounts receivable supported $625 million and $525 million of availability under the RPA, respectively. Receivables Sold to Third-Party Conduits and Borrowings under Receivables Purchase Agreement of $75 million were recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2011. There were no receivables sold to third-party conduits under this facility at December 31, 2010. The subordinated retained interest at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $550 million and $525 million, respectively. The net book value of U. S. Steel’s retained interest in the eligible receivables represents the best estimate of the fair market value due to the short-term nature of the receivables.

USSR pays the conduits a discount based on the conduits’ borrowing costs plus incremental fees. We paid $1 million in each of the three month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and $3 million and $4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively relating to fees on the RPA.

Generally, the facility provides that as payments are collected from the sold accounts receivables, USSR may elect to have the conduits reinvest the proceeds in new eligible accounts receivable. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, collection of eligible accounts receivable of

 

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$141 million were reinvested. As there were no receivables sold to third-party conduits under this facility during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, there were no collections reinvested.

The eligible accounts receivable and receivables sold to third-party conduits are summarized below:

 

(In millions)    September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Balance of accounts receivable-net, eligible for sale to third-party conduits

   $ 1,215       $ 1,004   

Accounts receivable sold to third-party conduits

     75         -   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accounts receivable-net, included in the accounts receivable balance on the balance sheet of U. S. Steel

   $ 1,140       $ 1,004   

The facility may be terminated on the occurrence and failure to cure certain events, including, among others, failure of USSR to maintain certain ratios related to the collectability of the receivables and failure to make payment under its material debt obligations and may also be terminated upon a change of control.

Change in control event

In the event of a change in control of U. S. Steel, debt obligations totaling $3,279 million at September 30, 2011, which includes the Senior Notes, Senior Convertible Notes, borrowings under U. S. Steel Košice credit facilities and borrowings under the Receivables Purchase Agreement may be declared immediately due and payable. In addition, the Amended Credit Agreement may be terminated and any amount outstanding thereunder may be declared immediately due and payable. In such event, U. S. Steel may also be required to either repurchase the leased Fairfield slab caster for $28 million or provide a letter of credit to secure the remaining obligation.

U. S. Steel Košice (USSK) credit facilities

At September 30, 2011, USSK had 105 million (approximately $142 million) borrowed under its 200 million (approximately $270 million) revolving unsecured credit facility.

At September 30, 2011, USSK had no borrowings under its 80 million credit facilities (which approximated $108 million) and the availability was approximately $107 million due to approximately $1 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding.

U. S. Steel Serbia (USSS) credit facilities

At September 30, 2011, USSS had no borrowings under its facilities which consist of facilities for general corporate purposes of up to 20 million and facilities for overdrafts of up to 1 billion Serbian dinars (which together totaled approximately $43 million), subject in each case to a borrowing base calculation based upon the value of USSS’s inventory of finished and semi-finished inventory. On July 29, 2011, USSS entered into new facilities on substantially similar terms as the facilities that were to expire on August 31, 2011. The new facilities expire on August 31, 2012. At September 30, 2011, USSS inventory values were sufficient to utilize the entire amount of the facilities.

 

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14. Asset Retirement Obligations

 

U. S. Steel’s asset retirement obligations (AROs) primarily relate to mine and landfill closure and post-closure costs. The following table reflects changes in the carrying values of AROs:

 

(In millions)    September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 39      $ 45   

Additional obligations incurred

     -        1   

Obligations settled

     (3     (7

Foreign currency translation effects

     -        (2

Accretion expense

     2        2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ 38      $ 39   

Certain AROs related to disposal costs of the majority of fixed assets at our integrated steel facilities have not been recorded because they have an indeterminate settlement date. These AROs will be initially recognized in the period in which sufficient information exists to estimate their fair value.

 

15. Variable Interest Entities

 

Effective January 1, 2010, U. S. Steel adopted updates to ASC Topic 810 related to improvements to financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entities. The updates to ASC Topic 810 include a criterion that requires the primary beneficiary to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the variable interest entity. Due to the addition of this criterion, the adoption resulted in the deconsolidation of the following entities from our consolidated financial statements on a prospective basis.

Gateway Energy & Coke Company, LLC

Gateway Energy & Coke Company, LLC (Gateway) is a wholly owned subsidiary of SunCoke Energy, Inc. in which U. S. Steel has no ownership interest. Gateway has constructed a heat recovery coke plant with an annual capacity of 650,000 tons of coke that began operations in the fourth quarter of 2009 at U. S. Steel’s Granite City Works. U. S. Steel has a 15-year arrangement to purchase coke from Gateway under which Gateway is obligated to supply 90 percent to 105 percent of the expected annual capacity of the heat recovery coke plant, and U. S. Steel is obligated to purchase the coke from Gateway at the contract price. As of September 30, 2011, a maximum default payment of approximately $257 million would apply if U. S. Steel terminates the agreement.

There are three activities that most significantly impact Gateway’s economic performance: procurement of coking coal used in the production of coke, direction of the operations associated with the production of coke and steam and direction of the sale of coke and steam. U. S. Steel and Gateway jointly direct the sale of coke and steam due to the 15-year arrangement described above; however, U. S. Steel does not have the power to direct the other activities that most significantly impact Gateway’s economic performance. Since the only activity in which U. S. Steel shares power is less significant than the combination of the other significant activities, U. S. Steel is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2010, U. S. Steel deconsolidated Gateway and all activity with Gateway is now accounted for as third party transactions.

Daniel Ross Bridge, LLC

Daniel Ross Bridge, LLC (DRB), in which U. S. Steel has a 50% ownership interest, was established for the development of a 1,600 acre master-planned community in Hoover, Alabama. The economic performance of DRB is significantly impacted by the fair value of the underlying

 

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property. The activities that most directly impact DRB’s economic performance are the development, marketing, and sale of the underlying property, none of which are directed by U. S. Steel. Since U. S. Steel does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact DRB’s economic performance, U. S. Steel is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, U. S. Steel deconsolidated DRB and began accounting for this entity using the equity method of accounting effective January 1, 2010.

 

16. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, current accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, bank checks outstanding, accrued interest and borrowings sold to third party conduits included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet approximate fair value. See note 12 for disclosure of U. S. Steel’s derivative instruments, which are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis.

The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s financial assets and liabilities that were not carried at fair value at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

 

     September 30, 2011      December 31, 2010  
(In millions)    Fair
Value
     Carrying
Amount
     Fair
Value
     Carrying
Amount
 

Financial assets:

           

Investments and long-term receivables (a)

   $ 31       $ 31       $ 46       $ 46   

Financial liabilities:

           

Debt (b)

   $ 3,679       $ 3,838       $ 4,512       $ 3,695   
  (a) 

Excludes equity method investments.

  (b) 

Excludes capital lease obligations.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments included in the table above:

Investments and long-term receivables: Fair value is based on discounted cash flows. U. S. Steel is subject to market risk and liquidity risk related to its investments.

Long-term debt instruments: Fair value was determined using Level 2 inputs which were derived from quoted market prices and is based on the yield on public debt where available or current borrowing rates available for financings with similar terms and maturities.

Fair value of the financial assets and liabilities disclosed herein is not necessarily representative of the amount that could be realized or settled, nor does the fair value amount consider the tax consequences of realization or settlement.

Financial guarantees are U. S. Steel’s only unrecognized financial instrument. For details relating to financial guarantees see note 20.

 

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17. Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The following table reflects the components of comprehensive income (loss):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)    2011     2010     2011     2010  

Net income (loss)

   $ 22      $ (51   $ 158      $ (233

Changes in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

     (136     87        (39     (47

Changes in employee benefit accounts, net of tax

     67        29        198        128   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

   $ (47   $ 65      $ 317      $ (152

 

18. Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

 

The following table reflects the first nine months of 2011 and 2010 reconciliation of the carrying amount of total equity, equity attributable to United States Steel Corporation and equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests:

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
  Total     Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Common
Stock
    Treasury
Stock
    Paid-in
Capital
    Non-
Controlling
Interest
 

Balance at beginning of year

  $ 3,852        $ 3,698      $ (3,068   $ 151      $ (580   $ 3,650      $ 1   

Comprehensive income:

               

Net income

    158        158        158             

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

               

Pension and other benefit adjustments

    198        198          198           

Currency translation adjustment

    (39     (39       (39        

Employee stock plans

    23                30        (7  

Dividends paid on common stock

    (22       (22          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2011

  $ 4,170      $ 317      $ 3,834      $ (2,909   $ 151      $ (550   $ 3,643      $     1   

 

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Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2010
  Total     Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Common
Stock
    Treasury
Stock
    Paid-in
Capital
    Non-
Controlling
Interest
 

Balance at beginning of year

  $ 4,979        $ 4,209      $ (2,728   $ 151      $ (608   $ 3,652      $ 303   

Comprehensive income:

               

Net loss

    (233     (233     (233          

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

               

Pension and other benefit adjustments

    128        128          128           

Currency translation adjustment

    (47     (47       (47        

Employee stock plans

    17                24        (7  

Dividends paid on common stock

    (22       (22          

Adoption of ASC Topic 810

    (301                 (301

Cumulative effect of ASC Topic 810 adoption

    (1       (1          

Other

    (1                 (1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2010

  $ 4,519      $ (152   $ 3,953      $ (2,647   $ 151      $ (584   $ 3,645      $ 1   

 

19. Related Party Transactions

 

Net sales to related parties and receivables from related parties primarily reflect sales of steel products to equity investees. Generally, transactions are conducted under long-term market-based contractual arrangements. Related party sales and service transactions were $312 million and $276 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $955 million for both of the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

Purchases from related parties for outside processing services provided by equity investees amounted to $13 million and $25 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $41 million and $72 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Purchases of iron ore pellets from related parties amounted to $55 million and $37 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $164 million and $100 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Accounts payable to related parties include balances due to PRO-TEC Coating Company (PRO-TEC) of $88 million and $62 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, for invoicing and receivables collection services provided by U. S. Steel. U. S. Steel, as PRO-TEC’s exclusive sales agent, is responsible for credit risk related to those receivables. U. S. Steel also provides PRO-TEC marketing, selling and customer service functions. Payables to other related parties totaled $3 million and $4 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

 

20. Contingencies and Commitments

 

U. S. Steel is the subject of, or party to, a number of pending or threatened legal actions, contingencies and commitments involving a variety of matters, including laws and regulations relating to the environment. Certain of these matters are discussed below. The ultimate resolution of these contingencies could, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the consolidated

 

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financial statements. However, management believes that U. S. Steel will remain a viable and competitive enterprise even though it is possible that these contingencies could be resolved unfavorably.

U. S. Steel accrues for estimated costs related to existing lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that it will incur these costs in the future.

Asbestos matters As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 650 active cases involving approximately 3,190 plaintiffs. Many of these cases involve multiple defendants (typically from fifty to more than one hundred). About 2,575, or approximately 81 percent, of these plaintiff claims are currently pending in jurisdictions which permit filings with massive numbers of plaintiffs. Based upon U. S. Steel’s experience in such cases, it believes that the actual number of plaintiffs who ultimately assert claims against U. S. Steel will likely be a small fraction of the total number of plaintiffs. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel paid approximately $6 million in settlements. These settlements and other dispositions resolved approximately 100 claims. New case filings in the first nine months of 2011 added approximately 200 claims. At December 31, 2010, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 550 active cases involving approximately 3,090 plaintiffs. During 2010, U. S. Steel paid approximately $8 million in settlements. These settlements and other dispositions resolved approximately 200 claims. New case filings in the year ended December 31, 2010 added approximately 250 claims. Most claims filed in 2011 and 2010 involved individual or small groups of claimants as many jurisdictions no longer permit the filing of mass complaints.

Historically, these claims against U. S. Steel fall into three major groups: (1) claims made by persons who allegedly were exposed to asbestos at U. S. Steel facilities (referred to as “premises claims”); (2) claims made by industrial workers allegedly exposed to products manufactured by U. S. Steel; and (3) claims made under certain federal and general maritime laws by employees of former operations of U. S. Steel. In general, the only insurance available to U. S. Steel with respect to asbestos claims is excess casualty insurance, which has multi-million dollar retentions. To date, U. S. Steel has received minimal payments under these policies relating to asbestos claims.

These asbestos cases allege a variety of respiratory and other diseases based on alleged exposure to asbestos. U. S. Steel is currently a defendant in cases in which a total of approximately 280 plaintiffs allege that they are suffering from mesothelioma. The potential for damages against defendants may be greater in cases in which the plaintiffs can prove mesothelioma.

In many cases in which claims have been asserted against U. S. Steel, the plaintiffs have been unable to establish any causal relationship to U. S. Steel or its products or premises; however, with the decline in mass plaintiff cases, the incidence of claimants actually alleging a claim against U. S. Steel is increasing. In addition, in many asbestos cases, the claimants have been unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any identifiable injury or compensable loss at all; that any injuries that they have incurred did in fact result from alleged exposure to asbestos; or that such alleged exposure was in any way related to U. S. Steel or its products or premises.

The amount U. S. Steel has accrued for pending asbestos claims is not material to U. S. Steel’s financial position. U. S. Steel does not accrue for unasserted asbestos claims because it is not possible to determine whether any loss is probable with respect to such claims or even to estimate the amount or range of any possible losses. The vast majority of pending claims against U. S. Steel allege so-called “premises” liability-based alleged exposure on U. S. Steel’s current or former premises. These claims are made by an indeterminable number of people such as truck

 

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drivers, railroad workers, salespersons, contractors and their employees, government inspectors, customers, visitors and even trespassers. In most cases the claimant also was exposed to asbestos in non-U. S. Steel settings; the relative periods of exposure between U. S. Steel and non-U. S. Steel settings vary with each claimant; and the strength or weakness of the causal link between U. S. Steel exposure and any injury vary widely as do the nature and severity of the injury claimed.

It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related lawsuits, claims and proceedings due to the unpredictable nature of personal injury litigation. Despite this uncertainty, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on U. S. Steel’s financial condition, although the resolution of such matters could significantly impact results of operations for a particular quarter. Among the factors considered in reaching this conclusion are: (1) the generally declining trend in the number of claims; (2) that it has been many years since U. S. Steel employed maritime workers or manufactured or sold asbestos containing products; and (3) U. S. Steel’s history of trial outcomes, settlements and dismissals.

Environmental mattersU. S. Steel is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the environment. These laws generally provide for control of pollutants released into the environment and require responsible parties to undertake remediation of hazardous waste disposal sites. Penalties may be imposed for noncompliance. Changes in accrued liabilities for remediation activities are summarized in the following table:

 

(In millions)    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 

Beginning of period

   $ 198   

Accruals for environmental remediation deemed probable and reasonably estimable

     10   

Payments

     (17
  

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 191   

Accrued liabilities for remediation activities are included in the following balance sheet lines:

 

(In millions)    September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Accounts payable

   $ 18       $ 18   

Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities

     173         180   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 191       $ 198   

Expenses related to remediation are recorded in cost of sales and totaled $5 million and $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $10 million and $3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. It is not presently possible to estimate the ultimate amount of all remediation costs that might be incurred. Due to uncertainties inherent in remediation projects and the associated liabilities, it is possible that total remediation costs for active matters and projects with ongoing study and scope development may exceed the accrued liabilities by as much as 30 to 40 percent.

 

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Remediation Projects

U. S. Steel is involved in environmental remediation projects at or adjacent to several current and former U. S. Steel facilities and other locations that are in various stages of completion ranging from initial characterization through post-closure monitoring. Based on the anticipated scope and degree of uncertainty of projects, we categorize projects as follows:

(1) Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development are those projects which are still in the study and development phase. For these projects the extent of remediation that may be required is not yet known, the remediation methods and plans are not yet developed, and cost estimates cannot be determined. Therefore, material costs, in addition to the accrued liabilities for these projects, are reasonably possible.

(2) Significant Projects with Defined Scope are those projects with significant accrued liabilities, a defined scope and little likelihood of material additional costs.

(3) Other Projects are those projects with relatively small accrued liabilities for which we believe that, while additional costs are possible, they are not likely to be material, and those projects for which we do not yet possess sufficient information to form a judgment about potential costs.

Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development – There are six environmental remediation projects where reasonably possible additional costs for completion are not currently estimable, but could be material. These projects are five Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) programs (at Fairfield Works, Lorain Tubular, USS-POSCO Industries (UPI), the Fairless Plant, and an interim stabilization measure as a component of the Gary Works RCRA corrective action program) and a voluntary remediation program at the former steel making plant at Joliet, Illinois. As of September 30, 2011, accrued liabilities for these projects totaled $3 million for the costs of studies, investigations, interim measures, design and/or remediation. It is reasonably possible that additional liabilities associated with future requirements regarding studies, investigations, design and remediation for these projects could be as much as $40 million to $65 million. Depending on agency negotiations and other factors, an interim stabilization measure as a component of the Gary Works RCRA corrective action program and a portion of the UPI project may become defined in 2011, at which time a significant portion of this range would be accrued.

Significant Projects with Defined Scope – As of September 30, 2011, a total of $46 million was accrued for projects at or related to Gary Works where the scope of work is defined, including RCRA program projects, Natural Resource Damages (NRD) claims, completion of projects for the Grand Calumet River in northwest Indiana and the related Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU), and closure costs for three hazardous waste disposal sites and one solid waste disposal site. Certain components of the RCRA program remain as ongoing study and scope development and are included above.

Additional projects with defined scope include the Municipal Industrial & Disposal Company (MIDC) site in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, the St. Louis Estuary and Upland Project in Duluth, Minnesota and a project at U. S. Steel’s former Geneva Works in Geneva, Utah. As of September 30, 2011, accrued liabilities for these three additional projects totaled $94 million. U. S. Steel does not expect material additional costs related to these projects.

Other Projects – There are four other environmental remediation projects which each had an accrued liability of between $1 million and $5 million. The total accrued liability for these projects at September 30, 2011 was $9 million. These projects have progressed through a significant portion of the design phase and material additional costs are not expected.

 

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The remaining environmental remediation projects for which we have sufficient information to form a judgment each had an accrued liability of less than $1 million. The total accrued liability for these projects at September 30, 2011 was $10 million. We do not foresee material additional liabilities for any of these sites.

Post-Closure Costs – Accrued liabilities for post-closure site monitoring and other costs at various closed landfills totaled $23 million at September 30, 2011 and were based on known scopes of work.

Administrative and Legal Costs – As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel had an accrued liability of $6 million for administrative and legal costs related to environmental remediation projects. These accrued liabilities were based on projected administrative and legal costs for the next three years and do not change significantly from year to year.

Capital Expenditures For a number of years, U. S. Steel has made substantial capital expenditures to bring existing facilities into compliance with various laws relating to the environment. In the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, such capital expenditures totaled $64 million and $113 million, respectively. U. S. Steel anticipates making additional such expenditures in the future; however, the exact amounts and timing of such expenditures are uncertain because of the continuing evolution of specific regulatory requirements.

CO2 Emissions – Current and potential regulation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions remains a significant issue for the steel industry, particularly for integrated steel producers such as U. S. Steel. The regulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has either become law or is being considered by legislative bodies of many nations, including countries where we have operating facilities. The European Union (EU) has established GHG regulations based upon national allocations and a cap and trade system. In Canada, both the federal and Ontario governments have issued proposed requirements for GHG emissions. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published rules for regulating requirements as further described below. In the last Congress, legislation was passed in the House of Representatives and introduced in the Senate. We do not know what action, if any, may be taken by the new Congress. The EU has issued proposed regulations under their cap and trade system for the period 2013-2020 which appear to be more stringent than the current requirements.

On May 13, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency published its final Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule establishing a mechanism for regulating GHG emissions from facilities through the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting process. Starting in 2011, new projects that increase GHG emissions by more than 75,000 tons per year have new PSD requirements based on best available control technology (BACT), but only if the project also significantly increases emissions of at least one non-GHG pollutant. Only existing sources with Title V permits or new sources obtaining Title V permits for non-GHG pollutants will also be required to address GHG emissions. Starting July 1, 2011, new sources not already subject to Title V requirements that emit over 100,000 tons per year, or modifications to existing permits that increase GHG emissions by more than 75,000 tons per year, will be subject to PSD and Title V requirements. On November 17, 2010 the EPA issued its “PSD and Title V Permitting Guidance for Greenhouse Gases” and “Available and Emerging Technologies for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Iron and Steel Industry.” With this guidance, EPA intends to help state and local air permitting authorities identify greenhouse gas reductions under the Clean Air Act. Additionally, the EPA revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and lead in 2010 and is in the process of revising the NAAQS for 2.5 micron particulate matter, ozone and sulfur dioxides.

 

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It is impossible to estimate the timing or impact of these or other future government action on U. S. Steel, although it could be significant. Such impacts may include substantial capital expenditures, costs for emission allowances, restriction of production, and higher prices for coking coal, natural gas and electricity generated by carbon based systems.

In July 2008, Slovakia granted USSK CO2 emission allowances as part of the national allocation plan for the 2008 to 2012 trading period (NAP II) approved by the European Commission. Based on actual CO2 emissions to date, we believe that USSK will have sufficient allowances for the NAP II period without purchasing additional allowances. U. S. Steel entered into transactions to sell and swap a portion of our emissions allowances and recognized gains related to these transactions which are reflected in the net gain on disposal of assets line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. U. S. Steel entered into no such transactions during the three months ended September 30, 2011 or 2010. U. S. Steel recognized gains related to these transactions of approximately $6 million and $7 million in the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In December 2010, Slovakia enacted an 80 percent tax on excess emission allowances registered in 2011 and 2012. Based on the current implementing regulations, U. S. Steel has recorded expense of $4 million and $14 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

Environmental and other indemnifications – Throughout its history, U. S. Steel has sold numerous properties and businesses and many of these sales included indemnifications and cost sharing agreements related to the assets that were sold. These indemnifications and cost sharing agreements have related to the condition of the property, the approved use, certain representations and warranties, matters of title and environmental matters. While most of these provisions have not specifically dealt with environmental issues, there have been transactions in which U. S. Steel indemnified the buyer for non-compliance with past, current and future environmental laws related to existing conditions and there can be questions as to the applicability of more general indemnification provisions to environmental matters. Most recent indemnifications and cost sharing agreements are of a limited nature only applying to non-compliance with past and/or current laws. Some indemnifications and cost sharing agreements only run for a specified period of time after the transactions close and others run indefinitely. In addition, current owners of property formerly owned by U. S. Steel may have common law claims and contribution rights against U. S. Steel for environmental matters. The amount of potential environmental liability associated with these transactions and properties is not estimable due to the nature and extent of the unknown conditions related to the properties sold. Aside from the environmental liabilities already recorded as a result of these transactions due to specific environmental remediation activities and cases (included in the $191 million of accrued liabilities for remediation discussed above), there are no other known environmental liabilities related to these transactions.

Guarantees – The maximum outstanding guarantees of the indebtedness of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $29 million at September 30, 2011. In the event that any default related to the guaranteed indebtedness occurs, U. S. Steel has access to its interest in the assets of the investees to reduce its potential losses under the guarantees.

Contingencies related to the Separation from MarathonIn the event of a bankruptcy of Marathon, $233 million of obligations related to Environmental Revenue Bonds, the Fairfield Caster Lease and the coke battery lease at the Clairton Plant may be declared immediately due and payable.

Antitrust Class Actions – In a series of lawsuits filed in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois beginning September 12, 2008, individual direct or indirect buyers of steel products have

 

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asserted that eight steel manufacturers, including U. S. Steel, conspired in violation of antitrust laws to restrict the domestic production of raw steel and thereby to fix, raise, maintain or stabilize the price of steel products in the United States. The cases are filed as class actions and claim treble damages for the period 2005 to present, but do not allege any damage amounts. U. S. Steel is vigorously defending these lawsuits and does not believe that it has any liability regarding these matters.

Investment Canada Action – On July 17, 2009, the Attorney General of Canada initiated a proceeding under Section 40 of Canada’s Investment Canada Act by filing an application in the Canadian federal court that seeks to impose a financial penalty on U. S. Steel due to the Company’s alleged failure to comply with two of the 31 undertakings made by U. S. Steel to the Minister of Industry in connection with the 2007 acquisition of Stelco. The specific undertakings at issue concern production and employment levels anticipated at U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC) assuming certain business conditions. In response to a previous written demand from the Minister with respect to this matter, the Company provided full disclosure regarding the operations at USSC and the impact that the sudden and severe world-wide economic downturn has had on the global steel sector and all of the Company’s North American operations, including operations at USSC. In accordance with the specific language of the undertakings at issue, the unprecedented economic downturn, the effects of which were beyond the control of the company, expressly excuse any non-attainment of the production and employment levels targeted by the 2007 submission. The Company is vigorously defending the matter and believes that the action is without justification or authority.

Randle Reef – The Canadian and Ontario governments have identified for remediation a sediment deposit, commonly referred to as Randle Reef, in Hamilton Harbor near USSC’s Hamilton Works, for which the regulatory agencies estimate expenditures of approximately C$105 million (approximately $101 million). The national and provincial governments have each allocated C$30 million (approximately $29 million) for this project and they have stated that they will be looking for local sources, including industry, to fund C$30 million (approximately $29 million). USSC has committed to contribute approximately 11,000 tons of hot rolled steel and to fund C$2 million (approximately $2 million). The steel contribution is expected to be made in 2013. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $10 million reflecting the contribution commitment.

Other contingenciesUnder certain operating lease agreements covering various equipment, U. S. Steel has the option to renew the lease or to purchase the equipment at the end of the lease term. If U. S. Steel does not exercise the purchase option by the end of the lease term, U. S. Steel guarantees a residual value of the equipment as determined at the lease inception date (totaling approximately $9 million at September 30, 2011). No liability has been recorded for these guarantees as the potential loss is not probable.

InsuranceU. S. Steel maintains insurance for certain property damage, equipment, business interruption and general liability exposures; however, insurance is applicable only after certain deductibles and retainages. U. S. Steel is self-insured for certain other exposures including workers’ compensation (where permitted by law) and auto liability. Liabilities are recorded for workers’ compensation and personal injury obligations. Other costs resulting from losses under deductible or retainage amounts or not otherwise covered by insurance are charged against income upon occurrence.

U. S. Steel uses surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit to provide whole or partial financial assurance for certain obligations such as workers’ compensation. The total amount of active surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit being used for financial assurance purposes was

 

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approximately $173 million as of September 30, 2011, which reflects U. S. Steel’s maximum exposure under these financial guarantees, but not its total exposure for the underlying obligations. Most of the trust arrangements and letters of credit are collateralized by restricted cash. Restricted cash, which is recorded in other current and noncurrent assets, totaled $175 million at September 30, 2011, of which $29 million was classified as current, and $196 million at December 31, 2010, of which $7 million was classified as current.

Capital CommitmentsAt September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $405 million.

Contractual Purchase Commitments – U. S. Steel is obligated to make payments under contractual purchase commitments, including unconditional purchase obligations. Payments for contracts with remaining terms in excess of one year are summarized below (in millions):

 

Remainder

of 2011

   2012      2013      2014      2015      Later
Years
     Total  

$824

   $ 1,614       $ 1,133       $ 415       $ 372       $ 3,230       $ 7,588   

The majority of U. S. Steel’s unconditional purchase obligations relate to the supply of industrial gases, energy and utility services and coke and steam purchase commitments related to a coke supply agreement with Gateway Energy & Coke Company LLC (see note 15) with terms ranging from two to 16 years. Total payments relating to unconditional purchase obligations were approximately $200 million and $120 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $560 million and $380 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

21. Subsequent Event

 

On October 15, 2011, the United Steelworkers (USW) represented employees at U. S. Steel Canada’s Hamilton Works ratified a new three year labor contract. The agreement covers approximately 700 USW represented employees. Among other provisions, the terms of the new agreement include closing the defined benefit pension plan to new participants, eliminating future cost of living increases to pensioners with a one-time lump sum buyout payment of $1,000 to approximately 4,000 pensioners and a signing bonus of $3,000 per employee.

 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Certain sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis include forward-looking statements concerning trends or events potentially affecting the businesses of United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel). These statements typically contain words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends” or similar words indicating that future outcomes are not known with certainty and are subject to risk factors that could cause these outcomes to differ significantly from those projected. In accordance with “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. For discussion of risk factors affecting the businesses of U. S. Steel, see Item 1A. Risk Factors and “Supplementary Data – Disclosures About Forward-Looking Statements” in U. S. Steel’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Form 10-Q. References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “U. S. Steel,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to U. S. Steel and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated by the context.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The following critical accounting estimates should be read in conjunction with those included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Goodwill – Goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of acquired identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities assumed from businesses acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually in the third quarter and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The evaluation of impairment involves comparing the estimated fair value of the associated reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill.

We have two reporting units that have a significant amount of goodwill. Our Flat-rolled reporting unit was allocated goodwill from the Stelco, Inc. (Stelco) and Lone Star Technologies, Inc. (Lone Star) acquisitions in 2007. These amounts reflect the benefits we expect the Flat-rolled reporting unit to realize from expanding our flexibility in meeting our customers’ needs and running our Flat-rolled facilities at higher operating rates to source our semi-finished product needs. Our Texas Operations reporting unit, which is part of our Tubular operating segment, was allocated goodwill from the Lone Star acquisition, reflecting the benefits we expect the reporting unit to realize from the expansion of our tubular operations.

U. S. Steel completed its annual goodwill impairment test during the third quarter of 2011 and determined that there was no goodwill impairment for either reporting unit. Fair value was determined in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 820 on fair value, which requires consideration of the income, market and cost approaches as applicable. For the 2011 annual goodwill impairment test, U. S. Steel used fair values estimated under the income approach and the market approach. U. S. Steel did not utilize the cost approach as relevant data was not available.

The income approach is based upon projected future cash flows discounted to present value using factors that consider the timing and risk associated with the future cash flows. Fair value for the Flat-rolled and Texas Operations reporting units was estimated using probability weighted scenarios of future cash flow projections based on management’s long range estimates of market conditions over a multiple year horizon. A three percent perpetual growth rate was used to arrive at an estimated future

 

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terminal value. A discount rate of 10 percent was used for both reporting units which was based upon the cost of capital of other comparable steel companies, which we view as the most likely market participants, as of the date of our goodwill impairment test.

The market approach is based upon an analysis of valuation metrics for companies comparable to our reporting units. Fair value for the Flat-rolled and Texas Operations reporting units was estimated using an appropriate valuation multiple based on this analysis, estimated normalized earnings and an estimated control premium.

In order to validate the reasonableness of the estimated fair values of our reporting units, a reconciliation of the aggregate fair values of all reporting units to market capitalization, using a reasonable control premium, was performed as of the valuation date. We further validated the reasonableness of the estimated fair values of our reporting units using other valuation metrics that included data from U. S. Steel’s historical transactions as well as published industry analyst reports.

As of September 30, 2011, the Flat-rolled and Texas Operations reporting units have $911 million and $834 million of goodwill, respectively. After weighting the income and market approaches, the 2011 annual goodwill impairment test showed that the estimated fair values of our Flat-rolled and Texas Operations reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximately $1.5 billion and $375 million, respectively. A 75 basis point increase in the discount rate, a critical assumption in which even a minor change can have a significant impact on the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, would decrease the fair value of the Flat-rolled and Texas Operations reporting units by approximately $1.2 billion and $210 million, respectively, but would still not result in a goodwill impairment charge.

The estimates of fair value of a reporting unit under the income approach are determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis. A discounted cash flow analysis requires us to make various judgmental assumptions, including assumptions about the timing and amount of future cash flows, growth rates and discount rates. If business conditions deteriorate or other factors have an adverse effect on our estimates of discounted future cash flows or assumed growth rates, or if we experience a sustained decline in our market capitalization, future tests of goodwill impairment may result in an impairment charge.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

As previously disclosed in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2011, we changed our segment allocation methodology for postretirement benefit expenses, which consists of pensions, retiree health care and life insurance. Historically, we directly attributed all service cost and amortization of prior service costs for active employees and allocated a portion of interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial gains and losses to our segments. Under the revised allocation methodology, active service cost and amortization of prior service costs, which represent the cost of providing these benefits to our active employees, continue to be attributed to our segments. Interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial gains and losses are included in postretirement benefit expenses and are no longer allocated to segments. We have revised prior-period segment information to conform to the current period presentation. The change did not affect consolidated income from operations or net income.

 

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Net sales by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 and 2010 are set forth in the following table:

 

    Quarter Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
(Dollars in millions, excluding
intersegment sales)
  2011     2010     %
Change
        2011             2010         %
Change
 

Flat-rolled Products (Flat-rolled)

  $ 3,136      $ 2,763        13   $ 9,409      $ 8,181        15

U. S. Steel Europe (USSE)

    1,072        1,034        4     3,391        2,983        14

Tubular Products (Tubular)

    846        680        24     2,183        1,804        21
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total sales from reportable segments

    5,054        4,477        13     14,983        12,968        16

Other Businesses

    27        20        35     82        106        -23
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net sales

  $ 5,081      $ 4,497        13   $ 15,065      $ 13,074        15

Management’s analysis of the percentage change in net sales for U. S. Steel’s reportable business segments for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 versus the quarter ended September 30, 2010 is set forth in the following table:

Quarter Ended September 30, 2011 versus Quarter Ended September 30, 2010

 

     Steel Products (a)              
      Volume     Price     Mix     FX  (b)    

Coke &

Other

    Net
Change
 

Flat-rolled

     2     10     -1     1     1     13

USSE

     -9     3     3     7     0     4

Tubular

     12     9     2     0     1     24

 

  (a) 

Excludes intersegment sales

  (b) 

Currency translation effects

Net sales were $5,081 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared with $4,497 million in the same quarter last year. The increase in sales for the Flat-rolled segment primarily reflected higher average realized prices (up $85 per ton) and higher shipments (up 23 thousand tons) as a result of improved market conditions. The increase in sales for the European segment was primarily due to higher average realized euro-based prices (up 32 per ton) and favorable changes in foreign currency translation effects partially offset by a decrease in shipments as a result of weaker demand due to the difficult economic conditions in Europe, particularly in Southern Europe (down 127 thousand tons). The increase in sales for the Tubular segment resulted primarily from higher average realized prices (up $140 per ton) and higher shipments (up 59 thousand tons) as a result of improved energy market conditions.

 

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Management’s analysis of the percentage change in net sales for U. S. Steel’s reportable business segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is set forth in the following table:

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 versus Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

     Steel Products (a)              
      Volume     Price     Mix     FX  (b)    

Coke &

Other

    Net
Change
 

Flat-rolled

     2     12     0     0     1     15

USSE

     -10     16     2     6     0     14

Tubular

     12     7     1     0     1     21

 

  (a) 

Excludes intersegment sales

  (b) 

Currency translation effects

Net sales were $15,065 million in the first nine months of 2011, compared with $13,074 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales for the Flat-rolled segment primarily reflected higher average realized prices (up $83 per ton) and increased shipments (up 280 thousand tons) as a result of improved economic conditions. The increase in sales for the European segment was primarily due to higher average realized euro-based prices (up 101 per ton) and favorable changes in foreign currency translation effects partially offset by a decrease in shipments as a result of weaker demand due to the difficult economic conditions in Europe, particularly in Southern Europe (down 452 thousand tons). The increase in sales for the Tubular segment resulted primarily from higher shipments (up 165 thousand tons) and higher average realized prices (up $86 per ton) as a result of improved energy market conditions.

Pension and other benefits costs

Defined benefit and multiemployer pension plan costs totaled $110 million in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $68 million in the third quarter of 2010. Defined benefit and multiemployer pension plan costs totaled $327 million in the first nine months of 2011, compared to $207 million in the first nine months of 2010. The $42 million and $120 million increase for the quarter and nine month period, respectively, is primarily due to higher amortization of unrecognized losses and lower asset returns, both of which relate to a lower market-related value of assets caused by the recognition of remaining deferred 2008 investment losses. U. S. Steel calculates its market-related value of assets such that investment gains or losses as compared to expected returns are recognized over a three-year period. To the extent that deferred gains and losses on plan assets are not yet reflected in this calculated value, the amounts do not impact expected asset returns or the net actuarial gains or losses subject to amortization within the net periodic pension expense calculation.

Net periodic pension cost, including multiemployer plans, is expected to total approximately $435 million in 2011. Excluding any further effects of 2011 activities, net periodic pension cost is expected to decrease in 2012 as a result of lower amortization of unrecognized losses as the 2008 plan asset losses will be fully recognized in the calculated value of plan assets and the natural maturation of our pension plans. Total other benefits costs in 2011 are expected to total approximately $160 million.

 

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Estimated annual future pension and other benefit net periodic benefit costs are as follows:

 

(In millions)    Pension
Benefits
     Other
Benefits
 

2012

   $ 340       $ 120   

2013

     290         95   

2014

     260         75   

The above estimated annual future net periodic benefit costs for pension and other benefits are calculated using the same major actuarial assumptions as were used in our financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and assumes that actual returns equal expected returns in the future periods shown. These major actuarial assumptions included a 5% discount rate, 8% and 7.5% expected rates of return on the assets in our U.S. plans and our Canadian plans, respectively, and a health care cost trend rate of 8% in the U.S. for 2011 declining to 5% in 2014 and 6% in Canada for 2011 declining to 5% in 2014.

The preceding statement concerning expected 2012 through 2014 net periodic benefit costs for pension and other benefits is a forward-looking statement. This forward-looking statement is based on assumptions, which can be affected by (among other things) return on plan assets, discount rates, health care cost trend rates and general economic conditions. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from current expectations in the forward-looking statement.

The discount rate and plan asset performance are significant assumption inputs used in the calculation of pension and other benefits net periodic benefit costs. To determine the discount rate used to measure our pension and other benefit obligations, we utilize several bond indices as an indication of interest rate levels. As of September 30, 2011, relevant interest rates are lower than interest rates at September 30, 2010. U. S. Steel performs its evaluation based upon bond indices at December 31 of each year.

A sensitivity analysis of the projected incremental effect of a hypothetical  1/2 percentage point change in the significant inputs used in the calculation of pension and other benefits net periodic benefit costs is provided in the following table:

 

     Hypothetical Rate
Increase (Decrease)
 
(In millions of dollars)        1/2%             (1/2%)      

Expected return on plan assets

    

Incremental increase (decrease) in:

    

Net periodic pension cost

   $ (48   $ 48   

Discount rate

    

Incremental increase (decrease) in:

    

Net periodic pension & other benefits costs

   $ (34   $ 35   

Health care cost escalation trend rates

    

Incremental increase (decrease) in:

    

Service and interest cost components for 2011

   $ 16      $ (14

Costs related to defined contribution plans totaled $10 million and $29 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively, compared to $8 million and $14 million in the comparable periods in 2010. The increase in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 is primarily due to costs related to the Company match of employee 401(k) contributions which was temporarily suspended during a portion of the 2010 period.

 

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Other benefits costs, including multiemployer plans, totaled $39 million and $119 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively, compared to $38 million and $114 million in the corresponding periods of 2010.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $181 million and $550 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively, compared to $148 million and $448 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively. The increase in both periods is primarily related to a $20 million and $60 million increase, respectively, in pension and other benefits costs, which is a portion of the $42 million and $120 million increase, respectively, discussed under pension and other benefits costs above, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 as compared to the same periods in 2010.

Income (loss) from operations by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 and 2010 is set forth in the following table:

 

    Quarter Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
(Dollars in millions)   2011     2010     %
Change
        2011             2010         %
Change
 

Flat-rolled

  $ 203      $ (161     226   $ 541      $ (118     558

USSE

    (50     (25     -100     (73     6        -1317

Tubular

    134        113        19     197        256        -23
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total income (loss) from reportable segments

    287        (73     493     665        144        362

Other Businesses

    8        8        0     30        47        -36
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Segment income (loss) from operations

    295        (65     554     695        191        264

Postretirement benefit expense

    (96     (58       (287     (173  

Other items not allocated to segments:

           

Net loss on sale of assets

      (15         (15  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total income (loss) from operations

  $ 199      $ (138     244   $ 408      $ 3        13500

Segment results for Flat-rolled

 

    Quarter Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
     2011     2010     %
Change
        2011             2010         %
Change
 

Income (loss) from operations ($ millions)

  $ 203      $ (161     226   $ 541      $ (118     558

Gross margin

    11.4     0.0     11     10.7     4.5     6

Raw steel production (mnt)

    4,516        4,694        -4     14,008        14,056        0

Capability utilization

    74     77     -3     77     77     0

Steel shipments (mnt)

    3,835        3,812        1     11,725        11,445        2

Average realized steel price per ton

  $ 773      $ 688        12   $ 765      $ 682        12

The improvement in Flat-rolled results in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 resulted mainly from net favorable changes in commercial effects (approximately $360 million), decreased other operating costs (approximately $65 million), favorable changes from increased steel

 

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substrate sales to our Tubular segment (approximately $50 million), decreased lower of cost or market charges for inventory (approximately $10 million) and higher income from our joint ventures (approximately $10 million). These improvements were partially offset by higher raw materials costs (approximately $100 million) and higher accruals for profit-based payments (approximately $30 million).

The significant improvement in Flat-rolled results in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 resulted mainly from net favorable changes in commercial effects (approximately $990 million), favorable changes from increased steel substrate sales to our Tubular segment (approximately $165 million), decreased energy costs primarily due to a reduction in natural gas costs (approximately $30 million), higher income from our joint ventures (approximately $15 million) and decreased lower of cost or market charges for inventory (approximately $10 million). These improvements were partially offset by higher raw materials costs (approximately $390 million), increased other operating costs (approximately $130 million) and higher accruals for profit-based payments (approximately $30 million).

Segment results for USSE

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
      2011     2010     %
Change
        2011             2010         %
Change
 

(Loss) income from operations ($ millions)

   $ (50   $ (25     -100   $ (73   $ 6        -1317

Gross margin

     3.6     4.4     -1     5.2     7.2     -2

Raw steel production (mnt)

     1,317        1,441        -9     4,429        4,665        -5

Capability utilization

     71     77     -6     80     84     -4

Steel shipments (mnt)

     1,196        1,323        -10     3,779        4,231        -11

Average realized steel price per ton

   $ 862      $ 748        15   $ 868      $ 680        28

The decrease in USSE results in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 was primarily due to higher raw material costs (approximately $45 million), increased other operating costs (approximately $15 million), increased energy costs primarily due to an increase in electricity costs (approximately $10 million), increased lower of cost or market charges for inventory (approximately $5 million) and tax expense on excess emission allowances (approximately $5 million) partially offset by net favorable changes in commercial effects (approximately $40 million) and favorable changes in foreign translation effects (approximately $15 million).

The decrease in USSE results in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 was primarily due to higher raw material costs (approximately $380 million), increased other operating costs (approximately $75 million), increased energy costs primarily due to an increase in electricity costs (approximately $30 million), increased inventory charges (approximately $15 million) and tax expense on excess emission allowances (approximately $15 million) partially offset by net favorable changes in commercial effects (approximately $395 million) and favorable changes in foreign translation effects (approximately $40 million).

Segment results for Tubular

 

    Quarter Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
     2011     2010     %
Change
        2011             2010         %
Change
 

Income from operations ($ millions)

  $ 134      $ 113        19   $ 197      $ 256        -23

Gross margin

    18.1     20.2     -2     12.7     17.9     -5

Steel shipments (mnt)

    481        422        14     1,330        1,165        14

Average realized steel price per ton

  $ 1,699      $ 1,559        9   $ 1,576      $ 1,490        6

 

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The increase in Tubular results in the third quarter of 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010 resulted mainly from net favorable changes in commercial effects (approximately $75 million) partially offset by increased costs for steel substrate (approximately $45 million) and increased other operating costs (approximately $10 million).

The decrease in Tubular results in the first nine months of 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010 resulted mainly from increased costs for steel substrate (approximately $170 million) and increased other operating costs (approximately $30 million) partially offset by net favorable changes in commercial effects (approximately $145 million).

Results for Other Businesses

Other Businesses generated income of $8 million and $30 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively, compared to income of $8 million and $47 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively. The decrease in the nine months period is primarily due to a sale of land for $18 million by our real estate operations in the second quarter of 2010.

Items not allocated to segments

We recorded a $15 million pretax net loss on the sale of assets in the third quarter of 2010 as a result of the sale of a majority of the operating assets of Fintube Technologies, a non-core business.

The increase in postretirement benefit expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 as compared to the same periods in 2010 resulted from higher amortization of unrecognized losses and lower asset returns, both of which relate to a lower market-related value of assets caused by the recognition of remaining deferred 2008 investment losses.

Net interest and other financial costs

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
          Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
(Dollars in millions)    2011     2010     %
Change
    2011     2010     %
Change
 

Interest and other financial costs

   $ 53      $ 58        -9   $ 166      $ 166        0

Interest income

     (1     (1     0     (4     (5     -20

Foreign currency losses (gains)

     92        (135     168     (26     19        -237
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

   $ 144      $ (78     285   $ 136      $ 180        -24

The unfavorable change in net interest and other financial costs in the third quarter of 2011 as compared to the same period last year was mainly due to net foreign currency losses in 2011 compared to net foreign currency gains in 2010. The foreign currency effects primarily resulted from the accounting remeasurement effects on a U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loan (the Intercompany Loan) from a U.S. subsidiary to a European subsidiary that had an outstanding balance of $1.6 billion at September 30, 2011 partially offset by euro-U.S. dollar derivatives activity, which we use to mitigate our foreign currency exchange rate exposure. The favorable change in net interest and other financial costs in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period last year was mainly due to net foreign currency gains in 2011 compared to net foreign currency losses in 2010. The foreign currency effects primarily resulted from the accounting remeasurement effects on the Intercompany Loan partially offset by euro-U.S. dollar derivatives activity, which we use to mitigate our foreign currency exchange rate exposure. For additional information on U. S. Steel’s foreign currency exchange activity, see note 12 to the Financial Statements and “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk – Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.”

 

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The income tax provision was $33 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared to an income tax benefit of $9 million in the third quarter of 2010, which included a $29 million favorable catch-up adjustment as a result of a decrease in the estimated annual effective tax rate. The income tax provision was $114 million in the first nine months of 2011 compared to $56 million in the first nine months of 2010. The 2011 and 2010 effective tax rates differ from the statutory rate because losses in Canada and Serbia, which are jurisdictions where we have recorded a full valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, do not generate a tax benefit for accounting purposes and because we had net foreign currency gains that are not recognized in any tax jurisdiction. These foreign currency gains relate to the accounting remeasurement effects of the Intercompany Loan. Included in the first nine months of 2010 tax benefit is a net tax benefit of $30 million resulting from the conclusion of certain tax return examinations and the remeasurement of existing tax reserves, offset by a tax charge of $27 million as a result of the U.S. health care legislation enacted in the first quarter of 2010.

The tax provision for the first nine months of 2011 is based on an estimated annual effective rate, which requires management to make its best estimate of annual pretax income or loss. During the year, management regularly updates forecasted annual pretax results for the various countries in which we operate based on changes in factors such as prices, shipments, product mix, operating performance and cost estimates. To the extent that actual 2011 pretax results for U.S. and foreign income or loss vary from estimates made at the end of the most recent interim period, the actual tax provision or benefit recognized in 2011 could be materially different from the forecasted amount used to estimate the tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

The net domestic deferred tax asset was $453 million at September 30, 2011 compared to $563 million at December 31, 2010. A substantial amount of U. S. Steel’s domestic deferred tax assets relates to employee benefits that will become deductible for tax purposes over an extended period of time as cash contributions are made to employee benefit plans and retiree benefits are paid in the future. As a result of our cumulative historical earnings and available tax planning strategies, we continue to believe it is more likely than not that the domestic deferred tax assets will be realized.

At September 30, 2011, the net foreign deferred tax asset was $75 million, net of established valuation allowances of $955 million. At December 31, 2010, the net foreign deferred tax asset was $77 million, net of established valuation allowances of $870 million. Net foreign deferred tax assets will fluctuate as the value of the U.S. dollar changes with respect to the Canadian dollar, the euro and the Serbian dinar. A full valuation allowance is recorded for both the Canadian and Serbian deferred tax assets primarily due to cumulative losses in these jurisdictions in recent years. If evidence changes and it becomes more likely than not that the Company will realize the deferred tax assets, the valuation allowance of $863 million for Canadian deferred tax assets and $83 million for Serbian deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2011, would be partially or fully reversed. Any reversals of these amounts would result in a decrease to tax expense.

For further information on income taxes see note 9 to the Financial Statements.

Net income attributable to United States Steel Corporation was $22 million and $158 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively, compared to a net loss of $51 million and $233 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively. The improvement in both periods primarily reflects the factors discussed above.

 

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BALANCE SHEET

Receivables increased by $504 million, or 25%, from year-end 2010. Sales in the latter part of a quarter typically represent the majority of the receivables as of the end of the quarter. The increase in receivables at the end of the third quarter compared to year-end 2010 primarily reflected increased average realized prices. Additionally, the month end exchange rate used to translate foreign currency receivables was slightly higher at the end of September versus the end of December.

Receivables sold to third party conduits as of September 30, 2011 reflects accounts receivable sold to third party conduits under our Receivables Purchase Agreement.

Inventories increased by $491 million from year-end 2010 due to increased business volume and our decision to carry higher steel inventories, primarily to provide our automotive and other customers responsive service and position us to take advantage of future business opportunities. In addition, we are currently carrying higher than anticipated raw material inventories in part due to lower than planned steel production.

Income tax receivable decreased by $164 million from year-end 2010 primarily due to a net federal income tax refund of $121 million that was received in the first nine months of 2011.

Accounts payable increased by $357 million from year-end 2010 primarily due to increased business volume and increased capital expenditures.

Borrowings under Receivables Purchase Agreement as of September 30, 2011 reflects the outstanding borrowings under our Receivables Purchase Agreement.

Employee benefits decreased by $423 million from year end 2010 primarily due to U. S. Steel’s $140 million voluntary pension contribution to our main defined benefit pension plan, higher retiree medical payments and favorable effects of foreign currency translation.

CASH FLOW

Net cash provided by operating activities was $108 million for the first nine months of 2011, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $478 million in the same period last year. The improvement is primarily due to improved net income in the first nine months of 2011 and changes in working capital period over period. Changes in working capital can vary significantly depending on factors such as the timing of inventory production and purchases, which is affected by the length of our business cycles as well as our captive raw materials position, customer payments of accounts receivable and payments to vendors in the regular course of business. Our key working capital components include accounts receivable and inventory. The accounts receivable and inventory turnover ratios for the three months and twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Twelve Months Ended
September 30,
 
      2011      2010      2011      2010  

Accounts Receivable Turnover

     1.9         1.9         8.0         8.3   

Inventory Turnover

     1.6         2.0         6.8         7.6   

Working capital changes in the first nine months of 2011 reflected a modest increase in accounts receivable and a much larger increase in inventory. Accounts receivable reflect increased selling prices in the first nine months of 2011 as described in the balance sheet section above. The inventory

 

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increase reflects our decision to carry higher steel inventories, primarily to provide our automotive and other customers responsive service and position us to take advantage of future business opportunities. In addition, we are currently carrying higher than anticipated raw material inventories in part due to lower than planned steel production and our decision to keep one of our blast furnaces in Serbia idled.

Additionally, in the first nine months of 2011, we made a $140 million voluntary pension contribution to our main defined benefit pension plan and received a net federal income tax refund of $121 million as discussed above. In the first nine months of 2010, we made a $140 million voluntary pension contribution to our main defined benefit pension plan and received a $208 million U.S. federal tax refund.

Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2011 were $626 million, compared with $426 million in the same period in 2010. Flat-rolled expenditures were $427 million and included spending for construction of carbon alloy facilities at Gary Works, construction of a technologically and environmentally advanced coke battery at the Mon Valley Works’ Clairton Plant, development of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and various other infrastructure, environmental and strategic projects. USSE expenditures of $93 million included spending for environmental projects and for blast furnace coal injection projects. Tubular expenditures of $94 million consisted primarily of spending for a quench and temper line at our Lorain Tubular Operations in Ohio.

U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2011, totaled $405 million.

Capital expenditures for 2011 are expected to total approximately $860 million and remain focused largely on environmental and other strategic infrastructure projects. We have accelerated several projects in the United States and Europe to improve our coke self-sufficiency. Engineering and construction of a technologically and environmentally advanced coke battery at the Mon Valley Works’ Clairton Plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania is underway with completion expected in 2012. We are constructing a two module carbon alloy facility at our Gary Works in Indiana which utilizes an environmentally compliant, energy efficient and flexible production technology to produce a coke substitute product. The facility has a projected capacity of 500,000 tons per year with completion expected in 2012. We have received the necessary air permits for up to 1 million tons of such capacity. We also completed construction on blast furnace coal injection facilities in Europe, which we expect will be fully operational by the end of the year, at which time all five blast furnaces in Europe will have access to pulverized coal, a lower cost source of carbon than coke. The new heat treat and finishing facilities at our Lorain Tubular Operations in Ohio were commissioned and began start-up activities during the third quarter of 2011. The facilities were constructed to meet the growing demand for heat-treated oil country tubular goods (OCTG) casing in North America, strategically located to serve the Marcellus region. In an effort to increase our participation in the automotive market as vehicle emission and safety requirements become more stringent, PRO-TEC Coating Company, our joint venture in Ohio with Kobe Steel, Ltd., has a new automotive continuous annealing line under construction that is being financed at the joint venture level and is expected to be completed in 2013. We are also continuing our efforts to implement an ERP system to replace outdated information technology systems and to help us operate more efficiently. The completion of the ERP project is expected to provide further opportunities to streamline, standardize and centralize business processes in order to maximize cost effectiveness, efficiency and control across our global operations.

Over the longer term, we are considering business strategies to leverage our significant iron ore position in the United States, exploit opportunities related to our long-term supply of reasonably priced natural gas and enhance our coke position to improve our cost competitiveness, flexibility and agility while reducing our exposure to coal and coke. We are considering an expansion of our Keetac mining and pelletizing facility in order to increase our iron ore self-sufficiency. The required permitting activities are underway. We also are examining alternative iron and steelmaking technologies such as

 

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gas-based, direct-reduced iron and electric arc steelmaking. We continue to pursue other strategies to efficiently increase the use of natural gas in our operations given the significant cost and environmental advantages of this fuel. Our capital investments in the future may reflect such strategies, although we expect that iron and steel-making through the blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace manufacturing processes will remain our primary processing technology for the long term.

The foregoing statements regarding expected 2011 capital expenditures, capital projects and expected benefits from the implementation of the ERP project are forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect our capital spending and the projects include: (i) levels of cash flow from operations; (ii) taxes or changes in tax laws; (iii) general economic conditions; (iv) business conditions; (v) cost and availability of capital; (vi) receipt of necessary permits; and (vii) unforeseen hazards such as contractor performance, material shortages, weather conditions, explosions or fires. There is also a risk that the completed projects will not produce at the expected levels and within the costs currently projected. Predictions regarding benefits resulting from the implementation of the ERP project are subject to uncertainties. We may not be able to successfully implement the ERP project without experiencing difficulties. In addition, the expected benefits of implementing the ERP project might not be realized or the costs of implementation might outweigh the benefits realized. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements.

Disposal of assets in the first nine months of 2011 primarily reflects cash proceeds of approximately $6 million from transactions to swap a portion of the emissions allowances at U. S. Steel Košice (USSK) as well as various other transactions, none of which were individually material. Disposal of assets in the first nine months of 2010 primarily reflects cash proceeds of approximately $60 million from the sale of U. S. Steel’s 44.6 percent interest in the Wabush Mines Joint Venture and approximately $22 million from the sale of a majority of the operating assets of Fintube.

Borrowings against revolving credit facilities in the first nine months of 2011 reflect amounts drawn under USSK’s 280 million total unsecured revolving credit facilities.

Repayments of revolving credit facilities in the first nine months of 2011 reflect USSK’s repayment of the outstanding borrowings under its 280 million total unsecured revolving credit facilities. Repayments of revolving credit facilities in the first nine months of 2010 reflect USSK’s repayment of the outstanding borrowings under its 200 million unsecured revolving credit facility.

Proceeds from (payments on) Receivables Purchase Agreement in the first nine months of 2011 reflect activity under the Receivables Purchase Agreement.

Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs in the first nine months of 2010 reflects the issuance of $600 million of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2020. U. S. Steel received net proceeds of $582 million after related discounts and other fees. Also in the first nine months of 2010, we issued $89 million of Environmental Revenue Bonds (ERBs), maturing in 2026.

Repayment of long-term debt in the first nine months of 2010 primarily reflects the refunding of $89 million of ERBs.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s liquidity as of September 30, 2011:

(Dollars in millions)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 270   

Amount available under $875 Million Credit Facility (a)

     788   

Amount available under Receivables Purchase Agreement

     550   

Amounts available under USSK credit facilities

     235   

Amounts available under USSS credit facilities

     43   
  

 

 

 

Total estimated liquidity

   $ 1,886   

 

 

(a) 

As of September 30, 2011, there were no amounts drawn on the Amended Credit Agreement and inventory levels supported the full $875 million capacity of the facility. Since availability under the Amended Credit Agreement was greater than $87.5 million, compliance with the fixed charge coverage ratio was not applicable. However, based on the most recent four quarters, as of September 30, 2011, we would not meet the fixed charge coverage ratio. Therefore, we reduced the availability in the above table to $787.5 million.

As of September 30, 2011, $129 million of the total cash and cash equivalents was held by our foreign subsidiaries.

On July 20, 2011, U. S. Steel entered into an amendment and restatement of its $750 million Credit Agreement which increased the facility to $875 million, extended the term to July 20, 2016, added a minimum liquidity requirement to address the maturity of the 4% Senior Convertible Notes due in May 2014, reduced the fixed charge coverage ratio and the conditions under which it applies and made amendments to other terms and conditions.

Under the amended agreement, U. S. Steel must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent four consecutive quarters when availability is less than the greater of 10% of the aggregate total commitments and $87.5 million. The previous terms set the amount at 15% and $112.5 million and, therefore, liquidity was increased by an additional $25 million.

As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has a Receivables Purchase Agreement (RPA) that provides liquidity and letters of credit depending upon the number of eligible domestic receivables generated by U. S. Steel. Domestic trade accounts receivables are sold, on a daily basis, without recourse, to U. S. Steel Receivables, LLC (USSR), a consolidated wholly owned special purpose entity. If U. S. Steel decides to access this facility, USSR then sells an undivided interest in these receivables to certain conduits. The conduits issue commercial paper to finance the purchase of their interest in the receivables and if any of them are unable to fund such purchases, two banks are committed to do so. U. S. Steel has agreed to continue servicing the sold receivables at market rates. Because U. S. Steel receives adequate compensation for these services, no servicing asset or liability has been recorded.

The RPA may be terminated on the occurrence and failure to cure certain events, including, among others, failure by U. S. Steel to make payments under our material debt obligations and any failure to maintain certain ratios related to the collectability of the receivables. On July 18, 2011, U. S. Steel entered into an amendment of our RPA that increased the maximum amount of receivables eligible for sale by $100 million to $625 million, extended the term until July 18, 2014 and made amendments to other terms and conditions. As of September 30, 2011, eligible accounts receivable supported the maximum amount eligible for sale of $625 million and there was $75 million of outstanding borrowings based on receivables sold to third-party conduits under this facility that reduced availabililty to $550 million.

 

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At September 30, 2011, USSK had 105 million (approximately $142 million) borrowed under its 200 million (approximately $270 million) revolving unsecured credit facility. The 105 million was borrowed during the third quarter to fund working capital needs.

At September 30, 2011, USSK had no borrowings under its 80 million credit facilities (which approximated $108 million) and the availability was approximately $107 million due to approximately $1 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding.

At September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel Serbia (USSS) had no borrowings against its facilities which consist of facilities for general corporate purposes of up to 20 million and facilities for overdrafts of up to 1 billion Serbian dinars (which together totaled approximately $43 million), subject in each case to a borrowing base calculation based upon the value of USSS’s inventory of finished and semi-finished inventory. On July 29, 2011, USSS entered into new facilities with substantially similar terms as the facilities that were to expire on August 31, 2011. The new facilities expire on August 31, 2012. At September 30, 2011, USSS inventory values were sufficient to utilize the entire amount of the facilities.

We use surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit to provide financial assurance for certain transactions and business activities. The use of some forms of financial assurance and collateral have a negative impact on liquidity. U. S. Steel has committed $144 million of liquidity sources for financial assurance purposes as of September 30, 2011.

In the event of a bankruptcy of Marathon Oil Corporation, obligations of $233 million relating to Environmental Revenue Bonds and two capital leases may be declared immediately due and payable.

The maximum outstanding guarantees of the indebtedness of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $29 million at September 30, 2011. In the event that any default related to the guaranteed indebtedness occurs, U. S. Steel has access to its interest in the assets of the investees to reduce its potential losses under the guarantees.

Our major cash requirements in 2011 are expected to be for capital expenditures, employee benefits and working capital requirements, including purchases of raw materials. We finished the third quarter of 2011 with $270 million of available cash and $1.9 billion of total liquidity. Available cash is left on deposit with financial institutions or invested in highly liquid securities with parties we believe to be creditworthy. As business conditions have started to recover, our working capital requirements have increased and any future increases may require us to draw upon our credit facilities for necessary cash. Should we experience a significant increase in orders or an unexpected need for funds that cannot be met with available cash and our liquidity facilities, we may need to access the capital markets.

U. S. Steel management believes that U. S. Steel’s liquidity will be adequate to satisfy our obligations for the foreseeable future, including obligations to complete currently authorized capital spending programs. Future requirements for U. S. Steel’s business needs, including the funding of acquisitions and capital expenditures, scheduled debt maturities, contributions to employee benefit plans, payments of retiree benefits and any amounts that may ultimately be paid in connection with contingencies, are expected to be financed by a combination of internally generated funds (including asset sales), proceeds from the sale of stock, borrowings, refinancings and other external financing sources.

Our opinion regarding liquidity is a forward-looking statement based upon currently available information. To the extent that operating cash flow is materially lower than recent levels or external financing sources are not available on terms competitive with those currently available, future liquidity may be adversely affected.

 

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Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

U. S. Steel did not enter into any new material off-balance sheet arrangements during the first nine months of 2011.

Environmental Matters, Litigation and Contingencies

U. S. Steel has incurred and will continue to incur substantial capital, operating and maintenance, and remediation expenditures as a result of environmental laws and regulations. In recent years, these expenditures have been mainly for process changes in order to meet Clean Air Act obligations and similar obligations in Europe and Canada, although ongoing compliance costs have also been significant. To the extent that these expenditures, as with all costs, are not ultimately reflected in the prices of our products and services, operating results will be reduced. U. S. Steel believes that our major North American, and many European, integrated steel competitors are confronted by substantially similar conditions and thus does not believe that our relative position with regard to such competitors is materially affected by the impact of environmental laws and regulations. However, the costs and operating restrictions necessary for compliance with environmental laws and regulations may have an adverse effect on our competitive position with regard to domestic mini-mills, some foreign steel producers (particularly in developing economies such as China) and producers of materials which compete with steel, all of which may not be required to incur equivalent costs in their operations. In addition, the specific impact on each competitor may vary depending on a number of factors, including the age and location of its operating facilities and its production methods. U. S. Steel is also responsible for remediation costs related to our prior disposal of environmentally sensitive materials. Many of our competitors do not have similar historical liabilities.

Our U.S. facilities are subject to the U.S. environmental standards, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as well as state and local laws and regulations.

U. S. Steel Canada is subject to the environmental laws of Canada, which are comparable to environmental standards in the United States. Environmental regulation in Canada is an area of shared responsibility between the federal government and the provincial governments, which in turn delegate certain matters to municipal governments. Federal environmental statutes include the federal Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Fisheries Act. Various provincial statutes regulate environmental matters such as the release and remediation of hazardous substances; waste storage, treatment and disposal; and air emissions. As in the United States, Canadian environmental laws (federal, provincial and local) are undergoing revision and becoming more stringent.

USSK is subject to the environmental laws of Slovakia and the European Union (EU). A related law of the EU commonly known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, Regulation 1907/2006) requires the registration of certain substances that are produced in the EU or imported into the EU. USSK made the necessary registrations in a timely manner and is currently compliant with REACH. Slovakia is also currently considering a law implementing an EU Waste Framework Directive that would more strictly regulate waste disposal and increase fees for waste disposed of in landfills including privately owned landfills. USSK cannot estimate the financial impact of this prospective legislation. The EU’s Industry Emission Directive will require implementation of EU-determined BATs (best available techniques) to reduce environmental burdens as well as

 

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compliance with BAT-associated emissions levels. It contains operational requirements for air emissions, waste water discharges, solid waste disposal and energy conservation, dictates certain operating practices and imposes stricter emission limits. Slovakia is required to adopt the directive by January 7, 2013 and is allowed only very limited discretion in the implementing legislation. USSK is currently assessing the cost of complying with this directive.

USSS is subject to the environmental laws of Serbia. Under the terms of the acquisition in 2003, USSS is responsible for only those costs and liabilities associated with environmental events occurring subsequent to the completion of an environmental baseline study in June 2004, which was submitted to the Government of Serbia.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulation

The current and potential regulation of greenhouse gas emissions remains a significant issue for the steel industry, particularly for integrated steel producers such as U. S. Steel. The regulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has either become law or is being considered by legislative bodies of many nations, including countries where we have operating facilities. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published rules for regulating greenhouse gas emissions for certain facilities and has implemented various reporting requirements as further described below. In the last Congress, legislation was passed in the House of Representatives and introduced in the Senate. We do not know what action, if any, may be taken by the new Congress. The EU has established greenhouse gas regulations while in Canada, a regulatory framework for greenhouse gas emissions has been published, details of which are discussed below. International negotiations to supplement and eventually replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol are ongoing.

The U.S. EPA has classified CO2 as a harmful gas. Under this premise, it has implemented a new greenhouse gas emission inventory and reporting requirement for all facilities emitting 25,000 metric tons or more per year of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases (CO2e). Emission reports for all U. S. Steel facilities were filed by September 30, 2011.

On May 13, 2010 the EPA published its final Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule establishing a mechanism for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from facilities through the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting process. Starting January 2, 2011, new projects that increase greenhouse gas emissions by more than 75,000 tons per year, have new PSD requirements based on best available control technology (BACT), but only if the project also significantly increases emissions of at least one non-greenhouse gas pollutant. Only existing sources with Title V permits or new sources obtaining Title V permits for non-greenhouse gas pollutants will also be required to address greenhouse gas emissions. Starting July 1, 2011 new sources not already subject to Title V requirements that emit over 100,000 tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions, or modifications to existing permits that increase greenhouse gas emissions by more than 75,000 tons per year, will be subject to PSD and Title V requirements. On November 17, 2010 the EPA issued its “PSD and Title V Permitting Guidance for Greenhouse Gases” and “Available and Emerging Technologies for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Iron and Steel Industry.” Through this guidance, the EPA intends to help state and local air permitting authorities identify greenhouse gas reduction options and BACT for greenhouse gases under the CAA. U. S. Steel is currently evaluating the cost of compliance with these regulations.

The European Commission (EC) has created an Emissions Trading System (ETS). Under the ETS, the EC establishes CO2 emissions limits for every EU member state and approves grants of CO2 emission allowances to individual emitting facilities pursuant to national allocation plans that are proposed by each of the member states. The allowances can be bought and sold by emitting facilities to cover the quantities of CO2 they emit in their operations.

 

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In July 2008, Slovakia granted USSK CO2 emission allowances as part of the national allocation plan for the 2008 to 2012 trading period (NAP II) approved by the European Commission. Based on actual CO2 emissions to date, we believe that USSK will have sufficient allowances for the NAP II period without purchasing additional allowances. U. S. Steel entered into transactions to sell and swap a portion of our emissions allowances and recognized gains related to these transactions of approximately $6 million and $7 million in the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

In December 2010, Slovakia enacted an 80 percent tax on excess emission allowances registered in 2011 and 2012. Based on the current implementing regulations, U. S. Steel has recorded expense of $4 million and $14 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011, respectively.

For the period after 2012, the EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) will employ centralized allocation rather than national allocation plans. The new ETS also includes a cap designed to achieve an overall reduction of greenhouse gases for the ETS sectors of 21% in 2020 compared to 2005 emissions and auctioning as the basic principle for allocating emissions allowances, with some transitional free allocation provided on the basis of benchmarks for manufacturing industries under risk of carbon leakage. Manufacturing of coke oven products, basic iron and steel, ferro-alloys and cast iron tubes have all been recognized as exposing companies to a significant risk of carbon leakage, but the new ETS is still expected to lead to additional costs for steel companies in Europe. U. S. Steel will continue to evaluate the cost of compliance.

In 2007, Canada’s federal government announced a framework climate change plan that involved mandatory reduction targets for all major greenhouse gas producing industries. To this date, this plan has not been implemented. More recently, the federal government has indicated that it is committed to reducing Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, but also stated that this target is subject to adjustment in order to remain consistent with the emerging cap-and-trade system in the United States. At this point, it is unclear when Canadian federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions will be developed and whether they will reflect the targets or approach of the previously announced plan. On June 12, 2009, Canada’s federal government released for comment two draft guides related to the establishment of an Offset System in Canada. These draft documents propose rules and provide guidance on the requirements and processes to create offset credits and the requirements and processes to verify the eligible greenhouse gas reductions achieved from an offset project. Canada’s federal government has stated that, once in place, the Offset System will compliment the proposed cap-and-trade system and help in generating greenhouse gas emissions reductions across the country. If greenhouse gas cap-and-trade legislation becomes law in Canada, it could have economic and operational consequences for U. S. Steel. It is impossible to estimate the timing or impact of these or other future government action on U. S. Steel.

In December 2007, the Ontario government announced its own Action Plan on Climate Change (the Ontario Action Plan). The Ontario Action Plan targets reductions in Ontario greenhouse gas emissions of six percent below 1990 levels by 2014, 15 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. In December 2008, Ontario launched a consultation process towards the development of a cap-and-trade system and in May 2009, the Ontario government released a discussion paper regarding cap-and-trade. The Ontario government has amended the Environmental Protection Act in order to provide the regulatory authority to set-up a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system; however, such a system has not yet been developed. The Ontario government also passed a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Regulation (the Regulation) on December 1, 2009. The Regulation is intended to provide the foundation for Ontario to implement a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases. The Regulation requires facilities that emit more than 25,000 tons of CO2e or more per year to annually report their emissions, starting with 2010 emissions. The Ontario government has indicated that it plans to develop a cap-and-trade system that aligns with other systems being developed in North America, including in the United States.

 

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Environmental Remediation

In the United States, U. S. Steel has been notified that we are a potentially responsible party (PRP) at 24 sites under CERCLA as of September 30, 2011. In addition, there are 10 sites related to U. S. Steel where we have received information requests or other indications that we may be a PRP under CERCLA but where sufficient information is not presently available to confirm the existence of liability or make any judgment as to the amount thereof. There are also 39 additional sites related to U. S. Steel where remediation is being sought under other environmental statutes, both federal and state, or where private parties are seeking remediation through discussions or litigation. At many of these sites, U. S. Steel is one of a number of parties involved and the total cost of remediation, as well as U. S. Steel’s share thereof, is frequently dependent upon the outcome of investigations and remedial studies. U. S. Steel accrues for environmental remediation activities when the responsibility to remediate is probable and the amount of associated costs is reasonably determinable. As environmental remediation matters proceed toward ultimate resolution or as additional remediation obligations arise, charges in excess of those previously accrued may be required. See note 20 to the Financial Statements.

For discussion of relevant environmental items, see “Part II. Other Information – Item 1. Legal Proceedings – Environmental Proceedings.”

During the third quarter of 2011, there was no change to our accruals for environmental matters for U.S. and international facilities. The total accrual for such liabilities at September 30, 2011 was $191 million. These amounts exclude liabilities related to asset retirement obligations, disclosed in note 14 to the Financial Statements.

U. S. Steel is the subject of, or a party to, a number of pending or threatened legal actions, contingencies and commitments involving a variety of matters, including laws and regulations relating to the environment. The ultimate resolution of these contingencies could, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the U. S. Steel Financial Statements. However, management believes that U. S. Steel will remain a viable and competitive enterprise even though it is possible that these contingencies could be resolved unfavorably to U. S. Steel.

MINE SAFETY

Our Minntac and Keetac iron ore pellet operations are subject to the reporting requirements in Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Act”) that was enacted in July of 2010. Under the Act, we are required to disclose certain information about our mining operations, such as the number of certain types of violations and orders issued under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The following table provides the required information for any notification received by our iron ore operations regarding any reportable information during the three months ended September 30, 2011:

 

Mine
(MSHA ID)
 

Total # of
Significant &
Substantial
violations
under

Act §104

    Total # of
orders
under
Act §104 (b)
    Total # of
unwarrantable
failure
citations and
orders under
Act §104 (d)
   

Total # of
violations
under

Act §110 (b) (2)

    Total # of
orders
under
Act §107 (a)
    Total dollar
value of
proposed
assessments
from MSHA
    Total # of
mining
related
fatalities
    Received
written
notice
under
Act §104 (e)
(yes/no)?
    Total # of
Legal Actions
Pending
Before the
Federal Mine
Safety and
Health Review
Commission (a)
 

Mt. Iron (2100819, 2100820, 2100282)

    1        0        1        0        0      $ 2,282        0        no        141   

Keewatin (2103352)

    0        0        0        0        0      $ -        0        no        44   

 

(a) 

Includes all legal actions pending before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, together with the Administrative Law Judges thereof, for each of our iron ore operations. All of the legal actions were initiated by us to contest citations, orders or proposed assessments issued by the Federal Mine Safety and Health administration, and if we are successful, may result in the reduction or dismissal of those citations, orders or assessments.

 

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OUTLOOK

Our Tubular operations are expected to have another strong performance as operating results are expected to be in line with the third quarter. We expect to report lower operating results in the fourth quarter for our North American Flat-rolled and European operations as a result of the slow and uneven economic recovery in those regions.

We expect our Flat-rolled results to reflect an operating loss in the fourth quarter. Average realized prices and shipments are expected to decline as a result of cautious purchasing patterns created by the uncertain economic outlook and increasing domestic supply. The expected lower fourth quarter prices reflect lower average realized prices on spot market business and our index-based contracts, which will incorporate the decrease from the second to the third quarter in published market price assessments. These market factors are expected to bring our operating results down to around a break-even level prior to the effects of increased maintenance outages and Hamilton Works’ labor agreement and facility restart costs. With reduced capacity utilization due to market conditions, we are taking the opportunity to perform maintenance outages, resulting in additional costs of approximately $50 million compared to the third quarter. With the ratification of a new three-year labor agreement at Hamilton Works on October 15, 2011, we expect to restart the steel finishing facilities in a staged process late in the fourth quarter. In addition to the idled facility carrying costs, we expect to incur approximately $30 million in costs related to the ratification of the Hamilton Works labor agreement and associated facility restart costs. U. S. Steel will continue to adjust its operating configuration in response to market demand.

We expect the fourth quarter results for our European segment to decrease compared to the third quarter 2011. Shipments and average realized prices are expected to decline as market demand softens in response to the uncertain economic conditions in Europe, particularly Southern Europe. Operating costs are expected to decrease compared to the third quarter, reflecting lower spending and lower raw materials costs. The idled blast furnace at U. S. Steel Serbia is not expected to operate during the fourth quarter.

Tubular fourth quarter 2011 results are expected to be in line with the strong performance achieved in the third quarter as the demand for oil country tubular goods (OCTG) remains strong. Average realized prices are expected to be comparable to the third quarter and shipments are expected to be slightly lower as distributors actively control their inventory levels going into year end, particularly for non-OCTG products.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

In May 2011, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded its five-year (sunset) reviews of antidumping orders against hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from Brazil and Japan, a countervailing duty order against hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from Brazil, and a suspended antidumping investigation concerning hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from Russia. It determined that terminating the existing suspended antidumping duty investigation on imports of product from Russia would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time, and that revoking the orders against product from Brazil and Japan would not be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. As a result, the orders against product from Brazil and Japan have been terminated, while the suspended investigation against product from Russia will remain suspended. U. S. Steel has appealed the ITC’s negative determinations with respect to Brazil and Japan to the U.S. Court of International Trade.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the ITC concluded their five-year (sunset) reviews of antidumping orders against seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe from Japan (large-diameter and small-diameter) and Romania (small-diameter) in August 2011 and September 2011, respectively.

 

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The DOC determined that revoking these orders would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, and the ITC determined that revoking the orders would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. As a result, the orders remain in place.

The DOC and the ITC are currently conducting five-year (sunset) reviews of the following international trade orders of interest to U. S. Steel: (i) antidumping orders against cut-to-length steel plate from India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and Korea and countervailing duty orders against cut-to-length steel plate from India, Indonesia, Italy and Korea; (ii) an antidumping order against tin- and chromium-coated steel sheet from Japan; and (iii) eight antidumping orders and one countervailing duty order against circular welded pipe up to 16” in diameter from Brazil, India, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey.

On December 1, 2010, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) initiated an expiry review of the Canadian antidumping orders against hot-rolled carbon and alloy steel sheet and strip from Brazil, China, Taiwan, India, South Africa and Ukraine and a subsidy order against India. On March 31, 2011, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) found a likelihood of continued or resumed dumping with respect to respondent countries China, Brazil, Taiwan, India and Ukraine (and the likelihood of continued or resumed subsidization in the case of India) if the orders were to be rescinded, but it found that dumping from South Africa would not be likely to continue or resume. In August 2011, a majority of the CITT found that the expiry of the orders concerning hot-rolled carbon and alloy steel sheet and strip from Brazil, China, Taiwan, India and Ukraine would likely cause injury to the domestic industry. The CBSA will therefore continue to impose anti-dumping and/or countervailing duties on those goods. However, following the CBSA’s determination that the expiry of the order on hot-rolled carbon and alloy steel sheet and strip from South Africa was unlikely to result in the continuation or resumption of dumping, the order was rescinded and the CBSA will not continue to impose anti-dumping duties on merchandise from South Africa.

As in the past, U. S. Steel continues to monitor unfairly traded imports and is prepared to seek appropriate remedies against such imports.

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

See note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

 

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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There were no material changes in U. S. Steel’s exposure to market risk from December 31, 2010.

 

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Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

U. S. Steel has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2011. These disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other procedures that were designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that are filed with or submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is: (1) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures and (2) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable law and regulations. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

There have not been any changes in U. S. Steel’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this quarterly report, which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, U. S. Steel’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Dollars in millions)       2011             2010             2011             2010      

SEGMENT INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

       

Flat-rolled (a)

  $ 203      $ (161   $ 541      $ (118

U. S. Steel Europe

    (50     (25     (73     6   

Tubular (a)

    134        113        197        256   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total reportable segments (a)

    287        (73     665        144   

Other Businesses (a)

    8        8        30        47   

Items not allocated to segments

       

Postretirement benefit expense (a)

    (96     (58     (287     (173

Net loss on sale of assets

    -        (15     -        (15
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Income (Loss) from Operations

  $ 199      $ (138   $ 408      $ 3   

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

       

Flat-rolled

  $ 160      $ 151      $ 427      $ 305   

U. S. Steel Europe

    26        21        93        93   

Tubular

    30        10        94        23   

Other Businesses

    9        2        12        5   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 225      $ 184      $ 626      $ 426   

OPERATING STATISTICS

       

Average realized price: ($/net ton) (b)

       

Flat-rolled

  $ 773      $ 688      $ 765      $ 682   

U. S. Steel Europe

    862        748        868        680   

Tubular

    1,699        1,559        1,576        1,490   

Steel Shipments: (b)(c)

       

Flat-rolled

    3,835        3,812        11,725        11,445   

U. S. Steel Europe

    1,196        1,323        3,779        4,231   

Tubular

    481        422        1,330        1,165   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Steel Shipments

    5,512        5,557        16,834        16,841   

Raw Steel-Production: (c)

       

Flat-rolled

    4,516        4,694        14,008        14,056   

U. S. Steel Europe

    1,317        1,441        4,429        4,665   

Raw Steel-Capability Utilization: (d)

       

Flat-rolled

    74     77     77     77

U. S. Steel Europe

    71     77     80     84

 

(a)

Amounts prior to the second quarter 2011 have been restated to reflect a change in our segment allocation methodology for postretirement benefit expenses. Under the revised allocation methodology, only service cost and amortization of prior service costs for active employees are allocated to segments. Interest cost, expected return on plan assets and actuarial gains and losses, a portion of which was historically allocated to segments, are no longer allocated to segments.

(b)

Excludes intersegment transfers.

(c)

Thousands of net tons.

(d)

Based on annual raw steel production capability of 24.3 million net tons for Flat-rolled and 7.4 million net tons for U. S. Steel Europe.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

GENERAL LITIGATION

In a series of lawsuits filed in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois beginning September 12, 2008, individual direct or indirect buyers of steel products have asserted that eight steel manufacturers, including U. S. Steel, conspired in violation of antitrust laws to restrict the domestic production of raw steel and thereby to fix, raise, maintain or stabilize the price of steel products in the United States. The cases are filed as class actions and claim treble damages for the period 2005 to present, but do not allege any damage amounts. U. S. Steel is vigorously defending these lawsuits and does not believe that it has any liability regarding these matters.

On July 17, 2009, the Attorney General of Canada initiated a proceeding under Section 40 of Canada’s Investment Canada Act by filing an application in the Canadian federal court that seeks to impose a financial penalty on U. S. Steel due to the Company’s alleged failure to comply with two of the 31 undertakings made by U. S. Steel to the Minister of Industry in connection with the 2007 acquisition of Stelco. The specific undertakings at issue concern production and employment levels anticipated at U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC) assuming certain business conditions. In response to a previous written demand from the Minister with respect to this matter, the Company provided full disclosure regarding the operations at USSC and the impact that the sudden and severe world-wide economic downturn has had on the global steel sector and all of the Company’s North American operations, including operations at USSC. In accordance with the specific language of the undertakings at issue, the unprecedented economic downturn, the effects of which were beyond the control of the Company, expressly excuse any non-attainment of the production and employment levels targeted by the 2007 submission. The Company is vigorously defending the matter and believes that the action is without justification or authority.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEEDINGS

Gary Works

On March 4, 2010 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified U. S. Steel that the requirements of the January 26, 1998 Clean Water Act consent decree in United States of America v. USX (Northern District of Indiana) had been satisfied. As of September 30, 2011, project costs have amounted to $60.7 million. In 1998, U. S. Steel also entered into a consent decree with the public trustees, which resolves liability for natural resource damages on the same section of the Grand Calumet River. U. S. Steel, following the Court’s termination of the Clean Water Act consent decree, will pay the public trustees $1 million for ecological monitoring costs. In addition, U. S. Steel is obligated to perform, and has initiated, ecological restoration in this section of the Grand Calumet River. In total, the accrued liability for the above projects based on the estimated remaining costs was approximately $2 million at September 30, 2011.

At Gary Works, U. S. Steel has agreed to close three hazardous waste disposal sites: D5, along with an adjacent solid waste disposal unit, Terminal Treatment Plant (TTP) Area; T2; and D2 combined with a portion of the Refuse Area, where a solid waste disposal unit overlaps with the hazardous waste disposal unit. The sites are located on plant property. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has approved the closure plans for each of these sites with the exception of the D2/Refuse Area. Implementation of the D5 and TTP Area plans began during the third quarter of 2010 and is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2011. Implementation of the T2 plan began in the first quarter of 2011. As of September 30, 2011, the accrued liability for estimated costs to close these sites is $17 million.

 

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On October 23, 1998, EPA issued a final Administrative Order on Consent addressing Corrective Action for Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU) throughout Gary Works. This order requires U. S. Steel to perform a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility Investigation (RFI), a Corrective Measure Study (CMS) and Corrective Measure Implementation at Gary Works. Reports of field investigation findings for Phase I work plans have been submitted to EPA. Through September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel had spent $34.4 million for corrective action studies, Vessel Slip Turning Basin interim measures and other corrective actions. U. S. Steel received approval on a proposal to the EPA for a facility wide perimeter groundwater monitoring program and a sampling and analysis plan (SAP) for several SWMUs in the Solid Waste Management Areas east of the Vessel Slip Turning Basin. U. S. Steel has also received a partial approval on a second SAP for investigating a portion of the sediments behind the East Breakwall. Implementation of these programs continued during the third quarter of 2011. Additional studies and proposals have been submitted to EPA. Until the remaining Phase I work and Phase II field investigations are completed, it is impossible to assess what additional expenditures will be necessary for Corrective Action projects at Gary Works. In total, the accrued liability for all of the above projects was approximately $26 million as of September 30, 2011, based on the estimated remaining costs. In addition, U. S. Steel is engaged in on-going studies and scope development of an interim stabilization measure to address certain components required by the Administrative Order. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of as much as $40 million to $65 million may be incurred at this site in combination with five other projects.

On November 26, 2007, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) alleging three pushing violations and one door violation on the No. 2 Battery that were to have occurred on July 11, 2007. On December 20, 2007, IDEM made a verbal penalty demand of $123,000 to resolve these alleged violations. U. S. Steel provided written responses to the NOVs. Negotiations regarding these NOVs are ongoing.

On October 3, 2007, November 26, 2007, March 2, 2008 and March 18, 2008, IDEM issued NOVs alleging opacity limitation violations from the coke plant and Blast Furnaces Nos. 4 and 8. To date, no penalty demand has been made by IDEM regarding these NOVs. U. S. Steel is currently negotiating resolution of these NOVs with IDEM.

On July 3, 2008, EPA Region V issued a Notice of Violation/Finding of Violation (NOV/FOV) alleging violations resulting from a multi-media inspection conducted in May 2007 and subsequent information collection requests. These alleged violations include those currently being prosecuted by IDEM that are identified above. Other alleged violations include the reline of No. 4 Blast Furnace in 1990 without a New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration permit, and opacity limit excursions from hot iron transfer cars, slag skimming, slag pits, and the blast furnace casting house. The NOV/FOV also alleges violations relating to hydrochloric acid pickling, blast furnace relief valves and blast furnace flares. While a penalty demand is expected, EPA Region V has not yet made such a demand. Since issuing the NOV/FOV, EPA Region V has issued additional information requests to Gary Works. U. S. Steel has responded to the requests and is currently negotiating resolution of the NOV/FOV and other request issues with EPA Region V and IDEM. The EPA has indicated that it has referred the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

On February 18, 2009, U. S. Steel received a letter from IDEM alleging that Gary Works was culpable for an ambient air quality exceedance for PM10 at the IITRI Monitoring Site. In November 2010, U. S. Steel and IDEM amended the December 2006 Air Agreed Order to resolve this matter. The resolution requires U. S. Steel to continue monitoring PM10 at the IITRI monitor through December 31, 2011; implement specific best management practices at the Sinter Plant storage piles; and to complete a Supplemental Environmental Project consisting of the installation of a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station and adding at least seven CNG vehicles to its fleet by September 30, 2011, at a capital expenditure of approximately $490,000, which excludes the costs associated with the seven vehicles. U. S. Steel has constructed the CNG fueling station which is currently in the commissioning phase. U. S. Steel expects the Agreed Order to be terminated in January 2012.

 

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On April 13, 2009, Gary Works received an NOV from EPA Region V for alleged violations for New Source Review for reline of No. 13/14 during 2004-2005. U. S. Steel continues to meet with IDEM and EPA to negotiate resolution of the NOV. EPA has indicated that it has referred the matter to the DOJ.

On June 17, 2011, U. S. Steel received a NOV/FOV from the EPA alleging that Gary Works violated the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants and the Indiana State Implementation Plan and Operating Permit requirements. This NOV/FOV stems from an EPA facility inspection in August 2008 and subsequent requests for information. EPA alleges that U. S. Steel failed to properly control air emissions from the top of Blast Furnace No. 4 while beaching iron and opening blast furnace relief valves. In addition, the EPA alleged that excessive emissions from the top of Blast Furnace No. 4 occurred on December 15, 2009. Excessive levels of particulate matter opacity are alleged to have occurred as a result of the above actions. U. S. Steel provided a written response to the EPA on August 19, 2011 and continues to discuss resolution of the NOV/FOV.

Mon Valley Works

On March 17, 2008, U. S. Steel entered a Consent Order and Agreement (COA) with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) to resolve alleged opacity limitation and pushing and traveling violations from older coke oven batteries at its Clairton Plant and to resolve alleged opacity violations from its Edgar Thomson Plant. Under the COA, U. S. Steel paid a civil penalty of $301,800 on March 25, 2008. The COA requires U. S. Steel to conduct interim repairs on existing batteries and make improvements at the Ladle Metallurgical Facility and Steelmaking Shop at the Edgar Thomson Plant. The COA also required that Batteries 1, 2 and 3 be shutdown by August 11, 2015. On September 30, 2010, U. S. Steel and ACHD amended the COA to require U. S. Steel to install two new Low Emissions Quench Towers to replace existing towers and bring Batteries 1, 2 and 3 into compliance rather than shutting them down. We are repairing existing Batteries 19 and 20 and we continue to make improvements on Batteries 1, 2 and 3. The capital costs for the quench towers is estimated to be $60 million while the cost of improvements at Batteries 1, 2 and 3 cannot be estimated at this time. U. S. Steel is also completing upgrades at its Edgar Thomson Plant that would reduce emissions. U. S. Steel shut down Batteries 7, 8 and 9 in 2009 as required by the COA.

On October 8, 2009, Mon Valley Clairton Plant received an NOV from ACHD alleging that the Clairton Plant was culpable for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) Pennsylvania ambient air quality standard exceedances. The NOV requires U. S. Steel to submit a plan with milestones to reduce and minimize fugitive emissions of coke oven gas from the coke producing operations at Clairton including identification of coke oven gas emission sources and method of improved emission prevention and control. While U. S. Steel appealed the NOV on October 16, 2009, U. S. Steel submitted an Action Plan to ACHD that was required by the NOV. U. S. Steel and ACHD have performed H2S modeling and are in the process of evaluating all potential sources of H2S in the area. U. S. Steel and ACHD continue to meet and discuss resolution.

Midwest Plant

A former disposal area located on the east side of the Midwest Plant was designated a SWMU (East Side SWMU) by IDEM before U. S. Steel acquired this plant from National Steel Corporation. U. S. Steel submitted a Closure Plan to IDEM recommending consolidation and “in-place” closure of the East Side SWMU. IDEM approved the Closure Plan in January 2010. Implementation of the Closure Plan began during the third quarter of 2010 and field work was completed early in the second quarter of 2011. Final completion of the Closure Plan is pending establishment of a full vegetative cover over the project area and approval of the Closure Completion Report which was submitted to IDEM on August 31, 2011. As of September 30, 2011, $3.9 million has been spent on the project. The remaining cost is estimated to be $531,000 for post construction monitoring work and was recorded as an accrued liability as of September 30, 2011.

 

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Fairless Plant

In January 1992, U. S. Steel commenced negotiations with EPA regarding the terms of an Administrative Order on consent, pursuant to RCRA, under which U. S. Steel would perform an RFI and a CMS at our Fairless Plant. A Phase I RFI report was submitted during the third quarter of 1997. The cost to U. S. Steel to continue to maintain the interim measures, develop a Phase II/III RFI Work Plan and implement certain corrective measures is estimated to be $650,000. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of as much as $40 million to $65 million may be incurred at this site in combination with five other projects. See note 20 to the Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments – Environmental Matters – Remediation Projects – Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

Fairfield Works

A consent decree was signed by U. S. Steel, EPA and the U.S. DOJ and filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (United States of America v. USX Corporation) on December 11, 1997. In accordance with the consent decree, U. S. Steel paid a civil penalty of $1 million, completed two supplemental environmental projects at a cost of $1.75 million and initiated a RCRA corrective action program at the Fairfield Works facility. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) with the approval of EPA assumed primary responsibility for regulation and oversight of the RCRA corrective action program at Fairfield Works. ADEM is currently reviewing the Phase II RFI work plan. In January 1999, ADEM included the former Ensley facility site in Fairfield Corrective Action. As of September 30, 2011, costs to complete the remediation at Ensley have amounted to $1.3 million. In total, the accrued liability for remaining work under the Corrective Action Progam was $790,000 at September 30, 2011, based on estimated remaining costs. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of as much as $40 million to $65 million may be incurred at this site in combination with five other projects. See note 20 to the Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments – Environmental Matters – Remediation Projects – Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

Lorain Tubular Operations

In September 2006, U. S. Steel received a letter from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) inviting U. S. Steel to enter into discussions about RCRA Corrective Action at Lorain Tubular Operations. A Phase I RFI on the identified SWMUs and AOCs is complete and under review by OEPA. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has spent $806,000 on studies at this site. Costs to complete additional projects are estimated to be $4,000. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of as much as $40 million to $65 million may be incurred at this site in combination with five other projects. See note 20 to the Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments – Environmental Matters – Remediation Projects – Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

Initial construction of a seep collection system at the D2 landfill was completed in September 2011 and start up work is expected to continue through the end of the year. As of September 30, 2011, project costs have amounted to $581,000. The remaining cost of the project is expected to be $559,000 and was recorded as an accrued liability as of September 30, 2011.

On November 16, 2010, OEPA issued an NOV to U. S. Steel for allegedly not submitting a complete and timely NOx Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) study of Lorain Tubular Operations, as required by OEPA RACT rules. To comply with OEPA NOx RACT rules, U. S. Steel will install ultra low NOx burners on the No. 4 seamless rotary furnace with completion expected in early 2012. The capital cost is expected to be approximately $3 million.

 

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Great Lakes Works

On February 13, 2007, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and U. S. Steel agreed to an Administrative Consent Order (the Order) that resolves alleged violations of Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits at the Great Lakes Works facility. As required by the Order, U. S. Steel has paid a civil penalty of $300,000 and has reimbursed MDEQ $50,000 in costs. The Order identified certain compliance actions to address the alleged violations. U. S. Steel has completed work on most of these compliance actions, and has initiated work on the others. As of September 30, 2011, $1.8 million has been spent on the project. In addition, $161,000 remains accrued for possible additional requirements.

On October 5, 2009, after an inspection of Great Lakes Works, as part of EPA Region V’s regional enforcement initiative, U. S. Steel received an NOV/FOV from EPA Region V alleging that Great Lakes Works violated casthouse roof monitor and baghouse opacity limits; slag pit opacity limits; Basic Oxygen Process roof monitor opacity limits; and certain permit recordkeeping and parametric monitoring requirements. U. S. Steel has met with EPA regarding the alleged violations and continues to negotiate resolution of the matter. EPA advised U. S. Steel that it has referred the matter to the DOJ.

On May 10, 2011, the MDEQ issued a violation notice alleging that fallout from a bleeder incident on April 20, 2011 caused an unreasonable interference with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property in Windsor, Canada. U. S. Steel is in the process of evaluating the violation notice.

On June 17, 2011, U. S. Steel received a NOV/FOV from the EPA alleging that Great Lakes Works violated the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants and Michigan State Implementation Plan and Operating Permit requirements. This NOV/FOV stems from an EPA facility inspection in August 2008 and subsequent requests for information. EPA alleges that U. S. Steel failed to properly control air emissions while beaching iron and opening blast furnace relief valves. Excessive levels of particulate matter opacity are alleged to have occurred as a result of the above actions. U. S. Steel provided a written response to U. S. EPA on August 19, 2011, and continues to discuss resolution with U. S. EPA.

Granite City Works

U. S. Steel received two NOVs, dated February 20, 2004 and March 25, 2004, for air violations at the coke batteries, the blast furnace and the steel shop at our Granite City Works facility. All of the issues have been resolved except for an issue relating to air emissions that occurs when coke is pushed out of the ovens, for which a compliance plan has been submitted to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). IEPA referred the two NOVs to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for enforcement. On December 18, 2007, U. S. Steel and IEPA entered into a consent order (State of Illinois ex. rel. Lisa Madigan vs. United States Steel Corporation), which resolved the issues raised in the two NOVs. In December 2006, IEPA added to its complaint by adding a release of coke oven gas in February 2006. The Order required that U. S. Steel: (1) pay a penalty of $300,000, which U. S. Steel paid on January 10, 2008; (2) demonstrate compliance with Coke Oven Pushing Operations in accordance with the compliance schedule provided in the Order; (3) comply with the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) opacity emissions in accordance with the schedule provided in the Order; and (4) submit to IEPA a revised permit application with the correct sulfur dioxide emission factors. In February 2011, U. S. Steel demonstrated compliance with the applicable requirements and in March 2011, U. S. Steel certified compliance with the applicable regulations. U. S. Steel continues to negotiate permit modifications to address the blast furnace gas sulfur dioxide emission factor as required by the Order.

 

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At Granite City Works, U. S. Steel and Gateway Energy & Coke Company, LLC (Gateway), a subsidiary of SunCoke Energy, Inc., have agreed with two environmental advocacy groups to establish an Environmental Trust Fund (Trust), which requires the permittees (U. S. Steel and Gateway) to collectively deposit $1.0 million by September 30th of each year, beginning September 30, 2008 and ending September 30, 2012. To date, U. S. Steel and Gateway have paid the first four of five installments towards the fund.

On February 2, 2009, U. S. Steel received an NOV from IEPA alleging approximately 16 separate violations at Granite City Works, including inappropriate charging a battery while off the collecting main; failing to perform some required MACT monthly and quarterly inspections; failing to timely repair the baffles on the quench tower; failing to adequately wash the baffles on the quench tower; inappropriately using the emergency pour station at the BOP; failing to sufficiently apply a wetting agent to the slag from Blast Furnace A and failing to update and properly implement its Fugitive Dust Program. On November 16, 2009, U. S. Steel received a notice of intent to pursue legal action regarding the alleged violations from IEPA. Resolution of these issues continues to be negotiated with IEPA.

On March 17, 2009, U. S. Steel received an NOV from IEPA alleging the following at Granite City Works: door leaks from B Battery; volatile organic compounds from pressure relief valves from gas blanketing tank; coke by products process unit and information (lacking); failure to report retagging project for benzene in service equipment; and, failure to maintain records for benzene in service equipment repairs. IEPA has not made a penalty demand to date. Resolution of the issues identified in the NOV continues to be negotiated with IEPA. On November 16, 2009, Granite City Works received a notice of intent to pursue legal action regarding the alleged violations from IEPA. U. S. Steel continues to discuss resolution with the IEPA.

On October 5, 2009, U. S. Steel received an NOV/FOV from EPA Region V alleging that Granite City Works: failed to apply for and obtain a Prevention of Significant Deterioration/New Source Review permit for the 1994 B Blast Furnace reline (while the furnace was owned by National Steel Corporation); exceeded BOP roof monitor opacity limits, exceeded blast furnace casthouse roof monitor opacity limits; and failed to complete certain permit recordkeeping and parameteric monitoring requirements. Granite City Works has met with EPA regarding the alleged violations and continues to negotiate resolution of the matter. EPA advised U. S. Steel that it has referred the matter to the DOJ.

On July 1, 2010, U. S. Steel entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the IEPA that requires Granite City Works to achieve reductions in emissions of particulate matter. U. S. Steel will evaluate and install appropriate controls to achieve this purpose. To complete the obligations pursuant to the MOU, U. S. Steel anticipates incurring a capital expenditure of approximately $30 million to install additional pollution controls at the BOF.

On August 19, 2010, U. S. Steel notified the IEPA that it could not certify compliance with air emission requirements for the coke plant with regards to coke doors and the coke scrubber car. U. S. Steel submitted compliance plans indicating that it would make repairs to the coke oven doors, evaluate the heating system and the scrubber car by November 30, 2010, certify compliance by February 28, 2011 and update the compliance plan after the results of the evaluation are known. U. S. Steel has completed its self-imposed obligations pursuant to the schedule it submitted to IEPA. IEPA issued a Violation Notice on November 10, 2010 and has indicated that it reserves the right to refer the matter to the Attorney General.

To comply with the Illinois State NOx RACT rule, U. S. Steel will install Flue Gas Recirculation and Continuous Emission Monitors on Boilers 11 and 12 at Granite City Works, at a capital expenditure of approximately $3 million. U. S. Steel will also install a NOx continuous emissions monitor for the slab reheat furnaces at a capital expenditure of approximately $1 million.

 

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Geneva Works

At U. S. Steel’s former Geneva Works, liability for environmental remediation, including the closure of three hazardous waste impoundments and facility-wide corrective action, has been allocated between U. S. Steel and the current property owner pursuant to an agreement and a permit issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has spent $17.6 million to complete remediation on certain areas of the site. Having completed the investigation on a majority of the remaining areas identified in the permit, U. S. Steel has determined that the most effective means to address the remaining impacted material is to manage those materials in a previously approved on-site Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU). U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of $65 million as of September 30, 2011, for our estimated share of the remaining costs of remediation, including the construction, waste management, closure and post closure of a CAMU.

Duluth Works

The former U. S. Steel Duluth Works site was placed on the National Priorities List under CERCLA in 1983 and on the State of Minnesota’s Superfund list in 1984. Liability for environmental remediation at the site is governed by a Response Order by Consent executed with the Minnesota Polution Control Agency (MPCA) in 1985 and a Record of Decision (ROD) signed by MPCA in 1989. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has spent $17.4 million to complete remediation on certain areas of the site. Current activity at the site is focused on completing the remedial investigation of the two St. Louis River Estuary Operable Units (OUs) along with addressing open issues on several Upland OUs, as identified during the 5-year review of the site, conducted by the MPCA in 2008. The remaining cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $24 million and was recorded as an accrued liability as of September 30, 2011.

Municipal Industrial Disposal Company (MIDC)

MIDC was a licensed disposal facility where U. S. Steel disposed coal tar and other wastes. The site was mismanaged by the operator and subsequently on August 30, 2002 U. S. Steel entered into a consent Order and Agreement with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PDEP) to address the environmental issues at the site. While U. S. Steel was not the only entity to use the facility, U. S. Steel is the single remaining viable company responsible for the cleanup. An engineered remedy for the three locations at the site requiring remediation was implemented in July 2011 with an expected completion date by the end of 2011. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has spent $6.6 million related to the project. The remaining cost of the project is estimated to be $6 million and was recorded as an accrued liability as of September 30, 2011.

USS-POSCO Industries (UPI)

At UPI, a joint venture between subsidaries of U. S. Steel and POSCO, corrective measures have been implemented for the majority of the former SWMUs. Prior to the formation of UPI, U. S. Steel owned and operated the Pittsburg, California facility and retained responsibility for the existing environmental conditions. Seven SWMUs remain at the facility. Based on their constituents, six of these SWMUs have been combined into two groups of three, while one SWMU remains a single entity. Investigation of the single SWMU is complete and an engineered remedy is in development for submission to Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Of the two SWMU groups, investigations continue. One group may not require further action pending a No Further Action decision by the California DTSC. For the remaining SWMU group, it is likely that corrective measures will be required at these SWMUs but it is not possible at this time to define a scope or estimate costs for what may be required by DTSC. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of as much as $40 million to $65 million may be incurred at this site in combination with five other projects. See note 20 to the Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments – Environmental Matters – Remediation Projects – Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

 

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Other

In April 2003, U. S. Steel and Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc. (SSB) entered into a consent order with the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) concerning a former zinc smelting operation in Cherryvale, Kansas. Remediation was essentially completed in 2007 and U. S. Steel and SSB continue to work with KDHE to address the remaining issues. At September 30, 2011, an accrual of $470,000 remains available for these project contingencies.

On January 18, 2011, KDHE signed a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) which obligates U. S. Steel to prepare and implement a corrective action plan for two sites in Girard, Kansas. The sites are referred to as the Girard Zinc Works and the Cherokee Lanyon #2 site. The CAFO recognizes a single project incorporating the corrective action for both sites. Pursuant to KDHE’s approval of U. S. Steel’s corrective action plan, implementation of the remedial measures began in September 2011. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $2 million to conduct the remedial measures.

In January of 2004, U. S. Steel received notice of a claim from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and notice of claims from citizens of a cap failure at the Dayton Landfill. U. S. Steel’s allocated share is approximately 16 percent. The Remedial Action Plan for the site was approved by TCEQ in June 2009. Implementation of remedial measures has been initiated and is expected to be completed late in 2011. The accrued liability for U. S. Steel’s share to implement the remedial measure with long term monitoring was $774,000 as of September 30, 2011. U. S. Steel and others filed a lawsuit seeking contribution from approximately 50 parties that used the site. Settlements have been made with approximately 25 parties.

In May 2010, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) notified Canadian National Railroad Company (CN) of apparent environmental impacts on their property adjacent to the former U. S. Steel Duluth Works. In February 2011, CN presented U. S. Steel with information indicating U. S. Steel’s connection to the site. U. S. Steel has conducted site visits as well as reviewed a site investigation report that CN prepared and submitted to MPCA in August 2011. On September 23, 2011, U. S. Steel tendered an offer to CN to purchase the site in conjunction with a cost share agreement for moving forward with addressing the identified environmental impacts. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $2 million to conduct the remedial measure.

The Canadian and Ontario governments have identified for remediation a sediment deposit, commonly referred to as Randle Reef, in Hamilton Harbor near USSC’s Hamilton Works, for which the regulatory agencies estimate expenditures of approximately C$105 million (approximately $101 million). The national and provincial governments have each allocated C$30 million (approximately $29 million) for this project and they have stated that they will be looking for local sources, including industry, to fund C$30 million (approximately $29 million). USSC has committed to contribute approximately 11,000 tons of hot rolled steel and to fund C$2 million (approximately $2 million). The steel contribution is expected to be made in 2013. As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $10 million reflecting the contribution commitment.

ASBESTOS LITIGATION

As of September 30, 2011, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 650 active cases involving approximately 3,190 plaintiffs. At December 31, 2010, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 550 active cases involving approximately 3,090 plaintiffs.

About 2,575, or approximately 81 percent, of these plaintiff claims are currently pending in jurisdictions which permit filings with massive numbers of plaintiffs. Based upon U. S. Steel’s experience in such cases, it believes that the actual number of plaintiffs who ultimately assert claims against U. S. Steel will likely be a small fraction of the total number of plaintiffs. Most of the claims filed in 2008 through 2011 involve individual or small groups of claimants.

 

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Historically, these claims against U. S. Steel fall into three major groups: (1) claims made by persons who allegedly were exposed to asbestos at U. S. Steel facilities (referred to as “premises claims”); (2) claims made by industrial workers allegedly exposed to products formerly manufactured by U. S. Steel; and (3) claims made under certain federal and general maritime laws by employees of former operations of U. S. Steel. The ultimate outcome of any claim depends upon a myriad of legal and factual issues, including whether the plaintiff can prove actual disease, if any; actual exposure, if any, to U. S. Steel products; the duration of exposure to asbestos, if any, on U. S. Steel’s premises and the plaintiff’s exposure to other sources of asbestos. In general, the only insurance available to U. S. Steel with respect to asbestos claims is excess casualty insurance, which has multi-million dollar self-insured retentions. To date, U. S. Steel has received minimal payments under these policies relating to asbestos claims.

These asbestos cases allege a variety of respiratory and other diseases based on alleged exposure to asbestos. U. S. Steel is currently a defendant in cases in which a total of approximately 280 plaintiffs allege that they are suffering from mesothelioma. The potential for damages against defendants may be greater in cases in which the plaintiffs can prove mesothelioma.

In many cases in which claims have been asserted against U. S. Steel, the plaintiffs have been unable to establish any causal relationship to U. S. Steel or our products or premises; however, with the decline in mass plaintiff cases the incidence of claimants actually alleging a claim against U. S. Steel is increasing. In addition, in many asbestos cases, the plaintiffs have been unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any identifiable injury or compensable loss at all; that any injuries that they have incurred did in fact result from alleged exposure to asbestos; or that such alleged exposure was in any way related to U. S. Steel or our products or premises.

In every asbestos case in which U. S. Steel is named as a party, the complaints are filed against numerous named defendants and generally do not contain allegations regarding specific monetary damages sought. To the extent that any specific amount of damages is sought, the amount applies to claims against all named defendants and in no case is there any allegation of monetary damages against U. S. Steel. Historically, approximately 89 percent of the cases against U. S. Steel did not specify any damage amount or stated that the damages sought exceeded the amount required to establish jurisdiction of the court in which the case was filed. (Jurisdictional amounts generally range from $25,000 to $75,000.) U. S. Steel does not consider the amount of damages alleged, if any, in a complaint to be relevant in assessing our potential exposure to asbestos liabilities.

U. S. Steel aggressively pursues grounds for the dismissal of U. S. Steel from pending cases and litigates cases to verdict where we believe litigation is appropriate. U. S. Steel also makes efforts to settle appropriate cases, especially mesothelioma cases, for reasonable, and frequently nominal, amounts.

The following table shows activity with respect to asbestos litigation:

 

Period ended    Opening
Number
of Claims
     Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved
     New
Claims
     Closing
Number
of Claims
     Amounts
Paid to
Resolve
Claims
(in millions)
 

December 31, 2008

     3,000         400         450         3,050       $ 13   

December 31, 2009

     3,050         200         190         3,040       $ 7   

December 31, 2010

     3,040         200         250         3,090       $ 8   

September 30, 2011

     3,090         100         200         3,190       $ 6   

 

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The amount U. S. Steel has accrued for pending asbestos claims is not material to U. S. Steel’s financial position. U. S. Steel does not accrue for unasserted asbestos claims because it is not possible to determine whether any loss is probable with respect to such claims or even to estimate the amount or range of any possible losses. The vast majority of pending claims against us allege so-called “premises” liability-based exposure on U. S. Steel’s current or former premises. These claims may be made by an indeterminable number of people such as truck drivers, railroad workers, salespersons, contractors and their employees, government inspectors, customers, visitors and even trespassers. In most cases, the claimant also was exposed to asbestos in non-U. S. Steel settings; the relative periods of exposure between U. S. Steel and non-U. S. Steel settings vary with each claimant; and the strength or weakness of the causal link between U. S. Steel exposure and any injury vary widely as do the nature and severity of the injury claimed.

It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related lawsuits, claims and proceedings due to the unpredictable nature of personal injury litigation. Despite this uncertainty, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, although the resolution of such matters could significantly impact results of operations for a particular period. Among the factors considered in reaching this conclusion are: (1) the generally declining trend in the number of claims; (2) that it has been many years since U. S. Steel employed maritime workers or manufactured or sold asbestos containing products; and (3) U. S. Steel’s history of trial outcomes, settlements and dismissals.

The foregoing statements of belief are forward-looking statements. Predictions as to the outcome of pending litigation are subject to substantial uncertainties with respect to (among other things) factual and judicial determinations, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements.

 

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Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

The following is an addition to the risk factors disclosed in U. S. Steel’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

The terms of our indebtedness contain a new liquidity requirement that may limit our flexibility

The July 20, 2011 amendment and restatement of our $750 million Credit Agreement, which was increased to $875 million, requires that, beginning on February 13, 2014 and extending until the repayment or conversion of the 4.00% Senior Convertible Notes (Notes), we maintain minimum liquidity of at least $350 million if the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes is $350 million or greater or $175 million if the outstanding principal amount is lower than $350 million. The minimum domestic liquidity (as further defined in the agreement) must include at least $145 million of facility availability under the $875 million Credit Agreement.

 

Item 6. EXHIBITS

 

  4.1       Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 12, 2009 and amended and restated as of July 20, 2011 among United States Steel Corporation, the Lenders party thereto, the LC Issuing Banks party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2011.
  10.1       Third Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2011 by and among U. S. Steel Receivables LLC, as Seller; United States Steel Corporation, as initial Servicer; the persons party thereto as Funding Agents, CP Conduit Purchasers, Committed Purchasers and LC Banks; and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Collateral Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2011.
  10.2       United States Steel Corporation Supplemental Thrift Program
  10.3       United States Steel Corporation Non Tax-Qualified Pension Plan
  10.4       United States Steel Corporation Supplemental Pension Program
  10.5       United States Steel Corporation Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program Administrative Regulations
  31.1       Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rules 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  31.2       Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rules 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32.1       Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32.2       Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  101       INS XBRL Instance Document
  101       SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

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  101       CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
  101       DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
  101       LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
  101       PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned chief accounting officer thereunto duly authorized.

 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

By  

/s/ Gregory A. Zovko

 

Gregory A. Zovko

 

Vice President and Controller

October 25, 2011

WEB SITE POSTING

This Form 10-Q will be posted on the U. S. Steel web site, www.ussteel.com, within a few days of its filing.

 

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