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 June 30, 2017
Or
 
[   ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     .
usslogoa01a01a01a03.jpg
(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 P  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 [ P ] 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, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company”, and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): 
Large accelerated filer  P 
 
Accelerated filer     
 
Non-accelerated filer     
  
Smaller reporting company     
 
Emerging growth company(a) __
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
 
 
 
(a) If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ___
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes     No P 
Common stock outstanding at July 20, 2017174,911,603 shares




INDEX

 
Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
Item 3.
 
Item 4.
 
 
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
Item 1.
 
Item 4.
 
Item 5.
 
Item 6.




CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains information that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in those sections. Generally, we have identified such forward-looking statements by using the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “target,” “forecast,” “aim,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions or by using future dates in connection with any discussion of, among other things, operating performance, trends, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, statements relating to volume growth, share of sales and earnings per share growth, and statements expressing general views about future operating results. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s control. It is possible that the Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the time made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. Our Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our Company's historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risks and uncertainties described in this report and in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to "U. S. Steel," "the Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to United States Steel Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated by the context.







UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
2,787

 
$
2,320

 
$
5,199

 
$
4,346

Net sales to related parties (Note 18)
 
357

 
264

 
670

 
579

Total
 
3,144

 
2,584

 
5,869

 
4,925

Operating expenses (income):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (excludes items shown below)
 
2,725

 
2,397

 
5,286

 
4,833

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
79

 
64

 
176

 
133

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
 
121

 
129

 
258

 
258

Earnings from investees
 
(16
)
 
(28
)
 
(20
)
 
(73
)
Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (Note 21)
 
(72
)
 

 
(72
)
 

Restructuring and other charges (Note 19)
 
(1
)
 
(6
)
 
32

 
4

Net (gain) loss on disposal of assets
 

 

 
(1
)
 
3

  Other income, net
 
(5
)
 

 
(5
)
 

Total
 
2,831

 
2,556

 
5,654

 
5,158

 Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
 
313

 
28

 
215

 
(233
)
Interest expense
 
55

 
60

 
113

 
115

Interest income
 
(4
)
 
(2
)
 
(8
)
 
(3
)
Loss on debt extinguishment
 
1

 
24

 
1

 
22

Other financial costs (income)
 
16

 
(1
)
 
25

 
12

     Net interest and other financial costs (Note 7)
 
68

 
81

 
131

 
146

Earnings (loss) before income taxes
 
245

 
(53
)
 
84

 
(379
)
Income tax (benefit) provision (Note 9)
 
(16
)
 
(7
)
 
3

 
7

Net earnings (loss)
 
261

 
(46
)
 
81

 
(386
)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation
 
$
261

 
$
(46
)
 
$
81

 
$
(386
)
Earnings (loss) per common share (Note 10):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-Basic
 
$
1.49

 
$
(0.32
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
(2.64
)
-Diluted
 
$
1.48

 
$
(0.32
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
(2.64
)








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

-1-



UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(Dollars in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net earnings (loss)
 
$
261

 
$
(46
)
 
$
81

 
$
(386
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustments
 
82

 
(31
)
 
105

 
31

Changes in pension and other employee benefit accounts
 
46

 
42

 
92

 
(182
)
Other
 
(3
)
 
11

 
(3
)
 
21

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
125

 
22

 
194

 
(130
)
Comprehensive income (loss) including noncontrolling interest
 
386

 
(24
)
 
275

 
(516
)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation
 
$
386

 
$
(24
)
 
$
275

 
$
(516
)





































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

-2-



UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Dollars in millions)
 
(Unaudited) 
 June 30, 
 2017
 
December 31,  
 2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,522

 
$
1,515

Receivables, less allowance of $28 and $25
 
1,206

 
976

Receivables from related parties, less allowance of $0 and $265 (Notes 18 and 21)
 
238

 
272

Inventories (Note 11)
 
1,727

 
1,573

Other current assets
 
30

 
20

Total current assets
 
4,723

 
4,356

Property, plant and equipment
 
14,527

 
14,196

Less accumulated depreciation and depletion
 
10,517

 
10,217

Total property, plant and equipment, net
 
4,010

 
3,979

Investments and long-term receivables, less allowance of $11 and $10
 
548

 
528

Long-term receivables from related parties, less allowance of $0 and $1,627 (Notes 18 and 21)
 

 

Intangibles – net (Note 5)
 
171

 
175

Deferred income tax benefits (Note 9)
 
4

 
6

Other noncurrent assets
 
124

 
116

Total assets
 
$
9,580

 
$
9,160

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
 
$
1,948

 
$
1,602

Accounts payable to related parties (Notes 18 and 21)
 
77

 
66

Payroll and benefits payable
 
338

 
400

Accrued taxes
 
140

 
128

Accrued interest
 
73

 
85

Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt (Note 13)
 
175

 
50

Total current liabilities
 
2,751

 
2,331

Long-term debt, less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (Note 13)
 
2,752

 
2,981

Employee benefits
 
1,151

 
1,216

Deferred income tax liabilities (Note 9)
 
28

 
28

Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities
 
343

 
329

Total liabilities
 
7,025

 
6,885

Contingencies and commitments (Note 20)
 

 

Stockholders’ Equity (Note 16):
 
 
 
 
Common stock (176,424,554 shares issued) (Note 10)
 
176

 
176

Treasury stock, at cost (1,521,037 and 2,614,378 shares)
 
(96
)
 
(182
)
Additional paid-in capital
 
3,942

 
4,027

Accumulated deficit
 
(165
)
 
(250
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 17)
 
(1,303
)
 
(1,497
)
Total United States Steel Corporation stockholders’ equity
 
2,554

 
2,274

Noncontrolling interests
 
1

 
1

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
9,580

 
$
9,160


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

-3-



UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

 
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(Dollars in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
 
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss)
 
$
81

 
$
(386
)
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
 
258

 
258

Gain associated with retained interest U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (Note 21)
 
(72
)
 

Restructuring and other charges (Note 19)
 
32

 
4

Provision for doubtful accounts
 
1

 

Pensions and other postretirement benefits
 
31

 
(21
)
Deferred income taxes
 
2

 
2

Net (gain) loss on disposal of assets
 
(1
)
 
3

Distributions received, net of equity investees earnings
 
(16
)
 
(70
)
Changes in:
 
 
 
 
Current receivables
 
(172
)
 
(182
)
Inventories
 
(125
)
 
404

Current accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
98

 
213

Income taxes receivable/payable
 
20

 
6

Bank checks outstanding
 
7

 
9

All other, net
 
98

 
73

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
242

 
313

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(120
)
 
(217
)
Disposal of assets
 

 
1

Change in restricted cash, net
 
(1
)
 
(3
)
Investments, net
 
(1
)
 
(15
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(122
)
 
(234
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs
 

 
958

Repayment of long-term debt
 
(108
)
 
(962
)
Dividends paid
 
(18
)
 
(15
)
Taxes paid for equity compensation plans (Note 3)
 
(10
)
 

Receipts from exercise of stock options
 
13

 

Net cash used in financing activities
 
(123
)
 
(19
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
 
10

 
5

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
7

 
65

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
1,515

 
755

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
1,522

 
$
820


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

-4-



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1.    Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
United States Steel Corporation produces and sells steel products, including flat-rolled and tubular products, in North America and Central Europe. Operations in North America also include iron ore and coke production facilities, railroad services and real estate operations. Operations in Europe also include coke production facilities.
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 (U.S. GAAP). The other information in these financial statements is unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair statement 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 U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Additional information is contained in the United States Steel Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which should be read in conjunction with these financial statements.
Change in Accounting Estimate - Capitalization and Depreciation Method
During 2017, U. S. Steel completed a review of its accounting policy for property, plant and equipment depreciated on a group basis. As a result of this review, U. S. Steel changed its accounting method for property, plant and equipment from the group method of depreciation to the unitary method of depreciation, effective as of January 1, 2017. The Company believes the change from the group method to the unitary method of depreciation is preferable under U.S. GAAP as it will result in a more precise estimate of depreciation expense. Additionally, the change to the unitary method of depreciation is consistent with the depreciation method applied by our competitors, and improves the comparability of our results to our competitors. Our change in the method of depreciation is considered a change in accounting estimate effected by a change in accounting principle and has been applied prospectively. Due to the application of the unitary method of depreciation and resultant change in our capitalization policy, maintenance and outage spending that had previously been expensed as well as capital investments associated with our asset revitalization program will now be capitalized if it extends the useful life of the related asset. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the effect of the change was an increase in both income from continuing operations and net earnings of $112 million (which consists of a $118 million decrease in cost of sales due to the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending that would have been previously expensed, partially offset by increased depreciation expense of $6 million, as a result of the impact of unitary depreciation on the existing net book value of fixed assets, as noted below, and the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending) and an increase in diluted earnings per share of $0.64. Included in the three months ended June 30, 2017 is a favorable impact of approximately $50 million as the amount of spending subject to capitalization exceeded our previous internal estimate primarily due to the timing of certain capital projects, including projects implemented under our asset revitalization program. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the effect of the change was an increase in both income from continuing operations and net earnings of $110 million (which consists of a $135 million decrease in cost of sales due to the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending that would have been previously expensed, partially offset by increased depreciation expense of $25 million, as a result of the impact of unitary depreciation on the existing net book value of fixed assets, as noted below, and the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending) and an increase in diluted earnings per share of $0.63. The tax effect of this change was immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.
U. S. Steel's property, plant and equipment totaled $3,979 million at December 31, 2016. U. S. Steel allocated the existing net book value of group assets at the transition date to approximate a unitary depreciation methodology, and the fixed assets will be depreciated over their estimated remaining useful lives as follows:

-5-



 
(In millions)
                                                                          Remaining Useful Life of Assets
Net Book Value at December 31, 2016
Under 5 years
$
597

6-10 years
629

11-15 years
765

16-20 years
654

21-25 years
363

Over 25 years
479

Assets not subject to depreciation
492

Total
$
3,979

2.    New Accounting Standards

On May 10, 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting (ASU 2017-09). The amendments included in ASU 2017-09 provide guidance about which changes to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. The amendments in this update will be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. ASU 2017-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. U. S. Steel is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2017-09 will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
On March 10, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (ASU 2017-07). ASU 2017-07 requires an employer who offers defined benefit and post retirement benefit plans to report the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost in the same line item or items as other compensation cost arising from services rendered by employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit costs are required to be presented on a retrospective basis in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. If a separate line item or items are used to present the other components of net benefit cost, that line item or items must be appropriately described. If a separate line item or items are not used, the line item or items used in the income statement to present the other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed. The ASU also allows for the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization into inventory when applicable. ASU 2017-07 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods; early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this ASU will not have an impact on U. S. Steel's net earnings (loss) but will be a reclassification from a line on the income statement within earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes to a line on the income statement below earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes.
On August 26, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15). ASU 2016-15 reduces diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows by addressing eight specific cash receipt and cash payment issues. ASU 2016-15 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. U. S. Steel is evaluating the financial statement implications of adopting ASU 2016-15, but anticipates it will not have an overall impact to the Company's consolidated statement of cash flows, but may result in a reclassification between cash flow line items.
On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (ASU 2016-02). ASU 2016-02 supersedes prior lease accounting guidance. Under ASU 2016-02, for operating leases, a lessee should recognize in its statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term; recognize a single lease cost, which is allocated over the lease term, generally on a straight line basis, and classify all cash payments within the operating activities in the statement of cash flows. For financing leases, a lessee is required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability; recognize interest on the lease liability separately from amortization of the right-of-use asset, and classify repayments of the principal portion of the lease liability within financing

-6-



activities and payments of interest on the lease liability within the operating activities in the statement of cash flows. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. In addition, at the inception of a contract, an entity should determine whether the contract is or contains a lease. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, using a modified retrospective approach. U. S. Steel is currently evaluating the financial statement implications of adopting ASU 2016-02, and has begun an inventory of its global leasing arrangements. U. S. Steel has also begun to review its information technology systems, internal controls, and accounting policies in relation to the ASU’s accounting and reporting requirements to recognize the respective right-of-use assets and the related lease liabilities.
On May 28, 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09). ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early application is not permitted. On August 12, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Deferral of the Effective Date (ASU 2015-14). ASU 2015-14 defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period, and only permits entities to adopt the standard one year earlier as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. U. S. Steel has completed a review of its significant customer contracts and is finalizing its evaluation of those contracts in relation to the recognition of revenue under the new standard. U. S. Steel is currently developing disclosures, finalizing its review of information technology systems, and key internal controls related to our ability to process, record and account for revenue under the new standard. U. S. Steel does not expect a material financial statement impact related to the adoption of this ASU.
3.    Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASU 2016-09). ASU 2016-09 simplifies the accounting and reporting of certain aspects of share-based payment transactions, including income tax treatment of excess tax benefits, forfeitures, classification of share-based awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification in the statement of cash flows for certain share-based transactions related to tax benefits and tax payments. ASU 2016-09 was effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016.
On January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-09. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and included the following items: (1) adoption on a prospective basis of the recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the Company’s income tax expense line in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for vested and exercised equity awards as discrete items in the period in which they occur; (2) adoption on a prospective basis of the classification of excess tax benefits in cash flows from operations in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows; (3) adoption on a retrospective basis of the classification of cash paid by the Company for directly withholding shares for tax withholding purposes in cash flows from financing activities, and (4) adoption on a prospective basis for the exclusion of the amount of excess tax benefits when applying the treasury stock method for the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation.
Additionally, the Company continues to withhold the statutory minimum taxes for participants in the Company’s stock-based compensation plans and estimates forfeiture rates at the grant date and the expected term of its equity awards based on historical results.
On July 22, 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (ASU 2015-11). ASU 2015-11 requires an entity to measure most inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value, thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. ASU 2015-11 does not apply to inventories that are measured using either the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method or the retail inventory method. ASU 2015-11 was effective for public entities for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. U. S. Steel adopted ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017. The adoption did not have a significant financial statement impact to U. S. Steel.

-7-



4.    Segment Information
U. S. Steel has three reportable segments: Flat-Rolled Products (Flat-Rolled), which consists of the following three commercial entities that directly interact with our customers and service their needs: (1) automotive, (2) consumer, and (3) industrial, service center and mining; U. S. Steel Europe (USSE); and Tubular Products (Tubular). The results of our railroad and real estate businesses 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 earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes. Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes 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 chief operating decision maker assesses the Company's assets on an enterprise wide level, based upon the projects that yield the greatest return to the Company as a whole, and not on an individual segment level.
The accounting principles applied at the operating segment level in determining earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes are generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level. 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.
The results of segment operations for three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are:
(In millions)                                                                                Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
Customer
Sales
 
Intersegment
Sales
 
Net
Sales
 
Earnings
(loss)
from
investees
 
Earnings (loss) Before Interest and Income Taxes
Flat-Rolled
 
$
2,151

 
$
92

 
$
2,243

 
$
14

 
$
218

USSE
 
740

 
12

 
752

 

 
55

Tubular
 
234

 

 
234

 
2

 
(29
)
Total reportable segments
 
3,125

 
104

 
3,229

 
16

 
244

Other Businesses
 
19

 
29

 
48

 

 
9

Reconciling Items and Eliminations
 

 
(133
)
 
(133
)
 

 
60

Total
 
$
3,144

 
$

 
$
3,144

 
$
16

 
$
313


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled
 
$
1,926

 
$

 
$
1,926

 
$
27

 
$
6

USSE
 
565

 
1

 
566

 

 
55

Tubular
 
81

 
2

 
83

 
2

 
(78
)
Total reportable segments
 
2,572

 
3

 
2,575

 
29

 
(17
)
Other Businesses
 
12

 
25

 
37

 
(1
)
 
10

Reconciling Items and Eliminations
 

 
(28
)
 
(28
)
 

 
35

Total
 
$
2,584

 
$

 
$
2,584

 
$
28

 
$
28



-8-



The results of segment operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are:
(In millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
Customer
Sales
 
Intersegment
Sales
 
Net
Sales
 
Earnings
(loss)
from
investees
 
Earnings (loss) Before Interest and Income Taxes
Flat-Rolled
 
$
4,016

 
$
113

 
$
4,129

 
$
17

 
$
128

USSE
 
1,413

 
24

 
1,437

 

 
142

Tubular
 
405

 
1

 
406

 
3

 
(86
)
Total reportable segments
 
5,834

 
138

 
5,972

 
20

 
184

Other Businesses
 
35

 
60

 
95

 

 
22

Reconciling Items and Eliminations
 

 
(198
)
 
(198
)
 


 
9

Total
 
$
5,869

 
$

 
$
5,869

 
$
20

 
$
215

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled
 
$
3,657

 
$
16

 
$
3,673

 
$
71

 
$
(182
)
USSE
 
1,041

 
2

 
1,043

 

 
41

Tubular
 
190

 
1

 
191

 
4

 
(142
)
Total reportable segments
 
4,888

 
19

 
4,907

 
75

 
(283
)
Other Businesses
 
37

 
53

 
90

 
(2
)
 
24

Reconciling Items and Eliminations
 

 
(72
)
 
(72
)
 

 
26

Total
 
$
4,925

 
$

 
$
4,925

 
$
73

 
$
(233
)
The following is a schedule of reconciling items to Earnings (Loss) Before Interest and Income Taxes:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Items not allocated to segments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postretirement benefit (expense) income(a)
 
$
(12
)
 
$
12

 
$
(28
)
 
$
28

Other items not allocated to segments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on shutdown of certain tubular assets(b)
 

 

 
(35
)
 

Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (Note 21)
 
72

 

 
72

 

Restructuring and other charges and adjustments(c)
 

 
23

 

 
(2
)
Total other items not allocated to segments
 
72

 
23

 
37

 
(2
)
Total reconciling items
 
$
60

 
$
35

 
$
9

 
$
26

(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 defined pension, retiree health care and life insurance benefit plans.
(b) Included in Restructuring and other charges on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. See Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(c) For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, approximately $(17) million and $(2) million is included in Cost of sales, respectively and approximately $(6) million and $4 million is included in the Restructuring and other charges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, respectively. See Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

-9-



5.     Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are detailed below:
 
 

 
As of June 30, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
(In millions)
 
Useful
Lives
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
Amount
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
Amount
Customer relationships
 
12 Years
 
$
132

 
$
62

 
$
70

 
$
132

 
$
59

 
$
73

Patents
 
2-10 Years
 
22

 
3

 
19

 
22

 
2

 
20

Other
 
5-10 Years
 
14

 
7

 
7

 
14

 
7

 
7

Total amortizable intangible assets
 

 
$
168

 
$
72

 
$
96

 
$
168

 
$
68

 
$
100

The carrying amount of acquired water rights with indefinite lives as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 totaled $75 million. The research and development activities of the Company's acquired indefinite lived in-process research and development patents was completed during the fourth quarter of 2016 and are now being amortized over their useful lives of approximately 10 years. The indefinite lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually in the third quarter, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.
Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying values may not be recoverable.
Amortization expense was $2 million in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and $2 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016. Amortization expense was $4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and $4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016. The estimated future amortization expense of identifiable intangible assets during the next five years is $4 million for the remaining portion of 2017 and $9 million each year from 2018 to 2021.

-10-



6.    Pensions and Other Benefits
The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost (income) for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
 
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Other
Benefits
(In millions)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Service cost
 
$
12

 
$
13

 
$
5

 
$
5

Interest cost
 
59

 
65

 
24

 
24

Expected return on plan assets
 
(97
)
 
(105
)
 
(17
)
 
(38
)
Amortization of prior service cost
 

 
3

 
7

 
7

Amortization of actuarial net loss
 
37

 
32

 
1

 
1

Net periodic benefit cost (income), excluding below
 
11

 
8

 
20

 
(1
)
Multiemployer plans
 
14

 
15

 

 

Settlement, termination and curtailment losses
 

 
3

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost (income)
 
$
25

 
$
26

 
$
20

 
$
(1
)
The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost (income) for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
 
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Other
Benefits
(In millions)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Service cost
 
$
24

 
$
26

 
$
9

 
$
10

Interest cost
 
118

 
130

 
47

 
49

Expected return on plan assets
 
(194
)
 
(210
)
 
(33
)
 
(75
)
Amortization of prior service cost
 

 
6

 
14

 
13

Amortization of actuarial net loss
 
74

 
64

 
2

 
1

Net periodic benefit cost (income), excluding below
 
22

 
16

 
39

 
(2
)
Multiemployer plans
 
29

 
32

 

 

Settlement, termination and curtailment losses
 
4

 
3

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost (income)
 
$
55

 
$
51

 
$
39

 
$
(2
)
Settlements
During the first six months of 2017 and 2016, there were settlement charges of $4 million and $3 million, respectively, incurred for the non-qualified pension plan due to lump sum payments for certain individuals.
Employer Contributions
During the first six months of 2017, U. S. Steel made cash payments of $30 million to the Steelworkers’ Pension Trust and $7 million of pension payments not funded by trusts.
During the first six months of 2017, cash payments of $27 million were made for other postretirement benefit payments not funded by trusts.
Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $10 million and $11 million in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $19 million and $22 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

-11-




Non-retirement postemployment benefits
U. S. Steel recorded a favorable adjustment associated with a change in estimate that resulted in a benefit of approximately $1 million for both of the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017, compared to a favorable adjustment of approximately $17 million and $2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, related to employee costs for supplemental unemployment benefits and the continuation of health care benefits and life insurance coverage for employees associated with the temporary idling of certain facilities and reduced production at others. Payments for these benefits during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $5 million and $13 million, respectively. Payments for these benefits during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 were $21 million and $40 million, respectively.
7.    Net Interest and Other Financial Costs
Net interest and other financial costs includes interest expense (net of capitalized interest), interest income, financing costs, derivatives gains and losses and foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses. Foreign currency gains and losses are primarily a result of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities that require remeasurement and the impacts of euro-U.S. dollar derivatives activity. During the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, net foreign currency losses of $11 million and gains of $6 million respectively, were recorded in other financial costs. During the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, net foreign currency losses of $16 million and $2 million respectively, were recorded in other financial costs. Additionally, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, a net loss on debt extinguishment was recognized of $24 million and $22 million, respectively.
See Note 12 for additional information on U. S. Steel’s use of derivatives to mitigate its foreign currency exchange rate exposure. See Note 13 for further details on U. S. Steel's redemption of its senior debt.

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 the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) and the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the Omnibus Plan), which are more fully described in Note 14 of the United States Steel Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and the 2017 Proxy Statement. On April 26, 2016, the Company's stockholders approved the Omnibus Plan and authorized the Company to issue up to 7,200,000 shares of U. S. Steel common stock under the Omnibus Plan. The Company's stockholders authorized the issuance of an additional 6,300,000 shares under the Omnibus Plan on April 25, 2017. While the awards that were previously granted under the 2005 Plan remain outstanding, all future awards will be granted under the Omnibus Plan. As of June 30, 2017, there were 6,196,234 shares available for future grants under the Omnibus Plan.

Recent grants of stock-based compensation consist of stock options, restricted stock units, and total shareholder return (TSR) performance awards. Stock options are generally issued at the market price of the underlying stock on the date of the grant. Upon exercise of stock options, shares of U. S. Steel common stock are issued from treasury stock. The following table is a general summary of the awards made under the 2005 Plan and the Omnibus Plan during the first six months of 2017 and 2016.
 
2017
 
2016
Grant Details
Shares(a)
Fair Value(b)
 
Shares(a)
Fair Value(b)
Stock Options
632,050

$
17.43

 
1,333,210

$
6.24

Restricted Stock Units
336,120

$
36.59

 
1,117,495

$
14.27

TSR Performance Awards (c)
156,770

$
42.45

 
308,130

$
10.02

(a) The share amounts shown in this table do not reflect an adjustment for estimated forfeitures.
(b) Represents the per share weighted-average for all grants during the period.
(c) The number of performance awards shown represents the target value of the award.        

U. S. Steel recognized pretax stock-based compensation expense in the amount of $5 million in both of the three month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $15 million and $11 million in the first six months of 2017 and 2016, respectively.


-12-



As of June 30, 2017, total future compensation expense related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements was $30 million, and the weighted average period over which this expense is expected to be recognized is approximately 1 year.

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 generally vest ratably over three years and have a term of ten years.
Black-Scholes Assumptions
 
2017 Grants
2016 Grants
Grant date price per share of option award
 
$
36.53

$
14.78

Exercise price per share of option award
 
$
36.53

$
14.78

Expected annual dividends per share, at grant date
 
$
0.20

$
0.20

Expected life in years
 
5.0

5.0

Expected volatility
 
57
%
53
%
Risk-free interest rate
 
1.97
%
1.46
%
Grant date fair value per share of unvested option awards as calculated from above
 
$
17.43

$
6.24

         
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 awarded as part of annual grants generally vest ratably over three years. The fair value is the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant. Restricted stock units granted in connection with new-hire or retention grants generally cliff vest three years from the date of grant.

TSR performance awards generally vest at the end of a three-year performance period and the value of the award is based upon U. S. Steel's total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder return of a peer group of companies over the three-year performance period. The value of the performance awards is between zero and 200 percent of the target award. The fair value of the TSR performance awards is calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation.
9. Income Taxes
Tax provision
For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, we recorded a tax provision of $3 million on our pretax earnings of $84 million and a tax provision of $7 million on our pretax loss of $379 million, respectively. Included in the tax provision in the first six months of 2017 is a benefit of $13 million related to the carryback of certain losses to prior years. Due to the full valuation allowance on our domestic deferred tax assets, the tax provision does not reflect any benefit for domestic pretax losses, if any.

The tax provision for the first six months of 2017 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 2017 pretax results for U.S. and foreign income or loss vary from estimates applied herein, the actual tax provision or benefit recognized in 2017 could be materially different from the forecasted amount used to estimate the tax provision for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Deferred taxes
Each quarter U. S. Steel analyzes the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is recorded if, based on the weight of all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset may not be realized.


-13-



At June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel reviewed all available positive and negative evidence and determined that it is more likely than not that all of its net domestic deferred tax assets may not be realized.

U. S. Steel will continue to monitor the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. In the future, if we determine that realization is more likely than not for deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance, the related valuation allowance will be reduced, and we will record a non-cash benefit to earnings.
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 in ASC Topic 740 on income taxes. As of both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $72 million. The total amount of net unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $10 million as of June 30, 2017 and $9 million as of December 31, 2016.
U. S. Steel records interest related to uncertain tax positions as a part of net interest and other financial costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Any penalties are recognized as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, U. S. Steel had accrued liabilities of $5 million and $4 million, respectively, for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
10.    Earnings and Dividends Per Common Share
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to United States Steel Corporation Stockholders
Basic earnings (loss) per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share assumes the exercise of stock options, the vesting of restricted stock units and performance awards, provided in each case the effect is dilutive.
The computations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations are as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Earnings (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders
 
$
261

 
$
(46
)
 
$
81

 
$
(386
)
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):
 

 

 

 

Basic
 
174,797

 
146,582

 
174,521

 
146,492

Effect of stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards
 
1,231

 

 
1,798

 

Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted
 
176,028

 
146,582

 
176,319

 
146,492

Basic earnings (loss) per common share
 
$
1.49

 
$
(0.32
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
(2.64
)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
 
$
1.48

 
$
(0.32
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
(2.64
)
The following table summarizes the securities that were antidilutive, and therefore, were not included in the computations of diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(In thousands)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Securities granted under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended
 
3,538

 
10,126
 
1,669

 
10,126

Dividends Paid Per Share
The dividend for each of the first and second quarters of 2017 and 2016 was five cents per common share.

-14-



11.    Inventories
Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market for last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventories and lower of cost and net realizable value for first-in, first-out (FIFO) method inventories. The LIFO method is the predominant method of inventory costing in the United States. The FIFO method is the predominant method of inventory costing in Europe. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the LIFO method accounted for 74 percent and 75 percent of total inventory values, respectively.
(In millions)
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Raw materials
 
$
499

 
$
449

Semi-finished products
 
789

 
686

Finished products
 
388

 
375

Supplies and sundry items
 
51

 
63

Total
 
$
1,727

 
$
1,573

Current acquisition costs were estimated to exceed the above inventory values by $771 million and $489 million at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. As a result of the liquidation of LIFO inventories, cost of sales decreased and earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes increased by $7 million and $1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. Cost of sales increased and earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes decreased by $29 million and $75 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, as a result of liquidation of LIFO inventories.
Inventory includes $45 million and $54 million of property held for residential or commercial development as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
12.    Derivative Instruments
U. S. Steel is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks as a result of our European operations. USSE’s revenues are primarily in euros and costs are primarily in U.S. dollars and euros. In addition, cash requirements may be funded by intercompany loans, which may create intercompany monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than the functional currency of the entities involved and affect income when remeasured at the end of each period.
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 currency requirements and exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Derivative instruments are required to be recognized at fair value in the Consolidated 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 Consolidated Statements of Operations.
As of June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel held euro forward sales contracts with a total notional value of approximately $216 million. We mitigate the risk of concentration of counterparty credit risk by purchasing our forward sales contracts from several counterparties.
Additionally, U. S. Steel uses 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 2017 and 2016, the forward physical purchase contracts for natural gas and nonferrous metals 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 consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

-15-



 
 
 
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value
(In millions)
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
Accounts receivable
 
$

 
$
9

Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
Accounts payable
 
$
9

 
$

(In millions)
 
Statement of
Operations
Location
 
Amount of Gain (Loss)
 
Amount of Gain (Loss)
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30, 2017
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
Other financial income/
costs
 
$
(11
)
 
$
(13
)
(In millions)
 
Statement of
Operations
Location
 
Amount of (Loss)
 
Amount of Gain
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30, 2016
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
Other financial income/
costs
 
$
(6
)
 
$
4

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 is 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.
13.    Debt
(In millions)
 
Interest
Rates %
 
Maturity
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
2037 Senior Notes
 
6.65
 
2037
 
$
350

 
$
350

2022 Senior Notes
 
7.50
 
2022
 
400

 
400

2021 Senior Secured Notes
 
8.375
 
2021
 
980

 
980

2021 Senior Notes
 
6.875
 
2021
 
200

 
200

2020 Senior Notes
 
7.375
 
2020
 
432

 
432

2018 Senior Notes
 
7.00
 
2018
 
161

 
161

Environmental Revenue Bonds
 
5.50 - 6.88
 
2017 - 2042
 
411

 
447

Recovery Zone Facility Bonds
 
6.75
 
2040
 

 
70

Fairfield Caster Lease
 
 
 
2022
 
26

 
28

Other capital leases and all other obligations
 
 
 
2019
 
1

 
1

Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
 
Variable
 
2020
 

 

USSK Revolver
 
Variable
 
2020
 

 

USSK credit facilities
 
Variable
 
2017 - 2018
 

 

Total Debt
 
 
 
 
 
2,961

 
3,069

Less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs
 
 
 
 
 
34

 
38

Less short-term debt and long-term debt due within one year
 
 
 
 
 
175

 
50

Long-term debt
 
 
 
 
 
$
2,752

 
$
2,981


-16-



To the extent not otherwise discussed below, information concerning the Senior Notes and other listed obligations can be found in Note 16 of the audited financial statements in the United States Steel Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
Redemption of Recovery Zone Facility Bonds
On March 10, 2017, U. S. Steel announced the permanent shutdown of the No. 6 Quench & Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations in Lorain, Ohio. Under the terms of the Trust Indenture dated as of December 1, 2010, between the Lorain County Port Authority and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the Indenture), this action and our decision to relocate the Lorain No. 6 Quench & Temper equipment to one of several other sites under consideration to optimize our operations, triggered an Extraordinary Mandatory Redemption of the Lorain County Port Authority Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bonds (the Recovery Zone Bonds) and accordingly required U. S. Steel to redeem the Recovery Zone Bonds and repay in full the principal amount plus accrued interest. In accordance with the terms of the Indenture, U. S. Steel paid in full all amounts due under the Indenture, comprised of $70 million principal and accrued interest of approximately $2 million, on April 27, 2017.
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
As of June 30, 2017, there were no amounts drawn on the $1.5 billion credit facility agreement (Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). However, since the value of our inventory and trade accounts receivable less specified reserves calculated in accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement do not support the full amount of the facility at June 30, 2017, the amount available to the Company under this facility was reduced by $4 million to $1,496 million. Additionally, 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 under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is less than the greater of 10 percent of the total aggregate commitments and $150 million. Based on the most recent four quarters as of June 30, 2017, we have met this covenant. If we are unable to meet this covenant in future periods, the amount available to the Company under this facility would be reduced by $150 million.

The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for borrowings at interest rates based on defined, short-term market rates plus a spread based on availability and includes other customary terms and conditions including restrictions on our ability to create certain liens and to consolidate, merge or transfer all, or substantially all, of our assets. The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement expires in July 2020. Maturity may be accelerated 91 days prior to the stated maturity of any outstanding senior debt if excess cash and credit facility availability do not meet the liquidity conditions set forth in the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Borrowings are secured by liens on certain domestic inventory and trade accounts receivable.

The Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement permits incurrence of additional secured debt up to 15% of the Company's Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
U. S. Steel Košice (USSK) revolver and credit facilities
At June 30, 2017, USSK had no borrowings under its €200 million (approximately $228 million) unsecured revolving credit facility (the USSK Credit Agreement). The USSK Credit Agreement contains certain USSK financial covenants, including maximum Leverage, maximum Net Debt to Tangible Net Worth, and minimum Interest Coverage ratios as defined in the USSK Credit Agreement. The covenants are measured semi-annually for the period covering the last twelve calendar months. USSK may not draw on the USSK Credit Agreement if it does not comply with any of the financial covenants until the next measurement date. At June 30, 2017, USSK had full availability under the USSK Credit Agreement. The USSK Credit Agreement expires in July 2020. The USSK Credit Agreement permits one additional one-year extension to the final maturity date at the mutual consent of USSK and its lenders.
At June 30, 2017, USSK had no borrowings under its €40 million and €10 million unsecured credit facilities (collectively approximately $57 million) and the availability was approximately $55 million due to approximately $2 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding. On November 2, 2016, USSK entered into an amendment of its €10 million unsecured credit agreement to extend the agreement's final maturity date from December 2016 to December 2017. The amendment also permits up to two additional one-year extensions to the final maturity date at the mutual consent of USSK and its lender.
Each of these facilities bear interest at the applicable inter-bank offer rate plus a margin and contain customary terms and conditions.

-17-



Change in control event under various financing agreements
If there is a change in control of U. S. Steel, the following may occur: (a) debt obligations totaling $2,523 million as of June 30, 2017 (including the Senior Notes and the Senior Secured Notes) may be declared due and payable; (b) the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and USSK's €200 million Revolving Credit Agreement may be terminated and any amounts outstanding declared due and payable; and (c) U. S. Steel may be required to either repurchase the leased Fairfield Works slab caster for $27 million or provide a letter of credit to secure the remaining obligation.
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)
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
79

 
$
89

Additional obligations incurred
 

 
2

Obligations settled
 
(2
)
 
(15
)
Change in estimate of obligations
 
(6
)
 

Foreign currency translation effects
 
1

 

Accretion expense
 
1

 
3

Balance at end of period
 
$
73

 
$
79

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.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, current accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, bank checks outstanding, and accrued interest 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 June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
 
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
(In millions)
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Amount
Financial liabilities:
 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (a)
 
$
3,052

 
$
2,927

 
$
3,139

 
$
3,002

(a)Excludes capital lease obligations.
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments included in the table above:
Long-term debt: 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 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.

-18-



16.    Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

The following table reflects the first six months of 2017 and 2016 reconciliation of the carrying amount of total equity, equity attributable to U. S. Steel and equity attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (In millions)
 
Total
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
Common
Stock
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Paid-in
Capital
 
Non-
Controlling
Interest
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
2,275

 
$
(250
)
 
$
(1,497
)
 
$
176

 
$
(182
)
 
$
4,027

 
$
1

Comprehensive income (loss):
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings
 
81

 
81

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and other benefit adjustments
 
92

 

 
92

 

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustment
 
105

 

 
105

 

 

 

 

Employee stock plans
 
19

 

 

 

 
86

 
(67
)
 

Dividends paid on common stock
 
(18
)
 


 

 

 

 
(18
)
 

Other
 
1

 
4

 
(3
)
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
Balance at June 30, 2017
 
$
2,555

 
$
(165
)
 
$
(1,303
)
 
$
176

 
$
(96
)
 
$
3,942

 
$
1


Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 (In millions)
 
Total
 
Retained
Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 
Common
Stock
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Paid-in
Capital
 
Non-
Controlling
Interest
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
2,437

 
$
190

 
$
(1,169
)
 
$
151

 
$
(339
)
 
$
3,603

 
$
1

Comprehensive income (loss):
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss
 
(386
)
 
(386
)
 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and other benefit adjustments
 
(182
)
 

 
(182
)
 

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustment
 
31

 

 
31

 

 

 

 

Employee stock plans
 
9

 

 

 

 
42

 
(33
)
 

Dividends paid on common stock
 
(15
)
 


 

 

 

 
(15
)
 

Other
 
20

 
(1
)
 
21

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2016
 
$
1,914

 
$
(197
)
 
$
(1,299
)
 
$
151

 
$
(297
)
 
$
3,555

 
$
1



-19-



17.    Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)
(In millions) (a)
 
Pension and
Other Benefit
Items
 
Foreign
Currency
Items
 
Other
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$
(1,771
)
 
$
274

 
$

 
$
(1,497
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
 
186

 
105

 
(1
)
 
290

Amounts reclassified from AOCI
 
(94
)
(b) 

 
(2
)
 
(96
)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
 
92

 
105

 
(3
)
 
194

Balance at June 30, 2017
 
$
(1,679
)
 
$
379

 
$
(3
)
 
$
(1,303
)
(a)Amounts do not reflect a tax benefit as a result of a full valuation allowance on our domestic deferred tax assets.
(b)See table below for further details.
 
 
 
Amount reclassified from AOCI
 
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)(a)
Details about AOCI components
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Amortization of pension and other benefit items
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Prior service costs (b) 
 
$
(7
)
 
$
(10
)
 
$
(14
)
 
$
(19
)
 
    Actuarial losses (b) 
 
(38
)
 
(33
)
 
(76
)
 
(65
)
 
    Settlement, termination and curtailment losses (b) 
 

 
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
(3
)
 
Total before tax
 
(45
)
 
(46
)
 
(94
)
 
(87
)
 
Tax benefit
 

 

 

 

 
Net of tax (c)
 
$
(45
)
 
$
(46
)
 
$
(94
)
 
$
(87
)
(a)Amounts in parentheses indicate decreases in AOCI.
(b)These AOCI components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 6 for additional details).
(c)Amounts do not reflect a tax benefit as a result of a full valuation allowance on our domestic deferred tax assets.

18.    Transactions with Related Parties
Net sales to related parties and receivables from related parties primarily reflect sales of raw materials and steel products to equity investees and U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC) after the Canada Companies' Creditor Arrangement Act (CCAA) filing on September 16, 2014. Generally, transactions are conducted under long-term market-based contractual arrangements. Related party sales and service transactions were $357 million and $264 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $670 million and $579 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Purchases from related parties for outside processing services provided by equity investees and USSC after the CCAA filing on September 16, 2014 amounted to $41 million and $24 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $55 million and $43 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Purchases of iron ore pellets from related parties amounted to $44 million and $42 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and $80 million and $88 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Accounts payable to related parties include balances due to PRO-TEC Coating Company (PRO-TEC) of $72 million and $63 million at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 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, including USSC after the CCAA filing on September 16, 2014, totaled $5 million and $3 million at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
As a result of the completion of the restructuring and disposition of U. S. Steel Canada Inc. on June 30, 2017, subsequent transactions between the Company and U. S. Steel Canada Inc. will no longer be considered

-20-



related party transactions and will be accounted for and recognized as third-party transactions. See Note 21 for further details.

19.    Restructuring and Other Charges

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded a net restructuring charge of $32 million, which consists of charges of $35 million related to the permanent shutdown of the No. 6 Quench & Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations and a favorable adjustment of $3 million primarily associated with a change in estimate for previously recorded costs for environmental obligations and Company-wide headcount reductions. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of $17 million.
During the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded a net favorable adjustment of $6 million primarily associated with a change in estimate for headcount reductions across the enterprise, including within our Flat-Rolled, Tubular and USSE segments. This change in estimate includes adjustments for costs for supplemental unemployment and severance benefits as well as the continuation of health care benefits.
During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded a net charge of $4 million associated with Company-wide headcount reductions, including within our Flat-Rolled, Tubular and USSE segments. This charge includes costs for supplemental unemployment and severance benefits as well as the continuation of health care benefits.
Charges for restructuring and ongoing cost reduction initiatives are recorded in the period the Company commits to a restructuring or cost reduction plan, or executes specific actions contemplated by the plan and all criteria for liability recognition have been met. Charges related to the restructuring and cost reductions are reported in restructuring and other charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The activity in the accrued balances incurred in relation to restructuring and other cost reduction programs during the six months ended June 30, 2017 were as follows:
 
 
Employee Related
 
Exit
 
Non-cash
 
 
(in millions)
 
Costs
 
Costs
 
Charges
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$
14

 
$
60

 
$

 
$
74

Additional charges
 
1

 

 
35

 
36

Cash payments/utilization
 
(6
)
 
(11
)
 
(35
)
 
(52
)
Other adjustments and reclassifications
 
(2
)

(2
)
 

 
(4
)
Balance at June 30, 2017
 
$
7

 
$
47

 
$

 
$
54


Accrued liabilities for restructuring and other cost reduction programs are included in the following balance sheet lines:
(in millions)
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Accounts payable
 
$
38

 
$
50

Payroll and benefits payable
 
4

 
11

Employee Benefits
 
1

 
1

Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities
 
11

 
12

Total
 
$
54

 
$
74


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 Financial Statements. However, management believes that

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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, and the costs are reasonably determinable.
Asbestos matters As of June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 850 active cases involving approximately 3,345 plaintiffs. The vast majority of these cases involve multiple defendants. At December 31, 2016, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 845 active cases involving approximately 3,340 plaintiffs. As of June 30, 2017, about 2,500, or approximately 75 percent, of these plaintiff claims are pending in jurisdictions which permit filings with massive numbers of plaintiffs. Based upon U. S. Steel’s experience in such cases, we believe 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.
The following table shows the number of asbestos claims in the current period and the prior three years:
Period ended
 
Opening
Number
of Claims
 
Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved
 
New
Claims
 
Closing
Number
of Claims
December 31, 2014
 
3,320
 
190
 
325
 
3,455
December 31, 2015
 
3,455
 
415
 
275
 
3,315
December 31, 2016
 
3,315
 
225
 
250
 
3,340
June 30, 2017
 
3,340
 
120
 
125
 
3,345
Historically, asbestos-related claims against U. S. Steel fall into three groups: (1) claims made by persons who allegedly were exposed to asbestos on the premises of U. S. Steel facilities; (2) claims made by persons allegedly exposed to products manufactured by U. S. Steel; and (3) claims made under certain federal and maritime laws by employees of former operations of U. S. Steel.
The amount U. S. Steel accrues for pending asbestos claims is not material to U. S. Steel’s financial condition. However, U. S. Steel is unable to estimate the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related claims due to a number of uncertainties, including (1) the rates at which new claims are filed, (2) the number of and effect of bankruptcies of other companies traditionally defending asbestos claims, (3) uncertainties associated with the variations in the litigation process from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, (4) uncertainties regarding the facts, circumstances and disease process with each claim, and (5) any new legislation enacted to address asbestos-related claims. Despite these uncertainties, 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.
Environmental matters U. 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 where U. S. Steel is identified as a named party are summarized in the following table:
(In millions)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Beginning of period
$
179

Accruals for environmental remediation deemed probable and reasonably estimable
5

Obligations settled
(4
)
End of period
$
180


-22-



Accrued liabilities for remediation activities are included in the following Consolidated Balance Sheet lines:
(In millions)
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Accounts payable
 
$
20

 
$
19

Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities
 
160

 
160

Total
 
$
180

 
$
179

Expenses related to remediation are recorded in cost of sales and were immaterial for both the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. It is not currently possible to estimate the ultimate amount of all remediation costs that might be incurred or the penalties that may be imposed. Due to uncertainties inherent in remediation projects and the associated liabilities, it is reasonably possible that total remediation costs for active matters may exceed the accrued liabilities by as much as 15 to 30 percent.
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 - Projects which are still in the 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/or cost estimates cannot be determined. Therefore, significant costs, in addition to the accrued liabilities for these projects, are reasonably possible. There are six environmental remediation projects where additional costs for completion are not currently estimable, but could be material. These projects are at Fairfield Works, Lorain Tubular, USS-POSCO Industries (UPI), the Fairless Plant, Cherryvale Zinc, and the former steelmaking plant at Joliet, Illinois. As of June 30, 2017, accrued liabilities for these projects totaled $1 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 $30 million to $50 million.
(2)
Significant Projects with Defined Scope - Projects with significant accrued liabilities with a defined scope. As of June 30, 2017, there are three significant projects with defined scope greater than or equal to $5 million each, with a total accrued liability of $137 million. These projects are Gary RCRA (accrued liability of $27 million), the former Geneva facility (accrued liability of $63 million), and the former Duluth facility St. Louis River Estuary (accrued liability of $47 million).
(3)
Other Projects with a Defined Scope - Projects with relatively small accrued liabilities for which we believe that, while additional costs are possible, they are not likely to be significant, and also include those projects for which we do not yet possess sufficient information to estimate potential costs to U. S. Steel. There are two 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 June 30, 2017 was $4 million. These projects have progressed through a significant portion of the design phase and material additional costs are not expected.
The remaining environmental remediation projects had an accrued liability of less than $1 million each. The total accrued liability for these projects at June 30, 2017 was $6 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 June 30, 2017 and were based on known scopes of work.
Administrative and Legal Costs – As of June 30, 2017, 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 six months of 2017 and 2016, such capital expenditures totaled $33 million and $20 million, respectively. U. S. Steel anticipates

-23-



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.
Under the Emission Trading System (ETS) USSK's final allocation of free allowances for the Phase III period, which covers the years 2013 through 2020 is 48 million allowances. Based on 2016 emission intensity levels and projected future production levels, and as a result of carryover allowances from the NAP II period, the earliest we anticipate having to purchase allowances to meet the annual compliance submission would be the first quarter of 2018. We estimate a shortfall of approximately 16 million allowances for the Phase III period. However, due to a number of variable factors such as the future market value of allowances, future production levels and future emission intensity levels, we cannot reliably estimate the full cost of complying with the ETS regulations at this time.
The EU’s Industry Emission Directive will require implementation of EU determined best available techniques (BAT) to reduce environmental impacts as well as compliance with BAT associated emission levels. Our most recent broad estimate of future capital expenditures for projects to comply with or go beyond BAT requirements is €138 million (approximately $157 million) over the 2017 to 2020 period. There are ongoing efforts to seek EU grants to fund a portion of these capital expenditures. The actual amount spent will depend largely upon the amount of EU incentive grants received. See Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Environmental Matters, Litigation and Contingencies, Slovak Operations.
Due to other EU legislation, we are required to make changes to the boilers at our steam and power generation plant in order to comply with stricter air emission limits for large combustion plants, which will result in the construction of a new boiler and certain upgrades to our existing boilers. In January 2014, the operation of USSK's boilers was approved by the European Commission (EC) as part of Slovakia's Transitional National Plan (TNP) for bringing all boilers in Slovakia into compliance by no later than 2020. The TNP establishes emission ceilings for each category of emissions (Total Suspended Particulate, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx)) for both stacks within the Power Plant. The allowable amount of discharged emissions will decrease each year until mid 2020. An emission ceiling will be a limiting factor for future operation of the boilers. The boiler projects have been approved by our Board of Directors and we are now in the execution phase. These projects will result in a reduction in electricity, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and operating, maintenance and waste disposal costs once completed. The construction of the new boiler is complete with a total final projected cost of €77 million (approximately $88 million). Reconstruction of the existing boiler, with a projected cost of €54 million (approximately $62 million), is in progress. The total remaining to be spent on the projects is projected to be €13 million (approximately $15 million). Broad legislative changes were enacted by the Slovak Republic to extend the scope of support for renewable sources of energy, that are intended to allow USSK to participate in Slovakia's renewable energy incentive program once the boiler projects are completed.
Guarantees – The maximum guarantees of the indebtedness and other obligations of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $4 million at June 30, 2017.
EPA Region V Federal Lawsuit – This is a Clean Air Act (CAA) enforcement action that was filed in Federal Court in the Northern District of Indiana in 2012. The U.S. Government, joined by the States of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan initiated the action alleging the Company violated the CAA and failed to have in place appropriate pollution control equipment at Gary Works, Granite City Works, and Great Lakes Works. A Consent Decree with a proposed settlement agreement was filed with the Court on November 22, 2016. As part of the settlement agreement, U. S. Steel agreed to perform seven supplemental environmental projects totaling approximately $3 million and pay a civil penalty of approximately $2 million. The enforcement action concluded on March 30, 2017 when the Court signed and entered the Consent Decree. In April 2017, U. S. Steel satisfied payment of the approximately $2 million civil penalty and is currently in various phases of implementing the supplemental environmental projects.
CCAA - On September 16, 2014, U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC) commenced court-supervised restructuring proceedings under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (the Court). As part of the CCAA proceedings, U. S. Steel submitted both secured and unsecured claims of approximately C$2.2 billion, which were verified by the court-appointed Monitor. U. S. Steel's claims were challenged by a number of interested parties and on February 29, 2016, the Court denied those challenges and verified U. S. Steel's secured claims in the amount of approximately $119 million and unsecured claims of approximately C$1.8 billion and $120 million. The interested parties had appealed the determinations of the Court, but the appeals have been discontinued as a result of the sale of USSC to an affiliate of Bedrock Industries Group LLC (Bedrock) on June 30, 2017.

-24-



Other contingencies Under 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 $8 million at June 30, 2017). No liability has been recorded for these guarantees as the potential loss is not probable.
Insurance U. 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 approximately $160 million as of June 30, 2017, which reflects U. S. Steel’s maximum exposure under these financial guarantees, but not its total exposure for the underlying obligations. A significant portion of our trust arrangements and letters of credit are collateralized by our Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The remaining trust arrangements and letters of credit are collateralized by restricted cash. Restricted cash, which is recorded in other current and noncurrent assets, totaled $42 million and $40 million at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
Capital Commitments At June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $112 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 2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
Later
Years
 
Total
$516
 
$701
 
$398
 
$316
 
$309
 
$1,063
 
$3,303
The majority of U. S. Steel’s unconditional purchase obligations relates to the supply of industrial gases, and certain energy and utility services with terms ranging from two to 16 years. Unconditional purchase obligations also include coke and steam purchase commitments related to a coke supply agreement with Gateway Energy & Coke Company LLC (Gateway) under which Gateway is obligated to supply a minimum volume of the expected targeted annual production of the heat recovery coke plant, and U. S. Steel is obligated to purchase the coke from Gateway at the contract price. As of June 30, 2017, if U. S Steel were to terminate the agreement, it may be obligated to pay in excess of $193 million.
Total payments relating to unconditional purchase obligations were $151 million and $123 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $292 million and $255 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
21.    U. S. Steel Canada Inc. Retained Interest
On June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel completed the restructuring and disposition of USSC through a sale and transfer of all of the issued and outstanding shares in USSC to an affiliate of Bedrock. In accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Plan of Compromise, Arrangement and Reorganization, approved by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on June 9, 2017, U. S. Steel received approximately $127 million in satisfaction of its secured claims, including interest, which resulted in a gain of $72 million on the Company's retained interest in USSC. U. S. Steel also agreed to the discharge and cancellation of its unsecured claims for nominal consideration. The terms of the settlement also included mutual releases among key stakeholders, including a release of all claims against the Company regarding environmental, pension and other liabilities.

-25-



22.    Significant Equity Investments

Summarized unaudited income statement information for our significant equity investments for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 is reported below (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information):

(In millions)
 
2017
 
2016
Net sales
 
$
533

 
$
578

Cost of sales
 
468

 
544

Operating income
 
43

 
12

Net earnings
 
38

 
3

Net earnings attributable to significant equity investments
 
38

 
3


U. S. Steel's portion of the equity in net earnings of the significant equity investments above was $20 million and $4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which is included in the earnings from investees line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

-26-



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

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net sales by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are set forth in the following table:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
(Dollars in millions, excluding intersegment sales)
 
2017
 
2016
 
%
Change
 
2017
 
2016
%
Change
Flat-Rolled Products (Flat-Rolled)
 
$
2,151

 
$
1,926

 
12
%
 
$
4,016

 
$
3,657

10
 %
U. S. Steel Europe (USSE)
 
740

 
565

 
31
%
 
1,413

 
1,041

36
 %
Tubular Products (Tubular)
 
234

 
81

 
189
%
 
405

 
190

113
 %
     Total sales from reportable segments
 
3,125

 
2,572

 
22
%
 
5,834

 
4,888

19
 %
Other Businesses
 
19

 
12

 
58
%
 
35

 
37

(5
)%
Net sales
 
$
3,144

 
$
2,584

 
22
%
 
$
5,869

 
$
4,925

19
 %
Management’s analysis of the percentage change in net sales for U. S. Steel’s reportable business segments for the three months ended June 30, 2017 versus the three months ended June 30, 2016 is set forth in the following table:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 versus Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
Steel Products (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
Price
 
Mix
 
FX (b)
 
Coke &
Other
(c)
 
Net
Change
Flat-Rolled
 
(6
)%
 
8
%
 
7
 %
 
 %
 
3
%
 
12
%
USSE
 
3
 %
 
33
%
 
(3
)%
 
(3
)%
 
1
%
 
31
%
Tubular
 
153
 %
 
3
%
 
28
 %
 
 %
 
5
%
 
189
%
(a) Excludes intersegment sales
(b) Foreign currency translation effects
(c) Includes sales of coke and scrap inventory
Net sales were $3,144 million in the three months ended June 30, 2017, compared with $2,584 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales for the Flat-Rolled segment primarily reflected higher average realized prices (increase of $100 per net ton) as a result of improved market conditions and a favorable impact from a higher value added product mix, partially offset by a decrease in shipments (decrease of 195 thousand net tons) as a result of a planned outage at our Great Lakes Works facility. Additionally, our Flat-Rolled segment is supplying substrate to our tubular operations subsequent to the start-up of the #2 pipe mill at Lone Star. The increase in sales for the USSE segment was primarily due to higher average realized euro-based prices (increase of €133 per net ton) as a result of lower imports. The increase in sales for the Tubular segment primarily reflected increased shipments (increase of 110 thousand net tons), higher average realized prices (increase of $184 per net ton) as a result of improved market conditions, and a favorable impact on product mix as a result of increased shipments of seamless tubular products.

-27-



Management’s analysis of the percentage change in net sales for U. S. Steel’s reportable business segments for the six months ended June 30, 2017 versus the six months ended June 30, 2016 is set forth in the following table:
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 versus Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
Steel Products (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume
 
Price
 
Mix
 
FX (b)
 
Coke &
Other
(c)
 
Net
Change
Flat-Rolled
 
(5
)%
 
16
 %
 
1
 %
 
 %
 
(2
)%
 
10
%
USSE
 
6
 %
 
36
 %
 
(3
)%
 
(3
)%
 
 %
 
36
%
Tubular
 
113
 %
 
(3
)%
 
(4
)%
 
 %
 
7
 %
 
113
%
(a) Excludes intersegment sales
(b) Foreign currency translation effects
(c) Includes sales of coke and scrap inventory

Net sales were $5,869 million in the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared with $4,925 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales for the Flat-Rolled segment primarily reflected higher average realized prices (increase of $106 per net ton) as a result of improved market conditions, partially offset by a decrease in shipments (decrease of 287 thousand net tons) as a result of a planned outage at our Great Lakes Works facility. The increase in sales for the USSE segment was primarily due to higher average realized euro-based prices (increase of €138 per net ton) and an increase in shipments (increase of 137 thousand net tons), both as a result of lower imports. The increase in sales for the Tubular segment primarily reflected increased shipments (increase of 165 thousand net tons) as a result of improved market conditions.

Pension and other benefits costs
Pension and other benefit costs are reflected in our cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expense line items in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Defined benefit and multiemployer pension plan costs totaled $25 million and $55 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $26 million and $51 million in the comparable periods in 2016.
Costs related to defined contribution plans totaled $10 million and $21 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $11 million and $22 million in the comparable periods in 2016.
Other benefit expense (income), which is included in earnings (loss) before interest and taxes, totaled $20 million and $(1) million in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively, and $39 million and $(2) million in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The $21 million and $41 million increases in expense in the 2017 periods are primarily due to a lower return on asset assumption as a result of actions taken in 2016 to de-risk the other postemployment benefit (OPEB) plans.
Net periodic pension cost, including multiemployer plans, is expected to total approximately $104 million in 2017. Total other benefits costs in 2017 are expected to total approximately $78 million. The pension cost projection includes approximately $57 million of contributions to the Steelworkers Pension Trust.
Non-retirement postemployment benefits
U. S. Steel incurred a favorable adjustment associated with a change in estimate that resulted in a benefit of approximately $1 million for both of the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, compared to a favorable adjustment of approximately $17 million and $2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, related to employee costs for supplemental unemployment benefits and the continuation of health care benefits and life insurance coverage for employees associated with the temporary idling of certain facilities and reduced production at others. Payments for these benefits during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $5 million and $13 million, respectively. Payments for these benefits during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 were $21 million and $40 million, respectively.

-28-



Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $79 million and $176 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, compared to $64 million and $133 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. The increase is primarily related to increased other benefit costs as explained above.
Operating configuration adjustments
Over the past three years, the Company has adjusted its operating configuration in response to challenging market conditions as a result of global overcapacity and unfair trade practices by indefinitely and temporarily idling production at certain of its facilities. As of June 30, 2017, there were no facilities indefinitely idled.
As of June 30, 2017, the following facilities are temporarily idled:

Temporarily Idled:
Tubular Processing (Idled in April of 2015)
Granite City Works - Steelmaking Operations (idled in December of 2015)

The carrying value of the long-lived assets associated with the temporarily idled facilities listed above total approximately $169 million.

In March of 2017, U. S. Steel made the strategic decision to permanently shutdown the Lorain #6 Quench & Temper Mill as a result of the challenging market conditions for tubular products.

In December of 2016, U. S. Steel made the strategic decision to permanently shutdown the Lorain #4 and Lone Star #1 pipe mills and the Bellville Tubular Operations (which had been indefinitely idled) after considering a number of factors, including challenging market conditions for tubular products, reduced rig counts and unfairly traded imports.

U. S. Steel will continue to evaluate potential strategic and organizational opportunities, which may include the acquisition, divestiture or consolidation of assets. Given recent market conditions, the cyclicality of our industry, and the continued challenges faced by the Company, we are focused on strategically maintaining and spending cash (including capital investments under our asset revitalization program), in order to invest in areas consistent with our long-term strategy, and are considering various possibilities, including exiting lines of business and the sale of certain assets, that we believe would further that goal and ultimately result in a stronger balance sheet and greater stockholder value. The Company will pursue opportunities based on its long-term strategy, and what the Board of Directors determines to be in the best interests of the Company's stockholders at the time.

Better operating performance in our Flat-Rolled segment, coupled with relatively stable market conditions during the second quarter of 2017, have resulted in improved segment results as compared to the first quarter of 2017. As we continue with the implementation of our asset revitalization plan, as noted below, and as our investments in our facilities continue to increase, the sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery and costs we are targeting will position us to succeed over the long run, and support future growth initiatives.

Asset Revitalization
As part of a long-term strategic initiative of the Company, the Board of Directors has approved a multi-year asset revitalization program focused on our Flat-Rolled segment. The program is structured over three to four years, and involves an aggregate capital investment of approximately $1.2 billion. Management evaluated customer performance in the key industries we serve, and developed projects across multiple Flat-Rolled segment assets with a continuous focus on improving safety, quality, delivery and costs. The Company views this program as essential to improving predictability and our ability to compete effectively in the industry. As we revitalize our assets, we expect to increase profitability, productivity, operational consistency, and reduce volatility.
The asset revitalization program includes projects to address short-term operational and maintenance enhancements as well as larger initiatives. The projects vary in scope and cost. The investments specifically address issues that are critical to delivering quality products to our customers in a timely manner.
The identified projects and schedule may change to address our customers’ needs, current and future economic operating conditions, and risks identified in the production cycle. Through the multi-year asset revitalization program, we expect to make total capital investments of $1.2 billion, which consist of capital investments in our iron making facilities of approximately $200 million, $400 million in our steel making facilities, $300 million in our hot rolling facilities,

-29-



and $300 million in our finishing facilities. The Company plans to fund the program through cash generated from operations and cash on hand.
Our total capital expenditures for 2017 are expected to be approximately $625 million, which includes approximately $200-250 million for the Company’s asset revitalization program.
Restructuring and Other Charges
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded a net restructuring charge of $32 million, which consists of charges of $35 million related to the permanent shutdown of the No. 6 Quench & Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations and a favorable adjustment of $3 million primarily associated with a change in estimate for previously recorded costs for environmental obligations and Company-wide headcount reductions. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of $17 million.
During the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded a net favorable adjustment of $6 million primarily associated with a change in estimate for headcount reductions across the enterprise, including within our Flat-Rolled, Tubular and USSE segments. This change in estimate includes adjustments for costs for supplemental unemployment and severance benefits as well as the continuation of health care benefits.
During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded a net charge of $4 million associated with Company-wide headcount reductions, including within our Flat-Rolled, Tubular and USSE segments. This charge includes costs for supplemental unemployment and severance benefits as well as the continuation of health care benefits.
Charges for restructuring and ongoing cost reduction initiatives are recorded in the period the Company commits to a restructuring or cost reduction plan, or executes specific actions contemplated by the plan and all criteria for liability recognition have been met. Charges related to the restructuring and cost reductions include severance costs, accelerated depreciation, asset impairments and other closure costs.
Management believes its restructuring actions with regards to the Company’s operations since 2014 will potentially impact the Company’s annual cash flows by approximately $300 million over the course of subsequent annual periods as a result of decreased employee, maintenance and other facility costs, as well as eliminating the need for capital investment at the facilities. These actions will result in other non-cash savings of approximately $90 million, primarily related to reduced depreciation expense in future periods. Management does not believe there will be any significant impact related to the Company’s revenues as a result of these actions. The Company has realized actual cash savings of approximately $300 million related to restructuring efforts through June 30, 2017.



-30-



Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 is set forth in the following table:

 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
(Dollars in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
Flat-Rolled
 
$
218

 
$
6

 
3,533
 %
 
$
128

 
$
(182
)
 
170
 %
USSE
 
55

 
55

 
 %
 
142

 
41

 
246
 %
Tubular
 
(29
)
 
(78
)
 
63
 %
 
(86
)
 
(142
)
 
39
 %
Total earnings (loss) from reportable segments
 
244

 
(17
)
 
1,535
 %
 
184

 
(283
)
 
165
 %
Other Businesses
 
9

 
10

 
(10
)%
 
22

 
24

 
(8
)%
Segment earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
 
253

 
(7
)
 
3,714
 %
 
206

 
(259
)
 
180
 %
Items not allocated to segments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postretirement benefit (expense) income
 
(12
)
 
12

 
(200
)%
 
(28
)
 
28

 
(200
)%
Other items not allocated to segments:
 

 

 

 

 


 


Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc.
 
72

 

 
100
 %
 
72

 

 
100
 %
Loss on shutdown of certain tubular assets
 

 

 
 %
 
(35
)
 

 
(100
)%
Restructuring and other charges and related adjustments
 

 
23

 
(100
)%
 

 
(2
)
 
100
 %
Total earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
 
$
313

 
$
28

 
1,018
 %
 
$
215

 
$
(233
)
 
192
 %

Segment results for Flat-Rolled
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
% Change
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes ($ millions)
 
$
218

 
$
6

 
3,533
 %
 
$
128

 
$
(182
)
 
170
 %
Gross margin
 
15
%
 
5
%
 
10
 %
 
9
%
 
1
%
 
8
 %
Raw steel production (mnt)
 
2,711

 
2,735

 
(1
)%
 
5,425

 
5,514

 
(2
)%
Capability utilization
 
64
%
 
65
%
 
(1
)%
 
64
%
 
65
%
 
(1
)%
Steel shipments (mnt)
 
2,497

 
2,692

 
(7
)%
 
4,901

 
5,188

 
(6
)%
Average realized steel price per ton
 
$
742

 
$
642

 
16
 %
 
$
731

 
$
625

 
17
 %
The increase in Flat-Rolled results for the three months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 primarily resulted from higher average realized prices (approximately $275 million) as a result of improved market conditions, a favorable impact on cost of goods sold related to our change in accounting method for property, plant and equipment (approximately $100 million), and higher results from our mining operations (approximately $35 million), including benefits from the restart of our Keetac facility to support third-party pellet sales. These changes were partially offset by increased maintenance costs and asset revitalization spending (approximately $90 million), higher raw materials costs (approximately $35 million), decreased shipment volumes as a result of a planned outage at our Great Lakes Works facility (approximately $30 million) and higher energy costs (approximately $30 million).

-31-



The increase in Flat-Rolled results for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 resulted from higher average realized prices (approximately $575 million) as a result of improved market conditions and a favorable impact on cost of goods sold related to our change in accounting method for property, plant and equipment (approximately $100 million). These changes were partially offset by increased maintenance and asset revitalization spending (approximately $200 million), higher energy costs (approximately $70 million), higher raw materials costs (approximately $45 million), decreased shipment volumes as a result of a planned outage at our Great Lakes Works facility (approximately $20 million), and lower results from our mining operations (approximately $20 million).
Gross margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 increased primarily as a result of higher average realized prices due to improved contract and spot market prices, in addition to the favorable impact on cost of goods sold related to our change in accounting method for property, plant and equipment.
Segment results for USSE
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
% Change
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
Earnings before interest and income taxes ($ millions)
 
$
55

 
$
55

 
 %
 
$
142

 
$
41

 
246
%
Gross margin
 
11
%
 
16
%
 
(5
)%
 
14
%
 
10
%
 
4
%
Raw steel production (mnt)
 
1,285

 
1,258

 
2
 %
 
2,543

 
2,410

 
6
%
Capability utilization
 
103
%
 
101
%
 
2
 %
 
103
%
 
97
%
 
6
%
Steel shipments (mnt)
 
1,157

 
1,125

 
3
 %
 
2,266

 
2,129

 
6
%
Average realized steel price per ton ($)
 
$
620

 
$
485

 
28
 %
 
$
607

 
$
472

 
29
%
Average realized steel price per ton (€)
 
563

 
430

 
31
 %
 
561

 
423

 
33
%
USSE results for the three months ended June 30, 2017 were comparable to the same period in 2016 as higher average realized euro-based prices (approximately $170 million) and reduced costs due to operating efficiencies (approximately $10 million) were offset by higher raw materials costs (approximately $185 million).
The increase in USSE results for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 was primarily due to higher average realized euro-based prices (approximately $335 million), increased shipment volumes (approximately $15 million), and a favorable impact on cost of goods sold related to our change in accounting method for property, plant and equipment (approximately $10 million), partially offset by higher raw materials costs (approximately $265 million).
Gross margin for the three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016 decreased primarily as a result of higher raw materials costs, partially offset by higher average realized euro-based prices. Gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016 increased primarily as a result of higher average realized euro-based prices and operating efficiencies.
 

-32-



Segment results for Tubular
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
% Change
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
Loss before interest and income taxes ($ millions)
 
$
(29
)
 
$
(78
)
 
63
%
 
$
(86
)
 
$
(142
)
 
39
%
Gross margin
 
(5
)%
 
(62
)%
 
57
%
 
(11
)%
 
(46
)%
 
35
%
Steel shipments (mnt)
 
180

 
70

 
157
%
 
324

 
159

 
104
%
Average realized steel price per ton
 
$
1,234

 
$
1,050

 
18
%
 
$
1,173

 
$
1,123

 
4
%
The increase in Tubular results for the three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016 was primarily due to increased average realized prices and shipment volumes as a result of improving market conditions (approximately $15 million) and decreased labor and other operating costs (approximately $50 million), partially offset by higher substrate costs (approximately $15 million).
The increase in Tubular results for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016 was primarily due to decreased labor and other operating costs (approximately $115 million), partially offset by higher substrate costs (approximately $55 million).
Gross margins for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to the same period in 2016 increased primarily due to increased shipment volumes and operating efficiencies.
Results for Other Businesses
Other Businesses had earnings of $9 million and $22 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to earnings of $10 million and $24 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.
Items not allocated to segments
The increase in postretirement benefit expense in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period in 2016 resulted from lower return on asset assumptions as a result of actions taken in 2016 to de-risk the OPEB plan.

We recognized a $72 million gain associated with our retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC) as a result of the restructuring and disposition of USSC on June 30, 2017.

We recorded a $35 million loss on the shutdown of certain tubular assets in the six months ended June 30, 2017 as a result of the permanent shutdown of the No. 6 Quench & Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations.
We recorded a net favorable adjustment of $23 million for restructuring and other charges and related adjustments in the three months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to changes in estimates associated with supplemental unemployment and severance cost accruals with respect to our actions to adjust our operating configuration, streamline our operational processes, and reduce costs. The favorable adjustment resulted from a reduction in the estimated number of employees on layoff and the length of time employees are projected to be on layoff. The net charge for these items during the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $2 million.

-33-



Net interest and other financial costs
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
(Dollars in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
Interest expense
 
$
55

 
$
60

 
(8
)%
 
$
113

 
$
115

 
(2
)%
Interest income
 
(4
)
 
(2
)
 
100
 %
 
(8
)
 
(3
)
 
167
 %
Loss on debt extinguishment
 
1

 
24

 
(96
)%
 
1

 
22

 
(95
)%
Other financial costs (income)
 
16

 
(1
)
 
1,700
 %
 
25

 
12

 
108
 %
Total net interest and other financial costs
 
$
68

 
$
81

 
(16
)%
 
$
131

 
$
146

 
(10
)%
Net interest and other financial costs decreased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to a loss on debt extinguishment recorded in 2016, partially offset by net foreign currency losses on our euro-U.S. dollar derivatives. During the three months ended June 30, 2016, U. S. Steel issued $980 million of 8.375% Senior Secured Notes due July 1, 2021 (2021 Senior Secured Notes) and repurchased several tranches of its outstanding senior notes through various tender offers, redemptions and open market purchases, including the redemption of our remaining 6.05% Senior Notes due 2017 for an aggregate principal amount of approximately $444 million plus a total make whole premium of approximately $22 million, which has been reflected within the loss on debt extinguishment line in the table above.
The income tax (benefit) provision was $(16) million and $3 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to $(7) million and $7 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. Included in the tax provision in the first six months of 2017 is a benefit of $13 million related to the carryback of certain losses to prior years. Due to the full valuation allowance on our domestic deferred tax assets, the tax provision does not reflect any tax benefit for domestic pretax losses, if any.
For further information on income taxes see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation were $261 million and $81 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to net loss of $46 million and $386 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. The changes primarily reflect the factors discussed above.
BALANCE SHEET
Accounts receivable increased by $196 million from year-end 2016 primarily due to increased shipment volumes, as well as higher average realized prices in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.
Inventories increased by $154 million from year-end 2016 primarily as a result of increased operating levels across all of our segments and higher raw materials prices in our USSE and Flat-Rolled segments.
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities increased by $357 million from year-end 2016 primarily as a result of increased operating levels and higher raw materials prices in our USSE and Flat-Rolled segments.
Payroll and benefits payable decreased by $62 million from year-end 2016 primarily due to profit-based incentive payments related to 2016 financial performance that we paid in March of 2017.
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt increased by $125 million from year-end 2016 primarily due to the reclassification from long-term to short-term of the 2018 Senior Notes, partially offset by a repayment of an environmental bond.
Long-term debt decreased by $229 million from year-end 2016 primarily due to the reclassification from long-term to short-term of the 2018 Senior Notes and the repayment of the Recovery Zone Bonds, for which an "Extraordinary Mandatory Redemption" was triggered as a result of the permanent shutdown of and decision to relocate the No. 6 Quench & Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations during the first quarter of 2017. We have decided to relocate the Lorain No. 6 Quench & Temper equipment to one of several other sites under consideration to optimize our operations.
Employee benefits decreased by $65 million from year-end 2016 primarily as a result of impacts from the natural maturation of our pension plans.

-34-



CASH FLOW
Net cash provided by operating activities was $242 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to $313 million in the same period last year. The decrease in cash from operations is primarily due to changes in working capital period over period partially offset by improved financial results and the payment received in satisfaction of our secured claims from U. S. Steel Canada Inc.
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 June 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Twelve Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Accounts Receivable Turnover
 
2.2

 
2.2

 
8.3

 
7.5

Inventory Turnover
 
1.6

 
1.4

 
5.9

 
5.1

The increase in the inventory turnover approximates 8 days for the three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to June 30, 2016 and is primarily due to an increase in cost of goods sold mainly attributable to an increase in shipment volumes in our Tubular and USSE segments.
The increase in the accounts receivable turnover approximates 5 days for the twelve months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to June 30, 2016 and is primarily due to increased sales as a result of increased shipments in our Tubular and USSE segments as well as higher average realized prices across all of our segments in the twelve months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to June 30, 2016. The increase in the inventory turnover approximates 11 days for the twelve months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to June 30, 2016 and is primarily due to decreased inventory levels in our Flat-Rolled and Tubular segments resulting from better inventory management.
The last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory method is the predominant method of inventory costing in the United States. At June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, the LIFO method accounted for 74 percent and 79 percent of total inventory values, respectively. In the U.S., management monitors inventory realizability by comparing the LIFO cost of inventory with the replacement cost of inventory. To the extent the replacement cost (i.e., market value) of inventory is lower than the LIFO cost of inventory, management will write the inventory down. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 the replacement cost of the inventory was higher by approximately $771 million and $489 million, respectively. Additionally, based on the Company’s latest internal forecasts and its inventory requirements, management does not believe there will be significant permanent LIFO liquidations that would impact earnings in future quarters in 2017.
Capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2017, were $120 million, compared with $217 million in the same period in 2016. The decrease in capital expenditures in the first six months of 2017 is due to the timing of cash payments year-over year. Flat-Rolled capital expenditures were $72 million and included spending for the Midwest Plant galvanneal furnace upgrade, Great Lakes Works blast furnace stove rebuild, Mon Valley Works blast furnace stove rebuild, Basic Oxygen Process cooling tower replacement, and various other infrastructure, environmental and strategic projects. Tubular capital expenditures of $11 million primarily related to Lorain primary electric utility supply, as well as various other strategic capital projects. USSE capital expenditures of $34 million consisted of spending for a boiler house upgrade, pickle line upgrades and various other infrastructure and environmental projects.
Capital expenditures for 2017 are expected to total approximately $625 million and remain focused largely on strategic, infrastructure and environmental projects, as well as asset revitalization of our equipment to improve our reliability, quality and cost by focusing on investments in our North American Flat-Rolled assets.
U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment at June 30, 2017, totaled $112 million.
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel received approximately $127 million in satisfaction of its secured and unsecured claims, including interest, as a result of the restructuring and disposition of USSC on June 30, 2017.
With reduced pricing for iron ore, management is considering its options with respect to the Company's iron ore position in the United States, and restarted its Keetac mining operations in February of 2017 as a result of reaching agreements

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to supply iron ore pellets to third-party customers. The Company is also exploring opportunities related to the availability of reasonably priced natural gas as an alternative to coke in the iron reduction process to improve our cost competitiveness, while reducing our dependence on coal and coke. After receiving the necessary authorizations from the Jefferson County Department of Health and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for the Fairfield Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) project, construction began in the second quarter of 2015, but due to challenging market conditions resulting from depressed oil prices and reduced oil rig counts, the completion of the Fairfield EAF has been delayed.
Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs, totaled $958 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016. U. S. Steel issued $980 million of 8.375% Senior Secured Notes due July 1, 2021. U. S. Steel received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $958 million after fees of approximately $22 million related to underwriting and third-party expenses.
Repayment of long-term debt totaled $962 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, U. S. Steel repurchased approximately $6 million of its 6.05% Senior Notes due 2017 through open market purchases and completed an optional redemption of the remaining aggregate principal amount of approximately $444 million. Also, during the six months ended June 30, 2016, U. S. Steel repurchased portions of our outstanding senior notes which included our 7.00% Senior Notes due 2018, 7.375% Senior Notes due 2020, and 6.875% Senior Notes due 2021 for a total aggregate principal value of $512 million through a series of issuer tender offers and open market repurchases.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s liquidity as of June 30, 2017:
(Dollars in millions)

 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,522

 
Amount available under $1.5 Billion Credit Facility (a)
1,496


Amount available under USSK credit facilities
283


Total estimated liquidity
$
3,301

(a) See below for discussion of the reasons for reduced availability under this Facility.

As of June 30, 2017, $167 million of the total cash and cash equivalents was held by our foreign subsidiaries. Substantially all of the liquidity attributable to our foreign subsidiaries can be accessed without the imposition of income taxes as a result of the election effective December 31, 2013 to liquidate for U.S. income tax purposes a foreign subsidiary that holds most of our international operations.
U. S. Steel maintains a $1.5 billion asset-backed revolving credit facility. As of June 30, 2017, there were no amounts drawn on the $1.5 billion credit facility agreement (Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). However, since the value of our inventory and trade accounts receivable less specified reserves calculated in accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement do not support the full amount of the facility at June 30, 2017, the amount available to the Company under this facility was reduced by $4 million to $1,496 million. Additionally, 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 under the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is less than the greater of 10 percent of the total aggregate commitments and $150 million. Based on the most recent four quarters as of June 30, 2017, we have met this covenant. If we are unable to meet this covenant in future periods, the amount available to the Company under this facility would be reduced by $150 million.
At June 30, 2017, USSK had no borrowings under its 200 million (approximately $228 million) unsecured revolving credit facility (the USSK Credit Agreement). The USSK Credit Agreement contains certain USSK financial covenants as well as other customary terms and conditions. At June 30, 2017, USSK had full availability under the USSK Credit Agreement. The USSK Credit Agreement expires in July 2020. The USSK Credit Agreement permits one additional one-year extension to the final maturity date with the mutual consent of USSK and its lenders.
At June 30, 2017, USSK had no borrowings under its 40 million and 10 million unsecured credit facilities (collectively approximately $57 million) and the aggregate availability was approximately $55 million due to approximately $2 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding. The 40 million facility expires in December 2018. The 10 million facility expires in December 2017, but can be extended up to two additional years with the mutual consent of USSK and its lender.

For the twelve months ended June 30, 2017, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (as defined in the indenture governing the 2021 Senior Secured Notes), which consist principally of our tubular subsidiaries and our foreign subsidiaries, including USSK, represented approximately 37% of our net sales, (7%) of our operating income and 34% of our adjusted earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA) on a consolidated basis. As of June 30, 2017, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries represented approximately 41% of our total assets and had $1.3 billion of total liabilities on a consolidated basis, including trade payables but excluding intercompany liabilities, all of which would be structurally senior to the 2021 Senior Secured Notes.
We may from time to time seek to retire or purchase our outstanding long-term debt through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, exchange transactions, redemptions or otherwise. Such purchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, and other factors and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material.

On March 10, 2017, U. S. Steel announced the permanent shutdown of the No. 6 Quench & Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations in Lorain, Ohio. Under the terms of the Trust Indenture dated as of December 1, 2010, between the Lorain County Port Authority and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the Indenture), this action and our decision to relocate the Lorain No. 6 Quench & Temper equipment to one of several other sites under consideration to optimize our operations, triggered an Extraordinary Mandatory Redemption of the Recovery Zone Bonds and accordingly required U. S. Steel to redeem the Recovery Zone Bonds and repay in full the principal

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amount plus accrued interest. In accordance with the terms of the Indenture, U. S. Steel paid in full all amounts due under the Indenture, comprised of $70 million principal and accrued interest of approximately $2 million, on April 27, 2017.
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 cash collateral have a negative impact on liquidity. U. S. Steel has committed $160 million of liquidity sources for financial assurance purposes as of June 30, 2017. Increases in certain of these commitments, which use collateral, are reflected in restricted cash on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
At June 30, 2017, in the event of a change in control of U. S. Steel, the following may occur: (a) debt obligations totaling $2,523 million as of June 30, 2017 (including the Senior Notes and Senior Secured Notes) may be declared due and payable; (b) the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and USSK's 200 million revolving credit agreement may be terminated and any amounts outstanding declared due and payable; and (c) U. S. Steel may be required to either repurchase the leased Fairfield slab caster for $27 million or provide a cash collateralized letter of credit to secure the remaining obligation.
The maximum guarantees of the indebtedness and other obligations of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $4 million at June 30, 2017. If 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 2017 are expected to be for capital expenditures, asset revitalization, employee benefits, and operating costs, including purchases of raw materials. We finished the second quarter of 2017 with $1,522 million of cash and cash equivalents and $3.3 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.
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, repurchase of debt, share buyback, contributions to employee benefit plans, 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.
Environmental Matters, Litigation and Contingencies
Some of U. S. Steel’s facilities were in operation before 1900. Although management believes that U. S. Steel’s environmental practices have either led the industry or at least been consistent with prevailing industry practices, hazardous materials may have been released at current or former operating sites or delivered to sites operated by third parties.

Our U.S. facilities are subject to environmental laws applicable in the U.S., including the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), 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 has incurred and will continue to incur substantial capital, operating, and maintenance and remediation expenditures as a result of environmental laws and regulations, related to release of hazardous materials, which in recent years have been mainly for process changes to meet CAA obligations and similar obligations in Europe.

Midwest Plant Incident

On April 11, 2017, there was a process waste water release at our Midwest Plant in Portage, Indiana that impacted a water outfall that discharges to Burns Waterway near Lake Michigan. U. S. Steel identified the source of the process release and made the necessary repairs. We determined that all repairs were safely working as intended and, on April 14, 2017, we resumed operations in a controlled, phased and highly monitored approach with extensive input from participating government agencies. We are working with the participating government agencies to resolve this issue. At this time, we are unable to reliably estimate the amount of any potential liability or compliance costs associated with this incident.



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Slovak Operations

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in March of 2013 between U. S. Steel and the government of Slovakia. The MOU outlines areas in which the government and U. S. Steel will work together to help create a more competitive environment and conditions for USSK. Incentives the government of Slovakia agreed to provide include potential participation in a renewable energy program that provides the opportunity to reduce electricity costs, as well as the potential for government grants and other support concerning investments in environmental control technology. Although there are many conditions and uncertainties regarding the grants, including matters controlled by the European Union (EU), the value of these incentives as stated in the MOU could be as much as €75 million (approximately $86 million). U. S. Steel also agreed to pay the government of Slovakia specified declining amounts should U. S. Steel sell USSK within five years of the date of the MOU. We expect the total amount of EU funds will be as much as €85 million (approximately $97 million). The final grant value will depend on public procurement results.

Slovakia adopted a new waste code in March 2015 that became effective January 1, 2016. This legislation implements the EU Waste Framework Directive that strictly regulates waste disposal and encourages recycling, among other provisions, by increasing fees for waste disposed of in landfills, including privately owned landfills. The impact of this legislation is estimated to be €2 million (approximately $2 million) annually due to waste stabilization requirements and increased fees for packaging materials recycling fees. Slovakia is considering legislation implementing an EU Directive, which is expected to increase existing fees upon USSK for use of its landfills. Because the legislation has not yet been adopted, the impact on operations at USSK facilities cannot be estimated at this time.

The EU’s Industry Emission Directive requires implementation of EU determined best available techniques (BAT) to reduce environmental impacts as well as compliance with BAT associated emission levels. This directive includes operational requirements for air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid waste disposal and energy conservation, dictates certain operating practices and imposes stricter emission limits. Producers were required to be in compliance with the iron and steel BAT by March 8, 2016, unless specific exceptions or extensions were granted by the Slovak environmental authority. USSK updated existing operating permits for different facilities involved in producing iron and steel in the plant in accordance with the new BAT requirements. Through this process for some facilities, USSK has obtained extensions from the 2016 compliance deadline in order to meet or exceed the BAT requirements. Compliance with stricter emission limits going beyond BAT requirements makes us eligible for EU funding support and prepares us for any further tightening of environmental protection standards. Our most recent broad estimate of likely capital expenditures for projects to comply with or go beyond the BAT requirements is €138 million (approximately $157 million) over the 2017 to 2020 time period.

The EU has various programs under which funds are allocated to member states to implement broad public policies which are then awarded by the member states to public and private entities on a competitive basis. The funding intensity under these programs currently ranges from 55 percent of defined eligible costs on a project under the standard state scheme to 90 percent on an approved ad hoc scheme to improve the air quality in the Košice region of Slovakia. Based on our list of projects that comprise the approximate €138 million (approximately $157 million) of spending noted, we currently believe we will be eligible to receive up to €85 million (approximately $97 million) of incentive grants. This could potentially reduce our net cash expenditures to approximately €53 million (approximately $60 million). The actual amount of capital spending will be dependent upon, among other things, the actual amount of incentive grants received. On March 28, 2017, the Regional Court in Košice issued an ex parte judicial lien on USSK's real property to plaintiffs in an ongoing legal case as a precautionary measure, which USSK is vigorously contesting in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. We do not expect this judicial lien to have an impact on the eligibility of the Company to obtain EU funding support for BAT projects.

We also believe there will be increased operating costs associated with these projects, such as increased energy and maintenance costs. We are currently unable to reliably estimate what the increase in operating costs will be as many projects are still in the development stage.

For further discussion of laws applicable in Slovakia and the EU and their impact on USSK, see Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters, EU Environmental Requirements.”


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New and Emerging Environmental Regulations
United States and European Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations
Future compliance with carbon dioxide (CO2) emission requirements may include substantial costs for emission allowances, restriction of production and higher prices for coking coal, natural gas and electricity generated by carbon based systems. Because we cannot predict what requirements ultimately will be imposed in the U.S. and Europe, it is difficult to estimate the likely impact on U. S. Steel, but it could be substantial. To the extent these expenditures, as with all costs, are not ultimately reflected in the prices of U. S. Steel's products and services, operating results will be reduced. There were no material changes in U. S. Steel’s exposure to Greenhouse Gas Emissions regulation from December 31, 2016.
United States - Air
The CAA imposes stringent limits on air emissions with a federally mandated operating permit program and civil and criminal enforcement sanctions. The CAA requires, among other things, the regulation of hazardous air pollutants through the development and promulgation of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Standards. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed various industry-specific MACT standards pursuant to this requirement. The CAA requires the EPA to promulgate regulations establishing emission standards for each category of Hazardous Air Pollutants. The EPA also must conduct risk assessments on each source category that is already subject to MACT standards and determine if additional standards are needed to reduce residual risks.

While our operations are subject to several different categories of NESHAP and MACT standards, the principal impact of these standards on U. S. Steel operations includes those that are specific to coke making, iron making, steel making and iron ore processing.

The EPA is currently in the process of completing a Residual Risk and Technology Review of the Integrated Iron and Steel regulations and Coke MACT regulations as required by the CAA. Because the EPA has not completed its review, any impacts related to the EPA’s review of these standards cannot be estimated at this time.

The CAA also requires the EPA to develop and implement National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants, which include, among others, particulate matter (PM) - consisting of PM10 and PM2.5, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. Sulfur dioxide is the NAAQS criteria pollutant of most concern to the Company at this time.

In June 2010, the EPA significantly lowered the primary NAAQS for sulfur dioxide (SO2) from 140 parts per billion (ppb) on a 24-hour basis to an hourly standard of 75 ppb. Subsequently, the EPA designated the areas in which Great Lakes Works and Mon Valley Works facilities are located as nonattainment with the 2010 standard for the SO2 NAAQS. The non-attainment designation will require the facilities to implement operational and/or capital requirements to demonstrate attainment with the 2010 standard. In addition, the EPA is currently evaluating the attainment status for all other areas as required by a Consent Decree that the EPA entered with the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Counsel in March 2015 pursuant to a lawsuit filed by the non-governmental organizations. U. S. Steel is working with the relevant regulatory agencies in completing the evaluation process as required by the Consent Decree. While U. S. Steel has determined that it will face increased capital, operating and compliance costs, the operational and financial impact of the SO2 NAAQS is not estimated to be material at this time.

In October 2015, the EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone from 75 ppb to 70 ppb. The EPA has designated certain areas in which we operate as nonattainment with the 2008 ozone standard. In addition, some areas in which we operate have been recommended as nonattainment with the 2015 ozone standard by the respective states. The EPA has yet to act on the recommendations and most recently published a notice indicating that its ozone designations deadline had been extended until October 1, 2018. Because attainment designation and any implementation plans to bring the ozone nonattainment areas into attainment have yet to be proposed or developed, the operational and financial impact of the ozone NAAQS cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

On December 14, 2012, the EPA lowered the annual standard for PM2.5 from 15 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 12 ug/m3, and retained the PM2.5 24-hour and PM10 NAAQS rules. In December 2014, the EPA designated some areas in which U. S. Steel operates as nonattainment with the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard. Because it is early in the State Implementation Plan development stages, any impacts to U. S. Steel cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

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In 2010, the EPA retained the annual nitrogen dioxide NAAQS standard, but created a new 1-hour NAAQS and established new data reduction and monitoring requirements. While the EPA has classified all areas as being in attainment or unclassifiable, it is requiring implementation of a network of monitoring stations to assess air quality. Until the network is implemented and further designations are made, the impact on operations at U. S. Steel facilities cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

United States - CERCLA 108(b) Financial Assurance
In December 2016, the EPA published a proposed rule focused on developing financial assurance for managing hazardous substances in the hard rock, mining industry, in accordance with CERCLA Section 108(b). The EPA has a court-mandated deadline for publication of the final rule by December 1, 2017. The proposed rule requires subject facilities to calculate their level of financial responsibility based on a formula included in the rule, secure an instrument or otherwise self-assure for the calculated amount, demonstrate to the EPA the proof of the security, and maintain the security until the EPA releases facilities from the CERCLA 108(b) regulations. The proposed rule is currently in draft form, subject to comment by the public and the regulated community. The final impact of the rule upon U. S. Steel taconite mines is unknown at this time, but could have a material adverse impact on the Company.

Environmental Remediation
In the United States, U. S. Steel has been identified as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at 8 sites under CERCLA as of June 30, 2017. Of these, there are 2 sites related to U. S. Steel where information requests have been received or there are other indications that U. S. Steel may be a PRP under CERCLA, but where sufficient information is not presently available to confirm the existence of liability or to make a reasonable estimate with respect to any potential liabilities. There are also 18 additional sites related to U. S. Steel where U. S. Steel may be liable for remediation costs in excess of $100,000 under other environmental statutes, both federal and state, or where private parties are seeking to impose liability on U. S. Steel for remediation costs 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, is frequently dependent upon the outcome of ongoing 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 remediation obligations arise, charges in excess of those previously accrued may be required.
For further discussion of relevant environmental matters, see "Part II. Other information - Item 1. Legal Proceedings - Environmental Proceedings."
The total accrual for environmental remediation liabilities at June 30, 2017 was $180 million. These amounts exclude liabilities related to asset retirement obligations, disclosed in Note 14 to the Consolidated 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 Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other Relevant Matters
Apolo Tubulars
Apolo Tubulars S.A. (Apolo), an unconsolidated Brazilian joint venture of which the Company owns 50%, was the subject of a search of its premises by Brazilian federal authorities on May 24, 2016. Apolo's CEO was among those subsequently indicted by the Brazilian federal prosecutor on June 27, 2016 for corruption, money laundering and organized crime in connection with alleged payments to government officials in exchange for contracts with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (commonly known as “Petrobras”), Brazil’s state-run energy company. In March 2017, Apolo's CEO was acquitted of all charges due to a lack of evidence as to him personally, although the court did find that there was a misuse of certain Apolo funds by others not employed by Apolo. The prosecution has appealed that acquittal. The Company is actively monitoring this matter. While there can be no assurance that a successful appeal by the prosecution would not have an adverse effect on the joint venture or result in an impairment of the Company's investment in the joint venture, it would not have a material impact on the Company as a whole. The prosecutor has not alleged any violations of law by, or initiated any investigation of, the Company or any of its employees.


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OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
U. S. Steel did not enter into any new material off-balance sheet arrangements during the second quarter of 2017.

CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING ESTIMATE
Capitalization and Depreciation Method
During 2017, U. S. Steel completed a review of its accounting policy for property, plant and equipment depreciated on a group basis. As a result of this review, U. S. Steel changed its accounting method for property, plant and equipment from the group method of depreciation to the unitary method of depreciation, effective as of January 1, 2017. The change from the group method to the unitary method of depreciation is preferable under U.S. GAAP as it will result in a more precise estimate of depreciation expense. Additionally, the change to the unitary method of depreciation is consistent with the depreciation method applied by our competitors, and improves the comparability of our results to our competitors. Our change in the method of depreciation is considered a change in accounting estimate effected by a change in accounting principle and has been applied prospectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the effect of the change was an increase in both income from continuing operations and net earnings of $112 million (which consists of a $118 million decrease in cost of sales due to the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending that would have been previously expensed, partially offset by increased depreciation expense of $6 million, as a result of the impact of unitary depreciation on the existing net book value of fixed assets and the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending) and an increase in diluted earnings per share of $0.64. Included in the three months ended June 30, 2017 is a favorable impact of approximately $50 million as the amount of spending subject to capitalization exceeded our previous internal estimate primarily due to the timing of certain capital projects, including projects implemented under our asset revitalization program. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the effect of the change was an increase in both income from continuing operations and net earnings of $110 million (which consists of a $135 million decrease in cost of sales due to the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending that would have been previously expensed, partially offset by increased depreciation expense of $25 million, as a result of the impact of unitary depreciation on the existing net book value of fixed assets and the capitalization of maintenance and outage spending) and an increase in diluted earnings per share of $0.63. The tax effect of this change was immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.
Due to the application of the unitary method of depreciation and resultant change in our capitalization policy, spending associated with major maintenance and outage work, that had previously been expensed, will now be capitalized if it extends the useful life of the related asset. Based upon our average spending in years prior to 2017, we have estimated the impact on 2017 results to be a reduction of approximately $175 million in cost of sales on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Additionally, due to the projected increased spending related to maintenance under our asset revitalization program, we expect approximately $100 million of incremental expenditures to be capitalized in 2017.
Total capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $625 million in 2017 and total depreciation, depletion and amortization is estimated to be approximately $525 million in 2017.
The impact of the change in accounting method is included in the Outlook for 2017 below.


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OUTLOOK

We are seeing a more bullish sentiment in the markets served by our Flat-rolled and European segments right now, as prices have been increasing and overall demand has been stable. Our Tubular segment continues to benefit from operational and cost improvements we have made, as well as from stronger market conditions. Our investment in our facilities and our people continues to increase. These strategic investments, combined with our focus on achieving operational excellence, will deliver continuous improvements in safety, quality, delivery and costs that will position us to succeed through business cycles, and support future growth initiatives.
    
If market conditions remain at their current levels, we expect:

2017 net earnings of approximately $300 million, or $1.70 per share, and consolidated adjusted earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA) of approximately $1.1 billion;
EBITDA by Segment;
Flat-Rolled EBITDA of approximately: $750 million
U. S. Steel Europe EBITDA of approximately: $400 million
Tubular EBITDA of approximately: ($50) million; and
Other Businesses to be comparable to 2016 and approximately $60 million of postretirement benefit expense.
    
We believe market conditions, which include spot prices, raw material costs, customer demand, import volumes, supply chain inventories, rig counts and energy prices, will change, and as changes occur during the balance of 2017, we expect these changes to be reflected in our net earnings and adjusted EBITDA.

Please refer to the tables below for the reconciliation of the Outlook net earnings to adjusted EBITDA and Outlook segment earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes to segment Outlook EBITDA.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF ANNUAL ADJUSTED EBITDA OUTLOOK





Year Ended


Dec. 31
(Dollars in millions)
2017
Reconciliation to Projected Annual Adjusted EBITDA Included in Outlook


Projected net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation included in Outlook
$
300


Estimated income tax expense
57


Estimated net interest and other financial costs
255


Estimated depreciation, depletion and amortization
525


Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc.
(72
)

Loss on shutdown of certain tubular assets
35


Projected annual adjusted EBITDA included in Outlook
$
1,100


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UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF OUTLOOK SEGMENT EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES TO OUTLOOK SEGMENT EBITDA

 
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in millions)
Flat-Rolled
U. S. Steel Europe
Tubular
Reconciliation to Segment EBITDA Included in Outlook
 
 
 
 
Projected segment earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes included in Outlook
$
380

$
325

$
(105
)
 
Estimated depreciation, depletion and amortization
370

75

55

 
Projected annual segment EBITDA included in Outlook
$
750

$
400

$
(50
)

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that excludes the effects of items such as gains (losses) associated with our retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc., restructuring charges and impairment charges. We present adjusted EBITDA to enhance the understanding of our ongoing operating performance and established trends affecting our core operations, particularly cash generating activity, by excluding the effects of items such as gains (losses) associated with our retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc., restructuring charges and impairment charges that can obscure underlying trends. U. S. Steel’s management considers adjusted EBITDA useful to investors by facilitating a comparison of our operating performance to the operating performance of our competitors, many of which use adjusted EBITDA as an alternative measure of operating performance. Additionally, the presentation of adjusted EBITDA provides insight into management’s view and assessment of the Company’s ongoing operating performance, because management does not consider the adjusting items when evaluating the Company’s financial performance or in preparing the Company’s annual financial outlook. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for net earnings (loss) or other financial measures as computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

We present segment EBITDA, considered along with segment earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes, because we believe it is a relevant indicator of trends relating to cash generating activity and provides management and investors with additional information for comparison of our segment operating results to the operating results of other companies.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
U. S. Steel continues to face competition from foreign steel producers, many of which are heavily subsidized by their governments and dump steel into the United States (U.S.) market. Trade-distorting policies and practices, coupled with global steel overcapacity, impact pricing in the U.S. market and influence the Company's ability to compete on a level playing field. U. S. Steel continues to lead the industry in efforts to address dumped and subsidized steel imports that injure the Company, our workers, and our country’s national and economic security.

Following the imposition of the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) from China in 2016, imports of CORE from Vietnam dramatically increased. In response, U. S. Steel and other domestic producers filed a request asking the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to conduct an anti-circumvention investigation against Chinese producers that are diverting cold-rolled steel to Vietnam to undergo minor processing before exporting to the U.S. to avoid paying the new duties. The DOC initiated the anti-circumvention investigation on November 14, 2016 and is currently analyzing the data submitted by Vietnamese producers. If the DOC determines that imports of CORE from China are being channeled through Vietnam en route to the U.S., it will impose duties on Vietnamese imports of CORE. The entire proceeding is expected to be completed within 300 days of the initiation date.

A similar action was taken against imports of cold-rolled steel from Vietnam, which also significantly increased following the imposition of the AD and CVD orders against Chinese cold-rolled steel in 2016. To counter the surge in dumped cold-rolled steel imports from Vietnam, in September 2016, U. S. Steel, along with other domestic steel producers, filed a petition with the DOC requesting that it conduct an anti-circumvention proceeding against Chinese producers that are diverting cold-rolled steel to Vietnam to undergo minor processing before exporting the product to the U.S. The entire proceeding is expected to be completed within 300 days of the initiation date.


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U. S. Steel is also actively involved in several appeals before the Court of International Trade (CIT) concerning the orders imposed in 2016 on flat-rolled steel cases as well as several Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) cases. In addition to the ongoing appeals before the CIT, the Company is litigating several cases at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In the Turkey OCTG AD appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court affirmed the DOC’s decision to deny a duty-drawback adjustment to respondents. The Court’s decision sets an important precedent and gives domestic petitioners an important new tool for combating duty-drawback adjustments in other antidumping and countervailing duty actions.

U. S. Steel also continues to be actively engaged in relevant administrative reviews and five-year (sunset) reviews before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the DOC. U. S. Steel continues to litigate the second administrative review (2015 - 2016) concerning the Korea OCTG investigation. The investigation is ongoing and not expected to conclude until 2018. On May 1, 2017, the DOC automatically initiated a five-year (sunset) review (“Sunset Review”) of the antidumping order on tin mill products from Japan. The USITC concurrently published its notice of institution of the Sunset Review which covers the same order. On May 11, 2017, U. S. Steel filed a notice to participate in the Sunset Review of the antidumping order on tin mill products from Japan. If U. S. Steel is successful, the order will remain in effect for another five years.

In April 2016, U. S. Steel launched a case under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 against several Chinese producers and their distributors. The complaint alleged three causes of action: 1) illegal conspiracy to fix prices and control output and export volumes; 2) the theft of trade secrets through industrial espionage; 3) circumvention of duties by false labeling and transshipment. On May 26, 2016, the USITC instituted an investigation on all three causes of action. On February 15, 2017, U. S. Steel voluntarily withdrew the trade secrets claim. The false designation of origin claim continues to be aggressively litigated. The antitrust claim is pending before the USITC. A scheduling order was entered and the target date to conclude the investigation has been set for May 2018, with hearings on the foreign designation of origin claim starting in October 2017. On July 18, 2017 and July 20, 2017, respectively, two of the respondents filed Motions for Summary Determination. U. S. Steel will be aggressively opposing those motions. The remedy sought by U. S. Steel in its petition is the barring of all Chinese carbon and alloy steel from the U.S. market.

On December 12, 2016, China filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the U.S. and the European Union (EU) alleging that the U.S. and EU are violating their treaty obligations by continuing to use the non-market economy (NME) methodology for price comparisons in antidumping duty investigations. On April 3, 2017, the DOC issued a notice requesting comments and information on whether China should continue to be treated as a NME country under U.S. antidumping laws. U. S. Steel and other domestic producers submitted comments to the DOC on May 10, 2017. The outcome of the ongoing litigation may impact U.S. dumping orders on Chinese goods, including many steel products.

On May 18, 2017, the Trump Administration sent a notice to the U.S. Senate and House, in accordance with section 105(a)(1)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, notifying Congress of the President’s intent to initiate NAFTA negotiations. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released the Administration's negotiating objectives on July 17, 2017. Negotiations are expected to begin some time after mid-August 2017.

On April 19, 2017, the DOC initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to determine the effects of steel imports on U.S. national security. On May 24, 2017, U. S. Steel testified at the DOC public hearing and remains active in the investigation. While under the statute, the Administration has 270 days for completion of an investigation, DOC officials have publicly stated it will be completed much sooner.

U. S. Steel continually assesses the impact of imports from foreign countries on our business, and continues to execute a broad, global strategy to enhance the means and manner in which it competes in the U.S. market and internationally. In an effort to mitigate the negative impact of unfairly traded steel imports on our business, U. S. Steel has commenced substantive work with regional trade partners and organizations, and outlined a robust engagement with the Administration to tackle global overcapacity. Across diverse platforms, U. S. Steel is leveraging its unique experience, knowledge, and reputation to forge alliances and partnerships to advance innovative structural changes to commercial and legal regimes to better position and support the U.S. steel industry in the 21st century and beyond.
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, 2016.


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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 June 30, 2017. 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 are: (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 June 30, 2017, 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 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
SEGMENT EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES:
 

 

 

 

Flat-Rolled
 
$
218

 
$
6

 
$
128

 
$
(182
)
U. S. Steel Europe
 
55

 
55

 
142

 
41

Tubular
 
(29
)
 
(78
)
 
(86
)
 
(142
)
     Total reportable segments
 
244

 
(17
)
 
184

 
(283
)
Other Businesses
 
9

 
10

 
22

 
24

Items not allocated to segments:
 

 

 

 

Postretirement benefit (expense) income
 
(12
)
 
12

 
(28
)
 
28

    Other items not allocated to segments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc.
 
72

 

 
72

 

       Loss on shutdown of certain tubular assets
 

 

 
(35
)
 

       Restructuring and other charges and adjustments
 

 
23

 

 
(2
)
Total earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
 
$
313

 
$
28

 
$
215

 
$
(233
)
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
 

 

 

 

Flat-Rolled
 
$
47

 
$
28

 
$
72

 
$
74

U. S. Steel Europe
 
20

 
22

 
34

 
51

Tubular
 
4

 
18

 
11

 
70

Other Businesses
 
2

 
1

 
3

 
22

     Total
 
$
73

 
$
69

 
$
120

 
$
217

OPERATING STATISTICS
 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

     Flat-Rolled
 
$
742

 
$
642

 
$
731

 
$
625

     U. S. Steel Europe
 
620

 
485

 
607

 
472

     Tubular
 
1,234

 
1,050

 
1,173

 
1,123

Steel Shipments: (a)(b)
 

 

 

 

     Flat-Rolled
 
2,497

 
2,692

 
4,901

 
5,188

     U. S. Steel Europe
 
1,157

 
1,125

 
2,266

 
2,129

     Tubular
 
180

 
70

 
324

 
159

Intersegment Shipments: (b)
 

 

 

 

     Flat-Rolled to Tubular
 
94

 

 
94

 

     U. S. Steel Europe to Flat-Rolled
 
25

 

 
47

 

Raw Steel Production: (b)
 

 

 

 

     Flat-Rolled
 
2,711

 
2,735

 
5,425

 
5,514

     U. S. Steel Europe
 
1,285

 
1,258

 
2,543

 
2,410

Raw Steel Capability Utilization: (c)
 

 

 

 

     Flat-Rolled
 
64
%
 
65
%
 
64
%
 
65
%
     U. S. Steel Europe
 
103
%
 
101
%
 
103
%
 
97
%
(a) Excludes intersegment transfers.
(b) Thousands of net tons.
(c) Based on annual raw steel production capability of 17.0 million net tons for Flat-Rolled and 5.0 million net tons for USSE.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
GENERAL LITIGATION

On September 16, 2014, U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC) commenced court-supervised restructuring proceedings under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (the Court). As part of the CCAA proceedings, U. S. Steel submitted both secured and unsecured claims of approximately C$2.2 billion, which were verified by the court-appointed Monitor. U. S. Steel's claims were challenged by a number of interested parties and on February 29, 2016, the Court denied those challenges and verified U. S. Steel's secured claims in the amount of approximately $119 million and unsecured claims of approximately C$1.8 billion and $120 million. The interested parties had appealed the determinations of the Court, but the appeals have been discontinued as result of the sale of USSC to Bedrock on June 30, 2017.

On April 26, 2016, the Company filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to initiate an investigation under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 against Chinese steel producers and their distributors.  The complaint alleges three causes of action: 1) illegal conspiracy to fix prices and control output and export volumes; 2) the theft of trade secrets through industrial espionage; and 3) circumvention of duties by false designation of origin. In February 2017, U. S. Steel voluntarily withdrew its trade secrets claim, but preserved the right to refile at a later date. On November 25, 2016, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued an order dismissing the antitrust claims. However, The USITC granted U. S. Steel’s petition to review the ALJ's initial determination to terminate the antitrust portion of the litigation. All parties submitted their briefs on the antitrust review and oral arguments were held on April 20, 2017. We are awaiting the USITC's decision. On January 11, 2017, the ALJ issued an order dismissing the false designation of origin claims. U. S. Steel filed a petition to review the ALJ’s order with the USITC commissioners. The USITC reinstated the false designation of origin (FDO) claim on February 27, 2017. The current scheduling order sets the hearing (trial) on the FDO claim for October 2017 and a target date to conclude the investigation for May 2018. On July 18, 2017 and July 20, 2017, respectively, two of the respondents filed Motions for Summary Determination. U. S. Steel will be aggressively opposing those motions. The remedy sought by U. S. Steel in its petition is the barring of all Chinese carbon and alloy steel from the U.S. market. Refer to Item 2 "International Trade" for further information.

U. S. Steel v. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Commissioner John Linc Stine: On February 21, 2017, U. S. Steel filed a Verified Complaint and Writ of Mandamus against the MPCA for failure to act on U. S. Steel’s request for revisions to water quality standards which will affect the draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (water) permit at Minntac. MPCA filed an Answer and Counterclaim and U. S. Steel responded to the Counterclaim on April 5, 2017. Three citizen groups, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Save Lake Superior Association and Save Our Sky Blue Waters (collectively MCEA), filed a Notice of Intervention, which was granted by the district court. Both parties have filed cross-motions for summary judgment, which remain outstanding pending a court-ordered mediation.

In May of 2017, two class action lawsuits were filed in federal court in the Western District of Pennsylvania alleging that U. S. Steel, Mario Longhi and David Burritt violated federal securities laws in making false statements and/or failing to disclose material information regarding the financial condition of the Company. The suits claim that this conduct caused a prospective class of plaintiffs to sustain damages during the period of November 1, 2016 through April 25, 2017 as a result of the prospective class purchasing the Company's common stock at artificially inflated prices and/or suffering losses when the price of the common stock dropped. The Company is vigorously defending the matters.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEEDINGS

The following is a summary of the proceedings of U. S. Steel that were pending or contemplated as of June 30, 2017, under federal and state environmental laws. Information about specific sites where U. S. Steel is or has been engaged in significant clean up or remediation activities is also summarized below. Except as described herein, it is not possible to accurately predict the ultimate outcome of these matters.

CERCLA Remediation Sites

Claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) have been raised with respect to the cleanup of various waste disposal and other sites. Under CERCLA, potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for a site include current owners and operators, past owners and operators at the time of disposal,

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persons who arranged for disposal of a hazardous substance at a site, and persons who transported a hazardous substance to a site. CERCLA imposes strict and joint and several liabilities. Because of various factors, including the ambiguity of the regulations, the difficulty of identifying the responsible parties for any particular site, the complexity of determining the relative liability among them, the uncertainty as to the most desirable remediation techniques, and the amount of damages and cleanup costs and the time period during which such costs may be incurred, we are unable to reasonably estimate U. S. Steel’s ultimate liabilities under CERCLA.

At June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel has received information requests or been identified as a PRP at a total of eight CERCLA sites, two of which have liability that has not been resolved. Based on currently available information, which is in many cases preliminary and incomplete, management believes that U. S. Steel’s liability for CERCLA cleanup and remediation costs at the other six sites will be between $100,000 and $1 million for five of the sites, and over $5 million for one site as described below.

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 Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in 1985 and a Record of Decision signed by MPCA in 1989. U. S. Steel has submitted a feasibility study that includes remedial measures to address contaminated sediments in the St. Louis River Estuary and several other Operable Units that could impact the Estuary if not addressed.

While work continues on obtaining additional information for remedial design, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. Additional study, investigation, design, oversight costs, and implementation of U. S. Steel's preferred remedial alternatives on the upland property and Estuary are currently estimated as of June 30, 2017 at approximately $47 million.

RCRA and Other Remediation Sites

U. S. Steel may be liable for remediation costs under other environmental statutes, both federal and state, or where private parties are seeking to impose liability on U. S. Steel for remediation costs through discussions or litigation. There are 18 such sites where remediation is being sought involving amounts in excess of $100,000. Based on currently available information, which is in many cases preliminary and incomplete, management believes that liability for cleanup and remediation costs in connection with 8 sites have potential costs between $100,000 and $1 million per site, 5 sites may involve remediation costs between $1 million and $5 million per site and 5 sites are estimated to or could have, costs for remediation, investigation, restoration or compensation in excess of $5 million per site.

For more information on the status of remediation activities at U. S. Steel’s significant sites, see the discussions related to each site below.

Gary Works

On October 23, 1998, the EPA issued a final Administrative Order on Consent (Order) 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 Measures Study (CMS) and Corrective Measure Implementation. While work continues on several items, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. Until the remaining Phase I work and Phase II field investigations are completed, it is not possible to assess what additional expenditures will be necessary for Corrective Action projects at Gary Works. In total, the accrued liability for Corrective Action projects is approximately $27 million as of June 30, 2017, based on our current estimate of known remaining costs.

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 (UDEQ). Having completed the investigation on a majority of the remaining areas identified in the permit, U. S. Steel has determined 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). While preliminary approval of the

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conceptual CAMU design has been granted by the UDEQ, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $63 million as of June 30, 2017, for our estimated share of the remaining costs of remediation.

USS-POSCO Industries (UPI)

A joint venture in Pittsburg, California between subsidiaries of U. S. Steel and POSCO, UPI's facilities were previously owned and operated solely by U. S. Steel which retains primary responsibility for the existing environmental conditions. During 2016, U. S. Steel implemented its preferred remedial plan to address groundwater impacts from trichloroethylene at SWMU 4. Evaluations continue for the three SWMUs known as the Northern Boundary Group and it is likely that corrective measures will be required, but it is not possible at this time to define a scope or estimate costs for what may be required by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. As such, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, approximately $1 million has been accrued for ongoing environmental studies, investigations and remedy implementation. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 20 to the Consolidated 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, the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice and filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (United States of America v. USX Corporation) in December 1997. In accordance with the consent decree, U. S. Steel initiated a RCRA corrective action program at the Fairfield Works facility. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), with the approval of the EPA, assumed primary responsibility for regulation and oversight of the RCRA corrective action program at Fairfield Works. While work continues on different aspects of the program, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. In total, the accrued liability for remaining work under the Corrective Action Program, was approximately $385,000 at June 30, 2017. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters - Remediation Projects - Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

Fairless Plant

In April 1993, U. S. Steel entered into a consent order with the EPA pursuant to RCRA, under which U. S. Steel would perform Interim Measures (IM), an RFI and CMS at our Fairless Plant. A Phase I RFI Final Report was submitted in September of 1997. With EPA’s agreement, in lieu of conducting subsequent phases of the RFI and the CMS, U. S. Steel has been working through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Act 2 Program to characterize and remediate facility parcels for redevelopment. While work continues on these items, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, the accrued liability to maintain the interim measures, and clear properties through the Act 2 process is approximately $335,000. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 20 to the Consolidated 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 Areas of Contamination was submitted in March 2012. While work continues on the Phase II RFI report that addresses additional investigations of soil, site wide groundwater and the pipe mill lagoon, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, costs to complete additional projects are estimated to be approximately $136,000. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters - Remediation Projects - Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

Joliet Works


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The 50-acre parcel at the former Joliet Works is enrolled in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) voluntary Site Remediation Program. The Program requires investigation and establishment of cleanup objectives followed by submission/approval of a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to meet those objectives. The 50-acre parcel was divided into four (4) subareas with remedial activities completed in 2015 for three (3) of the subareas. While work continues to define the requirements for further investigation of the remaining parcel, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2017. U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of $293,000 as of June 30, 2017. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters - Remediation Projects - Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

Cherryvale (KS) Zinc

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 of the site proper was essentially completed in 2007. The Consent Order was amended on May 3, 2013, to require investigation (but not remediation) of potential contamination beyond the boundary of the former zinc smelting operation. On November 22, 2016, KDHE approved a State Cooperative Final Agency Decision Statement that identified the remedy selected to address potential contamination beyond the boundary of the former zinc smelting site. Work continues on developing the Removal Action Design Plan. As of June 30, 2017, an accrual of approximately $214,000 remains available for addressing these outstanding issues. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters - Remediation Projects - Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

Air Related Matters

Great Lakes Works

In June 2010, the EPA significantly lowered the primary NAAQS for SO2 from 140 parts per billion (ppb) on a 24-hour basis to an hourly standard of 75 ppb. Based upon the 2009-2011 ambient air monitoring data, the EPA designated the area in which Great Lakes Works is located as nonattainment with the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.

Because of this designation, MDEQ must submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to the EPA that demonstrates that the entire nonattainment area (and not just the monitor) will be in attainment by October 2018 by using conservative air dispersion modeling. U. S. Steel met with MDEQ on multiple occasions and had offered reduction plans to MDEQ but the parties could not agree to a plan. MDEQ, instead promulgated Rule 430. The rule became effective in June 2016. Impacts associated with compliance with the rule would be material to U. S. Steel. Because we believe the rule is illegal and inequitable, we filed a complaint against MDEQ with the Michigan Court of Claims in August 2016 seeking, among other things, a declaratory ruling that the rule is invalid as well as injunctive relief enjoining MDEQ from enforcing the rule. In October 2016, the Court heard oral arguments regarding each parties’ motion for summary disposition. After oral arguments, the Court deferred its ruling on the parties’ motions, stayed the effectiveness of Rule 430, and ordered the parties to mediate. The parties have been engaged in meaningful mediation since then. While the impacts regarding any resolution are not estimable at this time, the impacts of any resolution may also be material to U. S. Steel.

On May 27, 2015, Great Lakes Works received a Violation Notice in which MDEQ alleged that U. S. Steel did not obtain a required permit to install a BOP vessel replacement that occurred in November 2014. U. S. Steel responded to MDEQ on June 17, 2015. While the resolution of the matter is uncertain at this time, it is not anticipated that the resolution will be material to U. S. Steel.

Granite City Works

In October 2015, Granite City Works received a Violation Notice from IEPA in which the Agency alleges that U. S. Steel violated the emission limits for nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from the Basic Oxygen Furnace Electrostatic Precipitator Stack. In addition, the Agency alleges that U. S. Steel exceeded its natural gas usage limit at its CoGeneration Boiler. U. S. Steel responded to the notice and is currently discussing resolution of the matter with IEPA.

Although discussions with IEPA regarding the foregoing alleged violations are ongoing and the resolution of these matters is uncertain at this time, it is not anticipated that the result of those discussions will be material to U. S. Steel.

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Minnesota Ore Operations

On February 6, 2013, the EPA published a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) that applies to taconite facilities in Minnesota. The FIP establishes and requires emission limits and the use of low NOx reduction technology on indurating furnaces as Best Available Retrofit Technology. While U. S. Steel installed low NOx burners on three furnaces at Minntac and is currently obligated to install low NOx burners on the two other furnaces at Minntac pursuant to existing agreements and permits, the rule would require the installation of a low NOx burner on the one furnace at Keetac for which U. S. Steel did not have an otherwise existing obligation. U. S. Steel estimates expenditures associated with the installation of low NOx burners of as much as $25 to $30 million. In 2013, U. S. Steel filed a petition for administrative reconsideration to the EPA and a petition for judicial review of the 2013 FIP and denial of the Minnesota State Implementation Plan (SIP) to the Eighth Circuit of the 2013 FIP. In April 2016, U.S. EPA promulgated a revised FIP with the same substantive requirements for U. S. Steel. In June 2016, U. S. Steel filed a petition for administrative reconsideration of the 2016 FIP to the EPA and a petition for judicial review of the 2016 FIP before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The EPA has yet to publish a response to either petition for administrative reconsideration in the Federal Register as required, and both petitions for judicial review remain with the Eighth Circuit.

In June 2011, U. S. Steel and MPCA reached agreement on a Schedule of Compliance (SOC) to address alleged water quality issues at the Minntac facility. The 2011 agreement required U. S. Steel to determine sulfate levels at the property boundary and to resolve the water quality allegations. In addition, the agreement anticipated that U. S. Steel would pilot trial a dry control system on Line 6 at Minntac. Since then, U. S. Steel has employed actions to resolve some of the allegations raised in the SOC. In addition, since then, U. S. Steel has conducted additional investigations and evaluated technologies that would be used to address other water quality allegations in the SOC and reduce sulfate levels in groundwater outside the boundaries of our Minnesota Ore Operations. The actions already employed as well as the new data indicate that the proposed dry control system in the 2011 agreement would not be an effective means to reach the goals outlined in the SOC. U. S. Steel is currently negotiating a path forward with MPCA.

EPA Region V Federal Lawsuit

This is a Clean Air Act (CAA) enforcement action filed in Federal Court in the Northern District of Indiana in 2012. The U.S. Government, joined by the States of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan initiated the action alleging the Company violated the CAA and failed to have in place appropriate pollution control equipment at Gary Works, Granite City Works, and Great Lakes Works. A Consent Decree with proposed settlement agreement was filed with the Court on November 22, 2016. As part of the settlement agreement, U. S. Steel agreed to perform seven supplemental environmental projects totaling approximately $3 million and pay a civil penalty of approximately $2 million. The enforcement action concluded on March 30, 2017 when the Court signed and entered the Consent Decree. In April 2017, U. S. Steel satisfied payment of the approximately $2 million civil penalty and is currently in various phases of implementing the supplemental environmental projects.

ASBESTOS LITIGATION
As of June 30, 2017, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 850 active cases involving approximately 3,345 plaintiffs. The vast majority of these cases involve multiple defendants. At December 31, 2016, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 845 active cases involving approximately 3,340 plaintiffs. As of June 30, 2017, about 2,500, or approximately 75 percent, of these plaintiff claims are 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.


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The following table shows the number of asbestos claims in the current period and the prior three years:
Period ended
 
Opening
Number
of Claims
 
Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved
 
New
Claims
 
Closing
Number
of Claims
December 31, 2014
 
3,320
 
190
 
325
 
3,455
December 31, 2015
 
3,455
 
415
 
275
 
3,315
December 31, 2016
 
3,315
 
225
 
250
 
3,340
June 30, 2017
 
3,340
 
120
 
125
 
3,345
Historically, asbestos-related claims against U. S. Steel fall into three major groups: (1) claims made by persons who allegedly were exposed to asbestos on the premises of U. S. Steel facilities; (2) claims made by persons allegedly exposed to products manufactured by U. S. Steel; and (3) claims made under certain federal and maritime laws by employees of former operations of U. S. Steel.
The amount U. S. Steel accrues for pending asbestos claims is not material to U. S. Steel’s financial condition. However, U. S. Steel is unable to estimate the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related claims due to a number of uncertainties, including (1) the rates at which new claims are filed, (2) the number of and effect of bankruptcies of other companies traditionally defending asbestos claims, (3) uncertainties associated with the variations in the litigation process from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, (4) uncertainties regarding the facts, circumstances and disease process with each claim, and (5) any new legislation enacted to address asbestos-related claims. Despite these uncertainties, 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.





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Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
The information concerning mine safety violations and other regulatory matters required by Section 150 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in Exhibit 95 to this Form 10-Q.
Item 5.
OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item 6.
EXHIBITS
 
 
 
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.
 
 
95
 
Mine Safety Disclosure required under Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
 
 
101 INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101 SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
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/ Colleen M. Darragh
 
 
 
 
Colleen M. Darragh
 
 
Vice President & Controller
July 26, 2017
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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