17. Commitments and contingencies Litigation In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to pending or threatened claims, lawsuits, regulatory matters and administrative proceedings from time to time. Where appropriate the Company has recorded provisions in the condensed consolidated financial statements for these matters. The liabilities for injuries to persons or property are in some instances covered by liability insurance, subject to various deductibles and self-insured retentions. The Company is not aware of any claims, lawsuits, regulatory matters or administrative proceedings, pending or threatened, that are likely to have a material effect on its overall financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the Company cannot predict the outcome of any present or future claims or litigation or the potential for future claims or litigation and adverse developments could negatively impact earnings or cash flows in a particular future period. The Company is subject to liabilities from claims alleging personal injury from exposure to asbestos. The claims result primarily from an indemnification obligation related to Univar Solutions USA Inc.s (Univar) 1986 purchase of McKesson Chemical Company from McKesson Corporation (McKesson). Once certain conditions have been met, Univar will have the ability to pursue insurance coverage, if any, that may be available under McKesson's historical insurance coverage to offset the impact of any fees, settlements, or judgments that Univar is obligated to pay because of its obligation to defend and indemnify McKesson. As of June 30, 2020, there were approximately 165 asbestos-related cases for which Univar has the obligation to defend and indemnify; however, this number tends to fluctuate up and down over time. Historically, the vast majority of these asbestos cases have been dismissed without payment or with a nominal payment. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these matters, it does not believe, based upon currently available facts, that the ultimate resolution of any of these matters will have a material effect on its overall financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Environmental The Company is subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations that require environmental assessment or remediation efforts (collectively environmental remediation work) and from time to time becomes aware of compliance matters regarding possible or alleged violations of these laws or regulations. For example, over the years, the Company has been identified as a potentially responsible party (PRP) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and/or similar state laws that impose liability for costs relating to environmental remediation work at various sites. As a PRP, the Company may be required to pay a share of the costs of investigation and cleanup of certain sites. The Company is currently engaged in environmental remediation work at approximately 129 locations, some that are now or were previously Company-owned/occupied and some that were never Company-owned/occupied (non-owned sites). The Companys environmental remediation work at some sites is being conducted pursuant to governmental proceedings or investigations. At other sites, the Company, with appropriate state or federal agency oversight and approval, is conducting the environmental remediation work voluntarily. The Company is currently undergoing remediation efforts or is in the process of active review of the need for potential remediation efforts at approximately 107 current or formerly Company-owned/occupied sites. In addition, the Company may be liable as a PRP for a share of the cleanup of approximately 22 non-owned sites. These non-owned sites are typically (a) locations of independent waste disposal or recycling operations with alleged or confirmed contaminated soil and/or groundwater to which the Company may have shipped waste products or drums for re-conditioning, or (b) contaminated non-owned sites near historical sites owned or operated by the Company or its predecessors from which contamination is alleged to have arisen. In determining the appropriate level of environmental reserves, the Company considers several factors such as information obtained from investigatory studies; changes in the scope of remediation; the interpretation, application and enforcement of laws and regulations; changes in the costs of remediation programs; the development of alternative cleanup technologies and methods; and the relative level of the Companys involvement at various sites for which the Company is allegedly associated. The level of annual expenditures for remedial, monitoring and investigatory activities will change in the future as major components of planned remediation activities are completed and the scope, timing and costs of existing activities are changed. Project lives, and therefore cash flows, range from 2 to 30 years, depending on the specific site and type of remediation project. Although the Company believes that its reserves are adequate for environmental contingencies, it is possible, due to the uncertainties noted above; that additional reserves could be required in the future that could have a material effect on the overall financial position, results of operations, or cash flows in a particular period. This additional loss or range of losses cannot be recorded at this time, as it is not reasonably estimable. Changes in total environmental liabilities are as follows: (in millions) Environmental liabilities at December 31, 2019 $ 78.7 Revised obligation estimates 11.7 Environmental payments (7.4) Environmental liabilities at June 30, 2020 $ 83.0 (in millions) Balance Sheet Classification June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 Current environmental liabilities Other accrued expenses $ 26.6 $ 25.0 Long-term environmental liabilities Other long-term liabilities $ 56.4 $ 53.7 Tax Matters During 2017, the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court (the Court) ruled that the inclusion of the state VAT tax collected by a taxpayer in the taxpayers federal social contribution calculation base is unconstitutional. In 2019, the Court ruled in the Company's favor allowing the recoverability of amounts previously paid, plus interest. As a result, the Company recorded a benefit of $10.9 million in net sales, of which $9.7 million related to prior years, and $4.6 million in interest income in the consolidated statement of operations during the fourth quarter of 2019. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company reduced its benefit from prior year and recorded a charge of $0.4 million in net sales and $0.3 million in interest income in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.