Compliance with Mandatory Standards
3M's goal is to be 100% compliant with all laws and regulations that impact our business. This applies to wherever 3M operates. In the environmental area, this can create a complex matrix of local, regional and national regulations. 3M has adopted management systems and resources to meet this complex web of global laws. The most recent example is the new law approved by the European Union, called REACH.
REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals and is a broad regulation that will involve thousands of chemicals that are either manufactured in Europe or imported into the region. 3M has been monitoring the drafting of the regulation for years and has been preparing for its passage.
3M and REACH (PDF, 12KB)
Compliance Metrics
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
Exceedances (U.S. Only) |
45 |
48 |
41 |
46 |
24 |
19 |
22 |
33 |
Spills (U.S. Only) |
50 |
26 |
29 |
27 |
23 |
41 |
62 |
62 |
Agency Notices (U.S. Only) |
18 |
14 |
25 |
27 |
17 |
14 |
24 |
31 |
Fines ($US) (U.S. Only) |
$99,987 |
$13,110 |
$20,310 |
$256,311 |
$71,100 |
$20,782 |
$110,205 |
$11,742 |
3M Remediation Program
3M's early proactive installation of the corporate hazardous waste incinerator in 1972 had a major impact in reducing the number of sites and the financial impact of landfill disposal sites to be remediated (cleaned up). In addition, our proactive assessments of 3M manufacturing sites and waste disposal practices have led to the early identification of potential sites and earlier resolution.
Remediation Sites
3M has been involved in a number of federal, state and voluntary remediation site clean-ups since the inception of the Superfund program in 1980. To date, 3M has closed nearly 75 percent of these sites through formal settlements, regulatory closure agreements and proactive voluntary cleanups.
Environmental Remediation Reserves
Global Environmental Remediation Reserves have been set aside for 3M's remediation sites.
- Reserves are reviewed on a quarterly basis with input from engineering, legal, outside financial auditors and internal financial controllers.
- Reserves are based on when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and can be reasonably estimated.
- Reserves are reviewed periodically with senior management.
- For more information on 3M's environmental matters, please see "Legal Proceedings" in 3M's Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2007.
Remediation Spending
- Average 3M spending since inception of Superfund has been about $13 million/year (range of $3 million to $30 million per year).
- All 3M international manufacturing sites have been assessed for potential remediation and further investigations are underway at five locations.
Remediation Success Factors
Key program characteristics that minimize liabilities of remediation sites
- Centralized management to ensure coordinated strategies and optimization.
- Established business process for all aspects of remediation.
- Effective use of risk-assessment and sound science-based evidence to influence remedy selection and drive effective outcomes.
- Development and maintenance of cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders.
- Effective use of innovative remediation technology to achieve effective cleanup.
