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, 20182019
Or
 [   ]TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     .
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United States Steel Corporation
(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 StreetPittsburghPA 15219-2800
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(412) (412) 433-1121
(Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
United States Steel Corporation Common StockXNew York Stock Exchange
United States Steel Corporation Common StockXChicago Stock Exchange
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. Yesüx Noo
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 [ü] x No []o
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” andfiler,” “smaller reporting company”, and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filerü
x
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
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. ___
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No x
YesNoü




Common stock outstanding at July 27, 201829, 2019177,223,476170,743,333 shares







INDEX


 Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
 Item 1.Financial Statements: 
  
  
  
  
  
 Item 2.
 Item 3.
Item 4.
 Item 4.
 
 Item 1.
 Item 1A.4.
Item 2.
 Item 4.5.
 Item 6.






CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


This report contains information that may constitute ”forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 2727A 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,changes, share of sales and earnings per share growth,changes, 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, 2017, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, 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
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)


  Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 2019 2018 2019 2018
Net sales:        
Net sales $3,175
 $3,242
 $6,299
 $6,063
Net sales to related parties (Note 21) 370
 367
 745
 695
Total (Note 5) 3,545
 3,609
 7,044
 6,758
Operating expenses (income):        
Cost of sales (excludes items shown below) 3,227
 3,121
 6,399
 5,929
Selling, general and administrative expenses 82
 92
 160
 170
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 150
 130
 293
 258
Earnings from investees (28) (19) (37) (22)
Gain on equity investee transactions (Note 25) 
 (18) 
 (18)
Net loss on disposal of assets 
 1
 4
 2
Other (income) expense, net (1) 1
 (1) 1
Total 3,430
 3,308
 6,818
 6,320
Earnings before interest and income taxes 115
 301
 226
 438
Interest expense 31
 43
 65
 93
Interest income (5) (5) (10) (10)
Loss on debt extinguishment (Note 11) 
 28
 
 74
Other financial costs (benefits) 5
 (8) 2
 2
Net periodic benefit cost (other than service cost) 23
 17
 46
 34
     Net interest and other financial costs (Note 11) 54
 75
 103
 193
Earnings before income taxes 61
 226
 123
 245
Income tax (benefit) provision (Note 13) (7) 12
 1
 13
Net earnings 68
 214
 122
 232
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
Net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation $68
 $214
 $122
 $232
Earnings per common share (Note 14):     
 
Earnings per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders:     
 
-Basic $0.39
 $1.21
 $0.71
 $1.32
-Diluted $0.39
 $1.20
 $0.70
 $1.30

  Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 2018 2017 2018 2017
Net sales:     
 
Net sales $3,242
 $2,787
 $6,063
 $5,199
Net sales to related parties (Note 20) 367
 357
 695
 670
Total (Note 5) 3,609
 3,144
 6,758
 5,869
Operating expenses (income):        
Cost of sales (excludes items shown below) 3,121
 2,723
 5,929
 5,282
Selling, general and administrative expenses 92
 67
 170
 148
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 130
 121
 258
 258
Earnings from investees (19) (16) (22) (20)
Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (Note 23) 
 (72) 
 (72)
Restructuring and other charges (Note 21) 
 (1) 
 32
Net gain on disposal of assets (17) 
 (16) (1)
Other expense (income), net 1
 (5) 1
 (5)
Total 3,308
 2,817
 6,320
 5,622
Earnings before interest and income taxes 301
 327
 438
 247
Interest expense 43
 55
 93
 113
Interest income (5) (4) (10) (8)
Loss on debt extinguishment (Note 9) 28
 1
 74
 1
Other financial (benefits) costs (8) 16
 2
 25
Net periodic benefit cost (other than service cost) (Note 3) (a)
 17
 14
 34
 32
     Net interest and other financial costs (Note 9) 75
 82
 193
 163
Earnings before income taxes 226
 245
 245
 84
Income tax provision (benefit) (Note 11) 12
 (16) 13
 3
Net earnings 214
 261
 232
 81
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests 
 
 
 
Net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation $214
 $261
 $232
 $81
Earnings per common share (Note 12):     
 
Earnings per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders:     
 
-Basic $1.21
 $1.49
 $1.32
 $0.46
-Diluted $1.20
 $1.48
 $1.30
 $0.46

(a) Represents postretirement benefit expense as a result of the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits on January 1, 2018.









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




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


 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(Dollars in millions) 2018 2017 2018 2017 2019 2018 2019 2018
Net earnings $214
 $261
 $232
 $81
 $68
 $214
 $122
 $232
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:     
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:        
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustments (87) 82
 (47) 105
 12
 (87) (5) (47)
Changes in pension and other employee benefit accounts 47
 46
 93
 92
 32
 47
 64
 93
Changes in derivative financial instruments (3) (3) (19) (3) (11) (3) 4
 (19)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax (43) 125
 27
 194
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 33
 (43) 63
 27
Comprehensive income including noncontrolling interest 171
 386
 259
 275
 101
 171
 185
 259
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income attributable to United States Steel
Corporation
 $171
 $386
 $259
 $275
 $101
 $171
 $185
 $259










































































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




UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited)

(Dollars in millions)  
 June 30, 
 2018
 December 31,  
 2017
  
 June 30, 
 2019
 December 31,  
 2018
Assets        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 6) $1,231
 $1,553
 $651
 $1,000
Receivables, less allowance of $28 and $28 1,430
 1,173
Receivables from related parties (Note 20) 226
 206
Inventories (Note 13) 1,848
 1,738
Receivables, less allowance of $28 and $29 1,420
 1,435
Receivables from related parties (Note 21) 218
 224
Inventories (Note 7) 2,166
 2,092
Other current assets 77
 85
 92
 79
Total current assets 4,812
 4,755
 4,547
 4,830
Operating lease assets (Note 8) 237
 
Property, plant and equipment 15,378
 15,086
 16,584
 16,008
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion 10,977
 10,806
 11,351
 11,143
Total property, plant and equipment, net 4,401
 4,280
 5,233
 4,865
Investments and long-term receivables, less allowance of $11 and $11 498
 480
Intangibles – net (Note 7) 162
 167
Deferred income tax benefits (Note 11) 56
 56
Investments and long-term receivables, less allowance of $5 in both periods 550
 513
Intangibles – net (Note 9) 154
 158
Deferred income tax benefits (Note 13) 433
 445
Other noncurrent assets 129
 124
 137
 171
Total assets $10,058
 $9,862
 $11,291
 $10,982
Liabilities        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities $2,239
 $2,096
 $2,498
 $2,454
Accounts payable to related parties (Note 20) 92
 74
Accounts payable to related parties (Note 21) 117
 81
Payroll and benefits payable 386
 347
 334
 440
Accrued taxes 135
 132
 111
 118
Accrued interest 46
 69
 39
 39
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 15) 4
 3
Current operating lease liabilities (Note 8) 54
 
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 16) 70
 65
Total current liabilities 2,902
 2,721
 3,223
 3,197
Long-term debt, less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (Note 15) 2,541
 2,700
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities (Note 8) 188
 
Long-term debt, less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (Note 16) 2,345
 2,316
Employee benefits 692
 759
 926
 980
Deferred income tax liabilities (Note 11) 6
 6
Deferred income tax liabilities (Note 13) 18
 14
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities 311
 355
 279
 272
Total liabilities 6,452
 6,541
 6,979
 6,779
Contingencies and commitments (Note 22) 
 
 

 

Stockholders’ Equity (Note 18):    
Common stock (177,179,937 and 176,424,554 shares issued) (Note 12) 177
 176
Treasury stock, at cost (31,240 shares and 1,203,344 shares) (1) (76)
Stockholders’ Equity (Note 19):    
Common stock (178,533,023 and 177,386,430 shares issued) (Note 14) 179
 177
Treasury stock, at cost (7,176,841 shares and 2,857,578 shares) (155) (78)
Additional paid-in capital 3,900
 3,932
 3,936
 3,917
Retained earnings 347
 133
 1,314
 1,212
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 19) (818) (845)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 20) (963) (1,026)
Total United States Steel Corporation stockholders’ equity 3,605
 3,320
 4,311
 4,202
Noncontrolling interests 1
 1
 1
 1
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $10,058
 $9,862
 $11,291
 $10,982




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




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


 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
(Dollars in millions) 2018 2017 2019 2018
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash        
Operating activities:        
Net earnings $232
 $81
 $122
 $232
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 258
 258
 293
 258
Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (Note 23) 
 (72)
Restructuring and other charges (Note 21) 
 32
Loss on debt extinguishment (Note 9) 74
 1
Gain on equity investee transactions (Note 25) 
 (18)
Loss on debt extinguishment (Note 11) 
 74
Provision for doubtful accounts 1
 1
 
 1
Pensions and other postretirement benefits 37
 31
 55
 37
Deferred income taxes (Note 11) (1) 2
Net gain on disposal of assets (16) (1)
Deferred income taxes (Note 13) (3) (1)
Net loss on disposal of assets 4
 2
Equity investee earnings, net of distributions received (19) (16) (35) (19)
Changes in:        
Current receivables (294) (172) (28) (294)
Inventories (123) (125) (77) (123)
Current accounts payable and accrued expenses 175
 98
 (28) 146
Income taxes receivable/payable (3) 20
 39
 (3)
Bank checks outstanding 8
 7
 5
 8
All other, net (36) 98
 19
 (7)
Net cash provided by operating activities 293
 243
 366
 293
Investing activities:        
Capital expenditures (381) (120) (628) (381)
Disposal of assets 1
 
 1
 1
Investments, net (1) 
 
 (1)
Net cash used in investing activities (381) (120) (627) (381)
Financing activities:        
Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs (Note 15) 640
 
Repayment of long-term debt (Note 15) (874) (108)
Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs (Note 16) 
 640
Repayment of long-term debt (Note 16) (1) (874)
Common stock repurchased (Note 24) (70) 
Dividends paid (18) (18) (18) (18)
Receipt from exercise of stock options 33
 13
 
 33
Taxes paid for equity compensation plans (Note 10) (8) (10)
Taxes paid for equity compensation plans (Note 12) (7) (8)
Net cash used in financing activities (227) (123) (96) (227)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (10) 10
 (1) (10)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (325) 10
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (358) (325)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year (Note 6) 1,597
 1,555
 1,040
 1,597
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period (Note 6) $1,272
 $1,565
 $682
 $1,272





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




Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1.     Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel, or the Company) produces and sells steel products, including flat-rolled and tubular products, in North America and 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 condensed 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 condensed 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, 2017,2018, which should be read in conjunction with these condensed financial statements.
2.    New Accounting Standards
In FebruaryAugust 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans- General (Subtopic 715-20), Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans (ASU 2018-02)2018-14). ASU 2018-02 allows a reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to Retained Earnings2018-14 removes certain disclosures that the FASB no longer considers cost beneficial, adds certain disclosure requirements and clarifies others. ASU 2018-14 is effective for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendments in this ASU are effectivepublic companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods therein. Early2020, with early adoption of ASU 2018-02 is permitted. U. S. Steel is currently assessing the impact of the ASU but does not believe this ASU will have a material impact on its overall Consolidated Financial Statements.defined benefit plan disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurementof Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU(ASU 2016-13), which adds an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under ASU 2016-13, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses, which the FASB believes will result in more timely recognition of such losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. U. S. Steel is currently assessing the impact of the ASU, but does not believe this ASU will have a material impact on its overall Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
3.    Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 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 operating activities in the statement of cash flows. For financingfinance 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 activities and payments of interest on the lease liability within 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,July 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, using a modified retrospective approach. U. S. Steel is completing its inventory of leases and developing an estimated impact of the financial statement implications of adopting ASU 2016-02, which will include recognizing the lease liability and related right-of-use asset on our balance sheet.
3.    Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging2018-11, Leases (Topic 815): Targeted842) -Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (ASU 2017-12)2018-11), which amends and simplifies hedge accounting guidance so that companies could more accurately presentprovides an option to use a modified retrospective transition method at the economic effects of risk management activities in the


financial statements. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted.date. U. S. Steel adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-12 on January 1, 2018. The adoption did not result in a material impact to our financial results; however, we expanded our use of hedgenew lease accounting standard effective January 1, 2018 as well as our disclosures of derivative activity. See Note 14 for further details.
In May 2017,2019 using the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting (ASU 2017-09). The amendments includedoptional modified retrospective transition method outlined 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. On January 1, 2018, U. S. Steel adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-09 and the adoption did not have an impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (ASU 2017-07). ASU 2017-07 requires an employer who offers defined benefit and postretirement 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. 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 was effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods; early adoption was permitted. U. S. Steel adopted ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2018. U. S. Steel has historically capitalized the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost into inventory, when applicable, and will continue to do so prospectively.

The effect of the retrospective presentation change related to the net periodic benefit cost of our defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) plans on our consolidated statement of operations was as follows:
 Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Statement of Operations (In millions)
 As Revised Previously Reported Effect of Change Higher/(Lower)
Cost of Sales $2,723
 $2,725
 $(2)
Selling, general and administrative expenses 67
 79
 (12)
Net periodic benefit cost (other than service cost) 14
 
 14

 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Statement of Operations (In millions)
 As Revised Previously Reported Effect of Change Higher/(Lower)
Cost of Sales $5,282
 $5,286
 $(4)
Selling, general and administrative expenses 148
 176
 (28)
Net periodic benefit cost (other than service cost) 32
 
 32

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (ASU 2016-18). The ASU reduced diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows by including restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. On January 1, 2018, U. S. Steel adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-18 using a retrospective transition method.2018-11. As a result the Change in Restricted Cash, Net line that was included in the Investing Activities section of the Consolidated Statementadoption, an operating lease asset and current and noncurrent liabilities for operating leases were recorded, and there was an insignificant reduction in prior year retained earnings for the cumulative effect of Cash Flows has been eliminated as changes in restricted cash are now included in the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash amounts. Expanded disclosures have been included, which describe the components of cash shown on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.adoption for operating leases where payment started after lease commencement. See Note 68 for further details.





In August 2016,U. S. Steel's adoption of the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15). ASU 2016-15 reduced 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. Onfollowing ASU's effective January 1, 2018, U. S. Steel adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-15 using a retrospective transition method. As a result, all payments to extinguish debt will now be presented as cash outflows from financing activities on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows in accordance with ASU 2016-15. U. S. Steel has historically presented make-whole premiums as cash outflows from operating activities. The other cash receipt and cash payment items addressed in ASU 2016-15 did not have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Since payments to extinguish debt during the six months ended June 30, 2017 were immaterial, there was no retrospective adjustment to our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Additionally, the Company has elected to use the cumulative earnings approach as defined in ASU 2016-15 to classify distributions received from equity method investees.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09). ASU 2014-09 and its related amendments (Revenue Recognition Standard) outline a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and superseded most previous revenue recognition guidance.On January 1, 2018, U. S. Steel adopted the Revenue Recognition Standard using the full retrospective method. Generally, U. S. Steel’s performance obligations are satisfied, control of our products is transferred, and revenue is recognized at a single point in time. The adoption2019 did not have a financial statementmaterial impact toon U. S. Steel but did result in expanded disclosures. See Note 5 for further details.Steel's financial position, results of operations or cash flows:
Accounting Standard Update
2018-07Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting
2018-15Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract

4.    Segment Information
U. S. Steel has three reportable segments: (1) Flat-Rolled Products (Flat-Rolled), which consists of the following three commercial entities that directly interact with our customers and service their needs: (i) automotive solutions, (ii) consumer solutions, and (iii) industrial, service center and mining solutions; (2) U. S. Steel Europe (USSE); and (3) 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, and certain other items that management believes are not indicative of future results.
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 the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018 are:
(In millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 Customer
Sales
 Intersegment
Sales
 Net
Sales
 Earnings
from
investees
 Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
Flat-Rolled $2,539
 $95
 $2,634
 $26
 $134
USSE 678
 3
 681
 
 (10)
Tubular 316
 1
 317
 2
 (6)
Total reportable segments 3,533
 99
 3,632
 28
 118
Other Businesses 12
 30
 42
 
 10
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (129) (129) 
 (13)
Total $3,545
 $
 $3,545
 $28
 $115

          
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018          
Flat-Rolled $2,435
 $59
 $2,494
 $17
 $224
USSE 848
 15
 863
 
 115
Tubular 309
 2
 311
 2
 (35)
Total reportable segments 3,592
 76
 3,668
 19
 304
Other Businesses 17
 32
 49
 
 17
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (108) (108) 
 (20)
Total $3,609
 $
 $3,609
 $19
 $301
(In millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
 Customer
Sales
 Intersegment
Sales
 Net
Sales
 Earnings
from
investees
 Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
Flat-Rolled $2,435
 $59
 $2,494
 $17
 $224
USSE 848
 15
 863
 
 115
Tubular 309
 2
 311
 2
 (35)
Total reportable segments 3,592
 76
 3,668
 19
 304
Other Businesses 17
 32
 49
 
 17
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (108) (108) 
 (20)
Total $3,609
 $
 $3,609
 $19
 $301

          
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017          
Flat-Rolled $2,151
 $92
 $2,243
 $14
 $220
USSE 740
 12
 752
 
 55
Tubular 234
 
 234
 2
 (29)
Total reportable segments 3,125
 104
 3,229
 16
 246
Other Businesses 19
 29
 48
 
 9
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (133) (133) 
 72
Total $3,144
 $
 $3,144
 $16
 $327




The results of segment operations for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018 are:
(In millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 Customer
Sales
 Intersegment
Sales
 Net
Sales
 Earnings
from
investees
 Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
Flat-Rolled $4,944
 $164
 $5,108
 $33
 $229
USSE 1,415
 6
 1,421
 
 19
Tubular 659
 3
 662
 4
 4
Total reportable segments 7,018
 173
 7,191
 37
 252
Other Businesses 26
 60
 86
 
 18
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (233) (233) 
 (44)
Total $7,044
 $
 $7,044
 $37
 $226
           
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018          
Flat-Rolled $4,482
 $116
 $4,598
 $19
 $257
USSE 1,671
 16
 1,687
 
 225
Tubular 575
 2
 577
 3
 (62)
Total reportable segments 6,728
 134
 6,862
 22
 420
Other Businesses 30
 63
 93
 
 28
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (197) (197) 
 (10)
Total $6,758
 $
 $6,758
 $22
 $438
(In millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 Customer
Sales
 Intersegment
Sales
 Net
Sales
 Earnings
from
investees
 Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
Flat-Rolled $4,482
 $116
 $4,598
 $19
 $257
USSE 1,671
 16
 1,687
 
 225
Tubular 575
 2
 577
 3
 (62)
Total reportable segments 6,728
 134
 6,862
 22
 420
Other Businesses 30
 63
 93
 
 28
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (197) (197) 
 (10)
Total $6,758
 $
 $6,758
 $22
 $438
           
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017          
Flat-Rolled $4,016
 $113
 $4,129
 $17
 $132
USSE 1,413
 24
 1,437
 
 142
Tubular 405
 1
 406
 3
 (86)
Total reportable segments 5,834
 138
 5,972
 20
 188
Other Businesses 35
 60
 95
 
 22
Reconciling Items and Eliminations 
 (198) (198) 
 37
Total $5,869
 $
 $5,869
 $20
 $247

The following is a schedule of reconciling items to consolidated earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes:
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions) 2019 2018 2019 2018
Items not allocated to segments: 
 
 
 
December 24, 2018 Clairton coke making facility fire $(13) $
 $(44) $
Gain on equity investee transactions 
 18
 
 18
Granite City Works restart costs 
 (36) 
 (36)
Granite City Works adjustment to temporary idling charges 
 (2) 
 8
Total reconciling items $(13) $(20) $(44) $(10)



  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions) 2018 2017 2018 2017
Items not allocated to segments: 
 
 
 
Gain on equity investee transactions $18
 $
 $18
 $
Granite City Works restart costs (36) 
 (36) 
Granite City Works adjustment to temporary idling charges (2) 
 8
 
Loss on shutdown of certain tubular assets (a)
 
 
 
 (35)
Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (Note 23) 
 72
 
 72
Total reconciling items $(20) $72
 $(10) $37

(a) Included in Restructuring and other charges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. See Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.5.     Revenue




5.     Revenue

Revenue is generated primarily from contracts to produce, ship and deliver steel products, and to a lesser extent, to deliver raw materials such as iron ore pellets, to deliver coke by-productsand for railroad services and real estate sales. Generally, U. S. Steel’s performance obligations are satisfied, control of our products is transferred, and revenue is recognized at a single point in time, when title transfers to our customer for product shipped or when services are provided. Revenues are recorded net of any sales incentives. Shipping and other transportation costs charged to customers are treated as fulfillment activities and are recorded in both revenue and cost of sales at the time control is transferred to the customer. Costs related to obtaining sales contracts are incidental and are expensed when incurred. Because customers are invoiced at the time title transfers and U. S. Steel’s right to consideration is unconditional at that time, U. S. Steel does not maintain contract asset balances. Additionally, U. S. Steel does not maintain contract liability balances, as performance obligations are satisfied prior to customer payment for product. U. S. Steel offers industry standard payment terms.
 
U. S. Steel has three reportable segments: Flat-Rolled, USSE and Tubular. Flat-Rolled primarily generates revenue from sheet and coated product sales to North American customers. Flat-Rolled also sells slabs, iron ore pellets and coke making by-products. USSE sells slabs, sheet, strip mill plate, coated products and spiral welded pipe to customers primarily in the Eastern European market. Tubular sells seamless and electric resistance welded (ERW) steel casing and tubing (commonly known as oil country tubular goods or OCTG), standard and line pipe and mechanical tubing and primarily serves customers in the oil, gas and petrochemical markets. Revenue from our railroad and real estate businesses is reported in the Other Businesses category in our segment reporting structure. The following tables disaggregate our revenue by product for each of our reportable business segments for the three months and six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively:


Net Sales by Product (In millions):
(In millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Semi-finished $1
$52
$
$
$53
 $121
$5
$
$
$126
Hot-rolled sheets 640
339


979
 682
287


969
Cold-rolled sheets 735
104


839
 643
82


725
Coated sheets 797
310


1,107
 816
269


1,085
Tubular products 
13
299

312
 
11
311

322
All Other (a)
 262
30
10
17
319
 277
24
5
12
318
Total $2,435
$848
$309
$17
$3,609
 $2,539
$678
$316
$12
$3,545
(a) Consists primarily of sales of raw materials and coke making by-products.
(In millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Semi-finished $
$77
$
$
$77
 $1
$52
$
$
$53
Hot-rolled sheets 562
280


842
 640
339


979
Cold-rolled sheets 579
77


656
 735
104


839
Coated sheets 756
272


1,028
 797
310


1,107
Tubular products 
10
226

236
 
13
299

312
All Other (a)
 254
24
8
19
305
 262
30
10
17
319
Total $2,151
$740
$234
$19
$3,144
 $2,435
$848
$309
$17
$3,609
(a) Consists primarily of sales of raw materials and coke making by-products.



(In millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Semi-finished $10
$89
$
$
$99
 $209
$9
$
$
$218
Hot-rolled sheets 1,212
692


1,904
 1,445
619


2,064
Cold-rolled sheets 1,374
202


1,576
 1,304
170


1,474
Coated sheets 1,503
607


2,110
 1,544
548


2,092
Tubular products 
25
558

583
 
20
646

666
All Other (a)
 383
56
17
30
486
 442
49
13
26
530
Total $4,482
$1,671
$575
$30
$6,758
 $4,944
$1,415
$659
$26
$7,044
(a) Consists primarily of sales of raw materials and coke making by-products.
(In millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Flat-RolledUSSETubularOther BusinessesTotal
Semi-finished $1
$104
$
$
$105
 $10
$89
$
$
$99
Hot-rolled sheets 982
589


1,571
 1,212
692


1,904
Cold-rolled sheets 1,185
156


1,341
 1,374
202


1,576
Coated sheets 1,504
507


2,011
 1,503
607


2,110
Tubular products 
19
388

407
 
25
558

583
All Other (a)
 344
38
17
35
434
 383
56
17
30
486
Total $4,016
$1,413
$405
$35
$5,869
 $4,482
$1,671
$575
$30
$6,758
(a) Consists primarily of sales of raw materials and coke making by-products.
6.     Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
 
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within U. S. Steel's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows:
 
(In millions) June 30, 2019 June 30, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents $651
 $1,231
Restricted cash in other current assets 1
 5
Restricted cash in other noncurrent assets 30
 36
      Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $682
 $1,272

(In millions) June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents $1,231
 $1,522
Restricted cash in other current assets 5
 1
Restricted cash in other noncurrent assets 36
 42
      Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $1,272
 $1,565


Amounts included in restricted cash represent cash balances which are legally or contractually restricted, primarily for environmental capital expenditure projects and insurance purposes.


7.    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 inventory costing method in Europe. At June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the LIFO method accounted for 70 percent and 74 percent of total inventory values, respectively.

7.     
(In millions) June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
Raw materials $650
 $605
Semi-finished products 1,033
 1,021
Finished products 431
 404
Supplies and sundry items 52
 62
Total $2,166
 $2,092

Current acquisition costs were estimated to exceed the above inventory values by $961 million and $1,038 million at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. As a result of the liquidation of LIFO inventories, cost of sales decreased and earnings before interest and income taxes increased by $8 million and $7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Cost of sales decreased and earnings before interest and income taxes increased by $2 million and $1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, as a result of liquidation of LIFO inventories.
Inventory includes $39 million of land held for residential/commercial development as of both June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
8.    Leases
Effective January 1, 2019, U. S. Steel adopted ASU 2016-02 using the optional modified retrospective transition method outlined in ASU 2018-11 which permitted application of ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 using a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. As of June 30, 2019, an operating lease asset of $237 million and current and noncurrent liabilities for operating leases of $54 million and $188 million, respectively, were recorded (see below tabular disclosure for further details). There was an insignificant cumulative effect of adoption for operating lease liabilities that exceeded their related asset values for leases where payment started after lease commencement.
Operating lease assets consist primarily of office space, heavy mobile equipment used in our mining operations and facilities and equipment under operating service agreements for electricity generation and scrap processing. We also have operating lease assets for light mobile equipment and information technology assets. Significant finance leases include the Fairfield slab caster lease and heavy mobile equipment used in our mining operations (see Note 16 for further details). Variable lease payments are primarily related to operating service agreements where payment is solely dependent on consumption of certain services, such as raw material and by-product processing. Most long-term leases include renewal options and, in certain leases, purchase options. Generally, we are not reasonably certain that these options will be exercised. We have residual value guarantees under certain light mobile equipment leases. There is no impact to our leased assets for residual value guarantees as the potential loss is not probable (see “Other Contingencies” in Note 22 for further details). We do not have material restrictive covenants associated with our leases or material amounts of sublease income. From time to time, U. S. Steel may enter into arrangements for the construction or purchase of an asset and then enter into a financing arrangement to lease the asset. U. S. Steel recognizes leased assets and liabilities under these arrangements when it obtains control of the asset.
U. S. Steel elected the option within ASU 2016-02 to straight-line expense and not record assets or liabilities for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. For leases beginning in 2019 and later, we separate non-lease components from lease components for leases under operating service agreements. We do not separate non-lease components for other lease types as they are not significant. The Company does not have secured notes outstanding; therefore, we use an estimated secured borrowing rate as the discount rate for most of our leases. In accordance with the practical expedients outlined in ASU 2016-02, we did not use hindsight in determining the lease term for existing leases and elected not to reassess the following for existing leases: whether contracts contain a lease, lease classification, and initial direct costs.


The following table summarizes the lease amounts included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2019.
(In millions)Balance Sheet LocationJune 30, 2019
Assets

Operating
Operating lease assets (a)
$237
Finance
Property, plant and equipment (b)
49
  Total Lease Assets
$286



Liabilities

Current

  OperatingCurrent operating lease liabilities$54
  FinanceCurrent portion of long-term debt8
Non-Current

  OperatingNoncurrent operating lease liabilities188
  FinanceLong-term debt less unamortized discount and issue costs48
Total Lease Liabilities
$298
(a) Operating lease assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $25 million.
(b) Finance lease assets are recorded net of accumulated depreciation of $23 million.

The following table summarizes lease costs included in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2019.

(In millions)ClassificationThree Months Ended 
 June 30, 2019
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30, 2019
Operating Lease Cost (a)
Cost of sales$20
 $40
Operating Lease CostSelling, general and administrative expenses3
 6
Finance Lease Cost

 
  AmortizationDepreciation, depletion and amortization1
 2
  InterestInterest expense1
 1
Total Lease Cost
$25
 $49
(a) Operating lease cost recorded in cost of sales includes $4 million and $9 million of variable lease cost for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. An immaterial amount of variable lease cost is included in selling, general and administrative expenses and immaterial amounts of short-term lease cost are included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses.

Lease liability maturities as of June 30, 2019 are shown below.
(In millions)Operating Finance Total
2019$38
 $6
 $44
202063
 11
 74
202151
 11
 62
202241
 16
 57
202332
 5
 37
After 202378
 17
 95
  Total Lease Payments$303
 $66
 $369
  Less: Interest61
 10
 71
  Present value of lease liabilities$242
 $56
 $298



Future minimum commitments for capital and operating leases having non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of the year ended December 31, 2018 were as follows.
(In millions) Capital
Leases
 Operating
Leases
2019 $5
 $66
2020 5
 55
2021 5
 45
2022 11
 37
2023 
 28
After 2023 
 72
   Total minimum lease payments $26
 $303
Less imputed interest costs 4
 
   Present value of net minimum lease payments included in long-term debt $22
 

Lease terms and discount rates are shown below.

June 30, 2019
Weighted average lease term
  Finance6 years
  Operating6 years


Weighted average discount rate
  Finance6.32%
  Operating7.83%

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases follows.
(In millions)Three Months Ended 
 June 30, 2019
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
    Operating cash flows from operating leases$18
 $36
    Operating cash flows from finance leases1
 1
    Financing cash flows from finance leases1
 1
Right-of-use assets exchanged for lease liabilities:
 
    Operating leases16
 24
    Finance leases19
 35




9.     Intangible Assets
Intangible assets that are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives are detailed below:
  
 As of June 30, 2019 As of December 31, 2018
(In millions) Useful
Lives
 Gross
Carrying
Amount
 Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
Amount
 Gross
Carrying
Amount
 Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
Amount
Customer relationships 22 Years $132
 $73
 $59
 $132
 $70
 $62
Patents 10-15 Years
22
 8
 14
 22
 7
 15
Other 4-20 Years 14
 8
 6
 14
 8
 6
Total amortizable intangible assets 
 $168
 $89
 $79
 $168
 $85
 $83
  
 As of June 30, 2018 As of December 31, 2017
(In millions) Useful
Lives
 Gross
Carrying
Amount
 Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
Amount
 Gross
Carrying
Amount
 Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
Amount
Customer relationships 22 Years $132
 $67
 $65
 $132
 $64
 $68
Patents 10-15 Years
22
 6
 16
 22
 5
 17
Other 4-20 Years 14
 8
 6
 15
 8
 7
Total amortizable intangible assets 
 $168
 $81
 $87
 $169
 $77
 $92

Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable.
Amortization expense was $2 million in both the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017.2018. Amortization expense was $4 million in both the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017.2018. The estimated future amortization expense of identifiable intangible assets during the next five years is $4 millionfor the remaining portionremainder of 2018, $9 million in each year from 2019 to 2021, and $8 million in 2022. is $4 million. We expect a consistent level of annual amortization expense through 2023.
In addition, theThe carrying amount of acquired water rights with indefinite lives as of June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018 totaled $75 million. The acquired water rights are tested for impairment annually in the third quarter, or whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. U. S. Steel performed a quantitativequalitative impairment evaluation of its acquired water rights during the third quarter of 2017.2018. Based on the results of the evaluation, the water rights were not impaired.





8.    
10.    Pensions and Other Benefits
The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018:
 Pension
Benefits
 Other
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Other
Benefits
(In millions) 2018 2017 2018 2017 2019 2018 2019 2018
Service cost $12
 $12
 $4
 $5
 $11
 $12
 $3
 $4
Interest cost 58
 59
 23
 24
 59
 58
 23
 23
Expected return on plan assets (90) (97) (21) (17) (81) (90) (20) (21)
Amortization of prior service cost 
 
 8
 7
 1
 
 7
 8
Amortization of actuarial net loss 38
 37
 1
 1
 33
 38
 1
 1
Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below 18
 11
 15
 20
 23
 18
 14
 15
Multiemployer plans 15
 14
 
 
 19
 15
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost $33
 $25
 $15
 $20
 $42
 $33
 $14
 $15
The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017:2018:
 Pension
Benefits
 Other
Benefits
 Pension
Benefits
 Other
Benefits
(In millions) 2018 2017 2018 2017 2019 2018 2019 2018
Service cost $25
 $24
 $8
 $9
 $22
 $25
 $6
 $8
Interest cost 116
 118
 46
 47
 119
 116
 46
 46
Expected return on plan assets (180) (194) (41) (33) (162) (180) (40) (41)
Amortization of prior service cost 
 
 15
 14
 1
 
 14
 15
Amortization of actuarial net loss 76
 74
 2
 2
 66
 76
 2
 2
Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below 37
 22
 30
 39
 46
 37
 28
 30
Multiemployer plans 29
 29
 
 
 37
 29
 
 
Settlement, termination and curtailment losses (a)
 
 4
 
 
Net periodic benefit cost $66
 $55
 $30
 $39
 $83
 $66
 $28
 $30
(a) During the first six months of 2017, the non-qualified pension plan incurred settlement charges of approximately $4 million due to lump sum payments for certain individuals.
Employer Contributions
During the first six months of 20182019, U. S. Steel made cash payments of $29$37 million to the Steelworkers’ Pension Trust and $3$4 million of pension payments not funded by trusts.
During the first six months of 20182019, cash payments of $26$20 million were made for other postretirement benefit payments not funded by trusts.
Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $11$12 million and $10$11 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019and2018,and2017, respectively. Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $22 million and $19 million for both the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017, respectively.2018.
9.    11.    Net Interest and Other Financial Costs
Net interest and other financial costs includes interest expense (net of capitalized interest), interest income, financing costs, net periodic benefit costs (other than service costs) related to pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) plans, and foreign currency derivative and remeasurement gains and losses. During the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018, net foreign currency losses of $1 million and gains of $12 million and losses of $11 million, respectively were recorded in other financial costs. During the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, net foreign currency gains of $8$7 million and losses of $16$8 million, respectively, were recorded in other


financial costs. Additionally, during the six months ended June 30, 2018, there was a loss on debt extinguishment recognized of $74 million. There were no debt extinguishment transactions in 2019.


See Note 1415 for additional information on U. S. Steel’s use of derivatives to mitigate its foreign currency exchange rate exposure.


10.    12.    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 2005 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, 2017.. 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, 20182019, there were 10,938,2126,812,857 shares available for future grants under the Omnibus Plan.


Recent grants of stock-based compensation consist of stock options, restricted stock units, total shareholder return (TSR) performance awards and return on capital employed (ROCE) performance awards. Stock options are generally issued at the market priceShares of the underlying stock on the date of the grant. Upon exercise of stock options, shares of U. S. Steel common stock were issued from treasury stock. Beginning in 2018, shares of common stockunder the Omnibus Plan are issued from authorized, but unissued stock. The following table is a general summary of the awards made under the Omnibus Plan during the first six months of 20182019 and 2017. There were no stock options granted during the first six months of 2018.
 2018 2017 2019 2018
Grant Details 
Shares(a)
Fair Value(b)
 
Shares(a)
Fair Value(b)
 
Shares(a)
Fair Value(b)
 
Shares(a)
Fair Value(b)
Stock Options 
$
 632,050
$17.43
Restricted Stock Units 728,945
$41.52
 336,120
$36.59
 1,002,400
$23.78
 728,945
$41.52
Performance Awards (c)
            
TSR 79,190
$61.57
 156,770
$42.45
 210,520
$29.22
 79,190
$61.57
ROCE (d)
 247,510
$43.50
 
$
ROCE 526,140
$23.92
 247,510
$43.50
(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.
(d) The ROCE awards granted in 2017 are not shown in the table above because they were granted in cash.
U. S. Steel recognized pretax stock-based compensation expense in the amount of $10$12 million and $5$10 million in the three-month periods ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $17$20 million and $15$17 million in the first six months of 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively.


As of June 30, 20182019, total future compensation expense related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements was $3836 million, and the weighted average period over which this expense is expected to be recognized is approximately 1 year20 months.

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. The stock options generally vest ratably over a three-year service period and have a term of ten years.

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


TSR performance awards may vest at varying levels at the end of a three-yearthree-year performance period if 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 meets performance criteria established byduring the Committee at the beginning of thethree-year performance period. PerformanceTSR performance awards can vest at between zero and 200 percent of the target award. The fair value of the TSR performance awards is calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation.


ROCE performance awards may vest at the end of a three-year performance period contingent upon meeting the specified ROCE metric established by the Committee at the beginning of the performance period.metric. ROCE performance awards can vest at between zero and 200 percent of the target award. The fair value of the ROCE performance awards is the average market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

For further details about our stock-based compensation incentive plans and stock awards see Note 15 of the United States Steel Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year-ended December 31, 2018.
11.    


13.    Income Taxes
Tax provision
For the six months endedJune 30, 20182019 and 20172018, we recorded a tax provision of $131 million on our pretax earnings of $245123 million and a tax provision of $3$13 million on our pretax earnings of $84$245 million, respectively. IncludedThe tax provision in both periods reflects a benefit for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion from iron ore that we produce and consume or sell. In 2018, the tax provision in the first six months of 2018 isalso reflects a tax benefit for the release of a portion of the domestic valuation allowance due to pretax income. 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.
The tax provision for the first six monthsquarter of 2018 is2019 was based on an estimated annual effective rate, which requires management to make its best estimate of annual pretax income or loss.
During For the year, management regularly updates forecastedquarter ended June 30, 2019, the Company computed its tax benefit using a discrete period effective tax rate, which reflects the actual taxes attributable to year-to-date earnings and losses, because we determined that a reliable estimate of the expected annual effective tax rate could not be made. A small change in our estimated marginal pretax results for the various countriesyear ended December 31, 2019 could create a large change in which we operate based on changesthe expected annual effective tax rate. The sensitivity of the effective tax rate was increased by the benefit for percentage depletion in factors such as prices, shipments, product mix, plant operating performance andexcess of cost estimates. To the extent that actual 2018 pretax resultsdepletion for U.S. and foreign income or loss vary from estimates applied herein, the actual tax provision or benefit recognized in 2018 could be materially different from the forecasted amount used to estimate the tax provision for the six months endedJune 30, 2018.iron ore.
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 the deferred tax asset may not be realized.
 
At June 30, 2018,2019, U. S. Steel reviewed all available positive and negative evidence and determined that it is more likely than not that all of its netcertain 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 taking into consideration, among other items, the uncertainty regarding the Company's continued ability to generate domestic income in the near term. 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 ASCAccounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 740 on income taxes. As of June 30, 2018,2019, and December 31, 2017,2018, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $41$34 millionand $42$35 million, respectively. The total amount of net unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $7$2 millionas of both June 30, 20182019 and $6 millionas ofDecember 31, 2017.2018.
U. S. Steel records interest related to uncertain tax positions as a part of net interest and other financial costs in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Any penalties are recognized as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. As of both June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018, U. S. Steel had accrued liabilities of $6$2 millionfor interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
It is reasonably expected that during the next 12 months unrecognized tax benefits related to income tax positions will decrease by approximately $32 million.


12.    14.    Earnings and Dividends Per Common Share
Earnings Per Share Attributable to United States Steel Corporation Stockholders
Basic earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings 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 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) 2019 2018 2019 2018
Earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders $68
 $214
 $122
 $232
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands): 
 
 
 
Basic 171,992
 177,027
 172,613
 176,594
Effect of stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards 520
 1,876
 862
 1,891
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 172,512
 178,903
 173,475
 178,485
Basic earnings per common share $0.39
 $1.21
 $0.71
 $1.32
Diluted earnings per common share $0.39
 $1.20
 $0.70
 $1.30
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 2018 2017 2018 2017
Earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders $214
 $261
 $232
 $81
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands): 
 
 
 
Basic 177,027
 174,797
 176,594
 174,521
Effect of stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards 1,876
 1,231
 1,891
 1,798
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 178,903
 176,028
 178,485
 176,319
Basic earnings per common share $1.21
 $1.49
 $1.32
 $0.46
Diluted earnings per common share $1.20
 $1.48
 $1.30
 $0.46

The following table summarizes the securities that were antidilutive, and therefore, were not included in the computations of diluted earnings per common share:
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands) 2019 2018 2019 2018
Securities granted under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended 3,758
 1,832
 3,430
 1,572
  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands) 2018 2017 2018 2017
Securities granted under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended 1,832
 3,538
 1,572
 1,669

Dividends Paid Per Share
The dividend for each of the first and second quarters of 20182019 and 20172018 was five cents per common share.


13.    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 inventory costing method in Europe. At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the LIFO method accounted for 73 percent and 75 percent of total inventory values, respectively.
(In millions) June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Raw materials $556
 $527
Semi-finished products 832
 796
Finished products 404
 356
Supplies and sundry items 56
 59
Total $1,848
 $1,738
Current acquisition costs were estimated to exceed the above inventory values by $846 million and $802 million at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. As a result of the liquidation of LIFO inventories, cost


of sales decreased and earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes increased by $2 million and less than $1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively. Cost of sales decreased and earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes increased by $7 million and $1 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, as a result of liquidation of LIFO inventories.
Inventory includes $40 million and $42 million of land held for residential/commercial development as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
14.    15.    Derivative Instruments
U. S. Steel is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks in our European operations. USSE’s revenues are primarily in euros and costs are primarily in euros and U.S. dollars. U. S. Steel uses foreign exchange forward sales contracts (foreign exchange forwards) 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 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. U. S. Steel hasdid not electeddesignate euro foreign exchange forwards entered into prior to designate these contractsJuly 1, 2019, as hedges. Therefore,hedges; therefore, changes in their fair value arewere recognized immediately in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.Operations (mark-to-market accounting). For those contracts, U. S. Steel will continue to recognize changes in fair value immediately through earnings until the contracts mature. U. S. Steel elected cash flow hedge accounting for euro foreign exchange forwards prospectively effective July 1, 2019. Accordingly, future gains and losses for euro foreign exchange forwards entered into after July 1, 2019 will be recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) until the related contract impacts earnings. We mitigate the risk of concentration of counterparty credit risk by purchasing our forwards from several counterparties.
From timeIn 2018, U. S. Steel entered into long-term freight contracts in its domestic operations that require payment in Canadian dollars (CAD). We entered into foreign exchange forward contracts with remaining maturities up to time 17 months to exchange USD for CAD to mitigate a portion of the related risk of exchange rate fluctuations and to manage our currency requirements. We elected to designate these contracts as cash flow hedges.
U. S. Steel may use fixed-price forward physical purchase contracts to partially manage our exposure to price risk related to the purchases of natural gas, zinc and tin used in the production process. Generally, forward physical purchase contracts qualify for the normal purchase and normal sales exceptions described in ASC Topic 815 and are not subject to mark-to-market accounting. U. S. Steel also uses financial swaps to protect from the commodity price risk associated with purchases of natural gas, zinc and tin (commodity purchase swaps). CommodityWe elected cash flow hedge accounting for domestic commodity purchase swaps did not have a significant impact on the Company's financial results and were classified as cash flow hedges in prior periods (their impacts are includeduse mark-to-market accounting for commodity purchase swaps used in our expanded tabular disclosure below). Effective January 1, 2018, U. S. Steel adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted ImprovementsEuropean operations.


From time to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The cumulative effect of the adoption of ASU 2017-12 was not material to U. S. Steel'stime, we enter into financial results. See Note 3 for additional information on the recently adopted accounting standard.
Financial swaps that are also used to partially manage the sales price of certain hot-rolled coil and iron ore pellet sales (sales swaps). In prior periods, we did not electWe elected cash flow hedge accounting for these financial swaps and changes in their fair value were immediately recognized in earnings. Effective January 1, 2018, U. S. Steel elected to designate its hot-rolled coil sales swaps as cash flow hedges. See the tabular disclosure beloweffective January 1, 2018 and for further details.iron ore pellet sales swaps effective January 1, 2019.
In accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 820 on fair value measurements and disclosures, the fair value of our foreign exchange forwards, commodity purchase swaps and sales swaps was determined using Level 2 inputs, which are defined as "significant other observable" inputs. The inputs used are from market sources that aggregate data based upon market transactions.
The table below shows the outstanding swap quantities used to hedge forecasted purchases and sales as of June 30, 20182019 and June 30, 2017:2018:
Hedge ContractsClassification June 30, 2019 June 30, 2018
Natural gas (in mmbtus)Commodity purchase swaps 64,354,000
 13,845,000
Tin (in metric tons)Commodity purchase swaps 990
 705
Zinc (in metric tons)Commodity purchase swaps 13,942
 13,468
Hot-rolled coils (in tons)Sales swaps 
 60,000
Foreign currency (in millions of euros)Foreign exchange forwards 301
 266
Foreign currency (in millions of CAD)Foreign exchange forwards C$40
 C$
Hedge ContractsClassification June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017
Natural gas (in mmbtus)Commodity purchase swaps 13,845,000
 7,756,000
Tin (in metric tons)Commodity purchase swaps 705
 480
Zinc (in metric tons)Commodity purchase swaps 13,468
 41,790
Hot-rolled coils (in tons)Sales swaps 60,000
 138,000
Foreign currency (in thousands of dollars)Foreign exchange forwards $324,000
 $216,000

The following summarizes the fair value amounts included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017:


2018:
(In millions) Designated as Hedging InstrumentsBalance Sheet Location June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
Sales swapsAccounts payable $
 $1
Commodity purchase swapsAccounts receivable 2
 2
Commodity purchase swapsAccounts payable 11
 17
Commodity purchase swapsInvestments and long-term receivables 2
 
Commodity purchase swapsOther long-term liabilities 5
 1
Foreign exchange forwardsAccounts payable 
 1
Foreign exchange forwardsOther long-term liabilities 
 1
      
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments     
Foreign exchange forwardsAccounts receivable 6
 12
Foreign exchange forwardsAccounts payable 1
 
(In millions) Designated as Hedging InstrumentsBalance Sheet Location June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Sales swapsAccounts payable $12
 $
Commodity purchase swapsAccounts receivable 1
 4
Commodity purchase swapsAccounts payable 8
 2
Commodity purchase swapsInvestments and long-term receivables 
 1
Commodity purchase swapsOther long-term liabilities 1
 1
      
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments     
Sales swapsAccounts payable 
 2
Commodity purchase swapsAccounts payable 
 1
Foreign exchange forwardsAccounts receivable 11
 
Foreign exchange forwardsAccounts payable 
 11

The table below summarizes the effect of hedge accounting on Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)AOCI and amounts reclassified from AOCI into earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017:2018:
 Gain (Loss) on Derivatives in AOCI Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in IncomeGain (Loss) on Derivatives in AOCI Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
(In millions) Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 
Location of Reclassification from AOCI (a)
 Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Three Months Ended June 30, 2017Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 
Location of Reclassification from AOCI (a)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019 Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
Sales swaps (b)
 $(3) $
 Net sales $(3) $
$
 $(3) Net sales$
 $(3)
Commodity purchase swaps 
 (3) 
Cost of sales (c)
 (2) (4)(15) 
 
Cost of sales (c)
(6) (2)
Foreign exchange forwards1
 
 Cost of sales
 
(a) The earnings impact of our hedging instruments substantially offsets the earnings impact of the related hedged items since ineffectiveness is less than $1 million.
(b) U. S. Steel has elected hedge accounting prospectively for hot-rolled coiliron ore pellet sales swaps prospectively on January 1, 2018.2019.
(c) Costs for commodity purchase swaps are recognized in cost of sales as products are sold.


 Gain (Loss) on Derivatives in AOCI Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income Gain (Loss) on Derivatives in AOCI Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
(In millions) Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 
Location of Reclassification from AOCI (a)
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 
Location of Reclassification from AOCI (a)
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Sales swaps (b)
 $(12) $
 Net sales $(3) $
 $1
 $(12) Net sales $(1) $(3)
Commodity purchase swaps (7) (3) 
Cost of sales (c)
 1
 (3) 3
 (7) 
Cost of sales (c)
 (10) 1
Foreign exchange forwards 1
 
 Cost of sales 
 
(a) The earnings impact of our hedging instruments substantially offsets the earnings impact of the related hedged items since ineffectiveness is less than $1 million.
(b) U. S. Steel has elected hedge accounting prospectively for hot-rolled coiliron ore pellet sales swaps prospectively on January 1, 2018.2019.
(c) Costs for commodity purchase swaps are recognized in cost of sales as products are sold.
The table below summarizes the impact of derivative activityFor euro foreign exchange forward derivatives where hedge accounting haswas not been elected, on our Consolidated Statementsthere were losses of Operations for$2 million and gains of $19 million in the three and six monthsthree-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 2017:



   Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
(In millions)Consolidated Statement of Operations Location Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Sales swaps (a)
Net sales $
 $(2)
Foreign exchange forwardsOther financial costs 19
 (11)
(a) U. S. Steel has electedgains of $7 million and $13 million in the first six months of 2019 and 2018, respectively, recognized in other financial costs. There were no other material impacts for derivatives where hedge accounting for hot-rolled coil sales swaps prospectively on January 1, 2018.was not elected.
   Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income
(In millions)Consolidated Statement of Operations Location Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Sales swaps (a)
Net sales $
 $2
Commodity purchase swapsCost of sales 
 3
Foreign exchange forwardsOther financial costs 13
 (13)
(a) U. S. Steel has elected hedge accounting for hot-rolled coil sales swaps prospectively on January 1, 2018.


At current contract values, $7 million and $12$9 million currently in AOCI as of June 30, 20182019 will be recognized as an increase in cost of sales and a decrease in net sales, respectively, over the next year as related hedged items are recognized in earnings. The maximum derivative contract duration for commodity purchase swaps is two years and the maximum duration29 months. There are no outstanding contracts for sales swaps is one year.swaps.
15.    16.    Debt
(In millions) 
Interest
Rates %
 Maturity June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
2037 Senior Notes 6.650 2037 $350
 $350
2026 Senior Notes 6.250 2026 650
 650
2025 Senior Notes 6.875 2025 750
 750
Environmental Revenue Bonds 5.750 - 6.875 2019 - 2042 400
 400
Fairfield Caster Lease   2022 21
 22
Other finance leases and all other obligations   2019 - 2029 41
 6
Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Variable 2023 
 
USSK Credit Agreement Variable 2023 228
 229
USSK credit facilities Variable 2021 
 
Total Debt     2,440
 2,407
Less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs     25
 26
Less short-term debt and long-term debt due within one year     70
 65
Long-term debt     $2,345
 $2,316
(In millions) 
Interest
Rates %
 Maturity June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
2037 Senior Notes 6.650 2037 $350
 $350
2026 Senior Notes 6.250 2026 650
 
2025 Senior Notes 6.875 2025 750
 750
2021 Senior Secured Notes 8.375 2021 
 780
2020 Senior Notes 7.375 2020 401
 432
Environmental Revenue Bonds 5.750 - 6.875 2019 - 2042 400
 400
Fairfield Caster Lease   2022 23
 24
Other capital leases and all other obligations   2019 1
 1
Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Variable 2023 
 
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Variable 2020 
 
USSK Credit Agreement Variable 2021 
 
USSK credit facilities Variable 2018 
 
Total Debt     2,575
 2,737
Less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs     30
 34
Less short-term debt and long-term debt due within one year     4
 3
Long-term debt     $2,541
 $2,700



To the extent not otherwise discussed below, information concerning the senior notes and other listed obligations can be found in Note 1617 of the audited financial statements in the United States Steel Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Senior Note Repurchases
During the three months ended June 30, 2018, U. S. Steel repurchased approximately $31 million of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2020 (2020 Senior Notes) at a weighted average price of 106.946 percent of par through a series of open market purchases. Additionally, in July 2018, U. S. Steel repurchased an additional $44 million of its 2020 Senior Notes at a weighted average price of 107.234 percent of par.
Senior Secured Note Tender and Redemption
In March 2018, pursuant to a cash tender offer, U. S. Steel repurchased approximately $499 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 8.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (2021 Senior Secured Notes). The aggregate cash outflow from the tender was approximately $538 million, which included $39 million in premiums. The remaining approximately $281 million aggregate principal amount of 2021 Senior Secured Notes were redeemed on April 12, 2018. The aggregate cash flow from the redemption was $302 million, which included $21 million in premiums.
Issuance of Senior Notes due 2026
In March 2018, U. S. Steel issued $650 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% Senior Notes due March 15, 2026 (2026 Senior Notes). U. S. Steel received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $640 million after fees of approximately $10 million related to the underwriting and third-party expenses. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 Senior Notes, together with cash on hand, were used to tender or otherwise redeem all of our 2021 Senior Secured Notes as discussed above.

The 2026 Senior Notes are senior and unsecured obligations that rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future senior and unsecured indebtedness. U. S. Steel will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on March 15th and September 15th of each year, commencing on September 15, 2018.

Similar to our other senior notes, the indenture governing the 2026 Senior Notes restricts our ability to create certain liens, to enter into sale leaseback transactions and to consolidate, merge, transfer or sell all, or substantially all of our assets. It also contains provisions requiring the purchase of the 2026 Senior Notes upon a change of control under certain specified circumstances, as well as other customary provisions.

U. S. Steel may redeem the 2026 Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at our option at any time, or from time to time, on or after March 15, 2021 at the redemption price for such notes set forth below as a percentage of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding the redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning March 15 of the years indicated below:

YearRedemption Price
2021103.125%
2022101.563%
2023 and thereafter100.000%

At any time prior to March 15, 2021, U. S. Steel may also redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Senior Notes at 106.25%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, but excluding the applicable date of redemption, with proceeds from equity offerings.


Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
On February 26, 2018, U. S. Steel entered intoAs of June 30, 2019, there were no amounts drawn under the $1.5 billion Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Credit Facility Agreement), replacing the Company's Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Credit Facility Agreement maintains the facility size of $1.5 billion and extends the maturity date to 2023.

As of June 30, 2018, there were no amounts drawn under the $1.5 billion Credit Facility Agreement.. U. S. Steel must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent four consecutive quarters when availability under the Credit Facility 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, 2018,2019, we would 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 Credit Facility 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 Credit Facility Agreement expires in February 2023. 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 Credit Facility Agreement. Borrowings are secured by liens on certain North American inventory and trade accounts receivable.

The Credit Facility Agreement permits incurrence of additional secured debt up to 17.5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
U. S. Steel Košice (USSK) credit facilities
At June 30, 20182019, USSK had no borrowings of €200 million (approximately $228 million) under its €200€460 million (approximately $233 million)$524 million) unsecured revolving credit facility (the USSK Credit Agreement).facility. The USSK Credit Agreement contains certain USSK financial covenants, including a maximum Leverage, maximum Net Debtnet debt to Tangible Net Worth,EBITDA ratio and a minimum Interest Coverage ratios as defined in the USSK Credit Agreement.stockholders' equity to assets ratio. The covenants are measured semi-annually for the period covering the last twelve calendar months.months and calculated as set forth in the USSK Credit Agreement. If USSK does not comply with the USSK Credit Agreement financial covenants, it may not draw on the USSK Credit Agreement if it does not comply with any of the financial covenantsfacility until the next measurement date.date, outstanding borrowings may be accelerated, or the margin on outstanding borrowings may be increased. At June 30, 2018,2019, USSK had full availability of €260 million (approximately $296 million) under the USSK Credit Agreement. The USSK Credit Agreement expires in July 2021.
At June 30, 2018,2019, USSK had no borrowings under its €40€20 million and €10 million unsecured credit facilities (collectively, approximately $58$34 million) and the availability was approximately $57$33 million due to approximately $1 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding. The €40 million credit facility expires in December 2018. Currently, the €10 million credit facility also expires in December 2018, but can be extended one additional year 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.
Change in control event
If there is a change in control of U. S. Steel, the following may occur: (a) debt obligations totaling $2,151$1,978 million as of June 30, 20182019 may be declared due and payable; (b) the Credit Facility Agreement and the USSK credit facilities may be terminated and any amounts outstanding declared due and payable; and (c) U. S. Steel may be required to either purchase the leased Fairfield Works slab caster for approximately $2421 million or provide a letter of credit to secure the remaining obligation.
16.    17.    Asset Retirement Obligations
U. S. Steel’s asset retirement obligations (AROs) primarily relate to mine, landfill closure and post-closure costs. The following table reflects changes in the carrying values of AROs:
(In millions) June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018 
Balance at beginning of year $60
 $69
 
Obligations settled (4) (12) 
Accretion expense 1
 3
 
Balance at end of period $57
 $60
 
(In millions) June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 
Balance at beginning of year $69
 $79
 
Obligations settled (2) (8) 
Change in estimate of obligations


(6)
Foreign currency translation effects 
 2
 
Accretion expense 1
 2
 
Balance at end of period $68
 $69
 

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.


17.    18.    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 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet approximate fair value. See Note 1415 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 liabilities that were not carried at fair value at June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018.
 June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
(In millions) Fair
Value
 Carrying
Amount
 Fair
Value
 Carrying
Amount
 Fair
Value
 Carrying
Amount
 Fair
Value
 Carrying
Amount
Financial liabilities: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt (a)
 $2,567
 $2,517
 $2,851
 $2,678
 $2,160
 $2,298
 $2,182
 $2,353
(a) Excludes capitalfinance 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 22.





18.    
19.    Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity


The following table reflects the first six months of 20182019 and 20172018 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, 2018 (In millions) Total Retained Earnings Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 Common
Stock
 Treasury
Stock
 Paid-in
Capital
 Non-
Controlling
Interest
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 (In millions) Total Retained Earnings Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 Common
Stock
 Treasury
Stock
 Paid-in
Capital
 Non-
Controlling
Interest
Balance at beginning of year $3,321
 $133
 $(845) $176
 $(76) $3,932
 $1
 $4,203
 $1,212
 $(1,026) $177
 $(78) $3,917
 $1
Comprehensive income (loss): 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings 232
 232
 
 
 
 
 
 54
 54
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and other benefit adjustments 93
 
 93
 
 
 
 
 32
 
 32
 
 
 
 
Currency translation adjustment (47) 
 (47) 
 
 
 
 (17) 
 (17) 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments (19)   (19)         15
   15
        
Employee stock plans 44
 
 
 1
 75
 (32) 
 2
 
 
 1
 (6) 7
 
Common stock repurchased (42) 

 

 
 (42) 

 

Dividends paid on common stock (18) (18) 
 
 
 
 
 (9) (9) 
 
 
 
 
Balance at June 30, 2018 $3,606
 $347
 $(818) $177
 $(1) $3,900
 $1
Cumulative effect upon adoption of lease accounting standard (2) (2) 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2019 4,236
 1,255
 (996) 178
 (126) 3,924
 1
Comprehensive income (loss): 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings 68
 68
 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and other benefit adjustments 32
 

 32
 

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustment 12
 

 12
 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (11) 

 (11) 

 

 

 

Employee stock plans 12
 

 

 1
 (1) 12
 

Common stock repurchased (28) 

 

 

 (28) 

 

Dividends paid on common stock (9) (9) 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2019 $4,312
 $1,314
 $(963) $179
 $(155) $3,936
 $1



Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (In millions) Total Retained Earnings Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
 Common
Stock
 Treasury
Stock
 Paid-in
Capital
 Non-
Controlling
Interest
Balance at beginning of year $3,321
 $133
 $(845) $176
 $(76) $3,932
 $1
Comprehensive income (loss): 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings 18
 18
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and other benefit adjustments 46
 
 46
 
 
 
 
Currency translation adjustment 40
 
 40
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments (16)   (16)        
Employee stock plans 39
 
 
 1
 75
 (37) 
Dividends paid on common stock (9) (9) 
 
 
 

 
Balance at March 31, 2018 3,439
 142
 (775) 177
 (1) 3,895
 1
Comprehensive income (loss): 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings 214
 214
 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and other benefit adjustments 47
 

 47
 

 

 

 

Currency translation adjustment (87) 

 (87) 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (3) 

 (3) 

 

 

 

Employee stock plans 5
 

 

 


 


 5
 

Dividends paid on common stock (9) (9) 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2018 $3,606
 $347
 $(818) $177
 $(1) $3,900
 $1


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 (loss), net of tax: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pension and other benefit adjustments 92
 
 92
 
 
 
 
Currency translation adjustment 105
 
 105
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments (3)   (3)        
Employee stock plans 19
 
 
 
 86
 (67) 
Dividends paid on common stock (18) 

 
 
 
 (18) 
Other 4
 4
 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2017 $2,555
 $(165) $(1,303) $176
 $(96) $3,942
 $1




19.    20.    Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)
(In millions) (a)
 Pension and
Other Benefit
Items
 Foreign
Currency
Items
 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Total Pension and
Other Benefit
Items
 Foreign
Currency
Items
 Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 $(1,309) $463
 $1
 $(845)
Balance at December 31, 2018 $(1,416) $403
 $(13) $(1,026)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 186
 (47) (18) 121
 1
 (5) 15
 11
Amounts reclassified from AOCI (b)(a)
 (93) 
 (1) (94) 63
 
 (11) 52
Net current-period other comprehensive income 93
 (47) (19) 27
 64
 (5) 4
 63
Balance at June 30, 2019 $(1,352) $398
 $(9) $(963)
        
Balance at December 31, 2017 $(1,309) $463
 $1
 $(845)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications (b)
 
 (47) (18) (65)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI (a)(b)
 93
 
 (1) 92
Net current-period other comprehensive income 93
 (47) (19) 27
Balance at June 30, 2018 $(1,216) $416
 $(18) $(818) $(1,216) $416
 $(18) $(818)
(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.
(b)The Company previously disclosed in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018, an increase to AOCI of $186 million in the Other comprehensive income before reclassifications line item and a decrease to AOCI of $93 million in the Amounts reclassified from AOCI line item for the six months ended June 30, 2018 amounts for Pension and Other Benefit Items. These amounts should have been disclosed as zero and an increase to AOCI of $93 million, respectively, which have been corrected in the table above. The Company concluded that the errors were not material to the financial statements of any prior annual or interim period and therefore, amendments of previously filed reports are not required. The revision had no impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows or the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). Quarterly periods not presented herein will be revised, as applicable, in future filings.
   Amount reclassified from AOCI
   Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions) (a)
Details about AOCI components 2018 2017 2018 2017
 Amortization of pension and other benefit items        
 
Prior service costs (b)
 $(8) $(7) $(15) $(14)
 
Actuarial losses (b)
 (39) (38) (78) (76)
 
      Settlement, termination and curtailment losses (b)
 
 
 
 (4)
 Total pensions and other benefits items (47) (45) (93) (94)
 Derivative reclassifications to Consolidated Statements of Operations 2
 
 (1) 
 Total before tax (45) (45) (94) (94)
 
Tax benefit (c)
 
 
 
 
 Net of tax $(45) $(45) $(94) $(94)
   
Amount reclassified from AOCI (c)
   Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)Details about AOCI components 2019 2018 2019 2018
 Amortization of pension and other benefit items        
 
Prior service costs (a)
 $8
 $8
 $15
 $15
 
Actuarial losses (a)
 34
 39
 68
 78
 Total pensions and other benefits items 42
 47
 83
 93
 Derivative reclassifications to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (1) 2
 (14) (1)
 Total before tax 41
 49
 69
 92
 
Tax provision (b)
 (10) 
 (17) 
 Net of tax $31
 $49
 $52
 $92
(a)Amounts in parentheses indicate decreases in AOCI.
(b)These AOCI components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 810 for additional details).
(c)(b)Amounts in 2018 do not reflect a tax benefitprovision as a result of a full valuation allowance on our domestic deferred tax assets.
(c)The corrections noted in footnote (b) to the table above are consistently reflected in this table.
20.    21.    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, but before the sale to an affiliate of Bedrock Industries Group LLC (Bedrock) on June 30, 2017.investees. Generally, transactions are conducted under long-term contractual arrangements. Related party sales and service transactions were $370 million and $367 million and $357 million for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018, respectively and $695$745 million and $670$695 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively.


Purchases from related parties for outside processing services provided by equity investees and USSC after the CCAA filing on September 16, 2014, but before the sale to Bedrock, amounted to $7 million and $8 million and $41 million for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018, respectively and $15$16 million and $55$15 million for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. Purchases of iron ore pellets from related parties amounted to $25$31 millionand$4425 million for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $42$51 million and $80$42 million for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017.2018.
Accounts payable to related parties include balances due to PRO-TEC Coating Company, LLC (PRO-TEC) of $90114 million and $7280 million at June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018, respectively for invoicing and receivables collection services provided by U. S. Steel on PRO-TEC's behalf. U. S. Steel, as PRO-TEC’s exclusive sales agent, is responsible for credit risk related to those receivables. U. S. Steel also provides PRO-TEC marketing, selling and customer service functions. Payables to other related parties totaled $23 million and $1 million at both June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017.



2018, respectively.
21. Restructuring and Other Charges

Restructuring charges recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2018 were immaterial. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of $16 million.
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 environmental costs and Company-wide headcount reductions. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of $17 million.
Charges for restructuring and ongoing cost reduction initiatives are recorded in the period U. S. Steel 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, 2018 were as follows:
  Employee Related Exit 
(in millions) Costs Costs Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 $4
 $34
 $38
Cash payments/utilization (2) (14) (16)
Balance at June 30, 2018 $2
 $20
 $22

Accrued liabilities for restructuring and other cost reduction programs are included in the following balance sheet lines:
(in millions) June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Accounts payable $12
 $26
Payroll and benefits payable 2
 4
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities 8
 8
Total $22
 $38

22.    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 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. However, management believes that U. S. Steel will remain a viable and competitive enterprise even though it is possible that these contingencies could be resolved unfavorably.
U. S. Steel accrues for estimated costs related to existing lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that it will incur these costs in the future and the costs are reasonably estimable.
Asbestos matters As of June 30, 20182019, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 760777 active cases involving approximately 2,3002,360 plaintiffs. The vast majority of these cases involve multiple defendants. At December 31, 2017, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 820 cases involving approximately 3,315 plaintiffs. As of June 30, 2018, about About 1,540,, or approximately 6765 percent,, of these plaintiff claims are currently pending in jurisdictions which permit filings with massive numbers of plaintiffs. At December 31, 2018, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 755 cases involving approximately 2,320 plaintiffs. Based upon U. S. Steel’s experience in such cases, we believeit 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.


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
(a)
 New Claims Closing
Number
of Claims
December 31, 2016 3,315 225 250 3,340
December 31, 2017 3,340 275 250 3,315
December 31, 2018 3,315 1,285 290 2,320
June 30, 2019 2,320 100 140 2,360
Period ended Opening
Number
of Claims
 
Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved
(a)
 New
Claims
 Closing
Number
of Claims
December 31, 2015 3,455 415 275 3,315
December 31, 2016 3,315 225 250 3,340
December 31, 2017 3,340 275 250 3,315
June 30, 2018 3,315 1,160 145 2,300
(a) The period ending June 30,December 31, 2018 includes approximately 1,000 dismissed cases previously pending in the State of Texas.
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.
Further, U. S. Steel does not believe that an accrual for unasserted claims is required. At any given reporting date, it is probable that there are unasserted claims that will be filed against the Company in the future. In 2018, the Company engaged an outside valuation consultant to assist in assessing its ability to estimate an accrual


for unasserted claims. This assessment was based on the Company's settlement experience, including recent claims trends. The analysis focused on settlements made over the last several years as these claims are likely to best represent future claim characteristics. After review by the valuation consultant and U. S. Steel management, it was determined that the Company could not estimate an accrual for unasserted 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.condition.
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, 2019
Beginning of period$187
Accruals for environmental remediation deemed probable and reasonably estimable2
Obligations settled(7)
End of period$182
(In millions)Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Beginning of period$179
Accruals for environmental remediation deemed probable and reasonably estimable2
Obligations settled(2)
End of period$179

Accrued liabilities for remediation activities are included in the following Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet lines:
(In millions) June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
Accounts payable $38
 $37
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities 144
 150
Total $182
 $187

(In millions) June 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Accounts payable $30
 $29
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities 149
 150
Total $179
 $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, 20182019 and June 30, 2017.2018. 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 ZincGary Works and the former steelmaking plant at Joliet, Illinois. As of June 30, 2018,2019, accrued liabilities for these projects totaled $1$3 million for the costs of studies, investigations, interim measures, design and/or remediation. It is reasonably possible that additional liabilities associated with future requirements regarding studies, investigations, design and remediation for these projects could be as much as $30 million to $50$45 million.


(2)
Significant Projects with Defined Scope - Projects with significant accrued liabilities with a defined scope. As of June 30, 2018,2019, there are threefour significant projects with defined scope greater than or equal to $5 million each, with a total accrued liability of $135$138 million. These projects are Gary Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (accrued liability of $26$25 million), the former Geneva facility (accrued liability of $62$58 million), the Cherryvale zinc site (accrued liability of $10 million) and the former Duluth facility St. Louis River Estuary (accrued liability of $47$45 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, 20182019 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 each have an accrued liability of less than $1 million each. The total accrued liability for these projects at June 30, 20182019 was approximately $65 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 $22 million at June 30, 20182019 and were based on known scopes of work.
Administrative and Legal Costs – As of June 30, 20182019, U. S. Steel had an accrued liability of $89 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 compliancecomply with various regulations, laws and other requirements relating to the environment. In both the first six months of 20182019 and 2017,2018, such capital expenditures totaled $33$30 million. and $33 million, respectively. U. S. Steel anticipates making additional such expenditures in the future;future, which may be material; however, the exact amounts and timing of such expenditures are uncertain because of the continuing evolution of specific regulatory requirements.
EU Environmental Requirements - Under the EmissionEmissions Trading Scheme (ETS), USSK's final allocation of free allowances for the Phase III period, which covers the years 2013 through 2020 is 48 million allowances. We estimate a shortfall of approximately 1614 million allowances for the Phase III period. Based on projected futuretotal production levels, we started to purchase allowances in the third quarter of 2017 to meet the annual compliance submission in the future. As of June 30, 2018,2019, we have purchased approximately 912 million European Union Allowances totaling €76€132 million (approximately $89$150 million). However, due to a number of variables such as the future market value of allowances, future production levels and future emissions intensity levels, we cannot reliably estimate the full cost of complying with the ETS regulations at this time.
The EU’s Industry EmissionIndustrial Emissions Directive requires implementation of EU determined best available techniques (BAT) for Iron and Steel production to reduce environmental impacts as well as compliance with BAT associated emission levels. Our most recent broad estimate of likely totalfuture capital expenditures for projects to comply with or go beyond the BAT requirements for the 2017 to 2020 program period is €138 million (approximately $161 million). During 2017, USSK expended €2 million (approximately $1$157 million) toward the total estimated capital expenditures. Applications have been approved to receive EU grants to fund a portion of the total estimated


capital expenditures forover the 2017 to 2020 program period. The actual amount spent will depend largely upon the amount of EU incentive grants received. In order to receive full grant amountsThese costs may be mitigated if USSK is required to complycomplies with certain financial covenants, which are assessed annually. USSK complied with these covenants as of June 30, 2018.2019. If we are unable to meet these covenants in the future, USSK might be required to provide additional collateral (e.g. bank guarantee) to secure the full value of estimated expenditures. There could 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 in the development stage.
Environmental indemnifications – Throughout its history, U. S. Steel has sold numerous properties and businesses and many of these sales included indemnifications and cost sharing agreements related to the assets that were divested. These indemnifications and cost sharing agreements have included provisions related to the condition of the property, the approved use, certain representations and warranties, matters of title, and
environmental matters. While most of these provisions have not specifically dealt with environmental issues, there have been transactions in which U. S. Steel indemnified the buyer for clean-up or remediation costs relating to the business sold or its then existing conditions or past practices related to non-compliance with environmental laws. Most of the recent indemnification and cost sharing agreements are of a limited nature, only applying to non-compliance with past and/or current laws. Some indemnifications and cost sharing


agreements only run for a specified period of time after the transactions close and others run indefinitely. In addition, current owners or operators of property formerly owned or operated by U. S. Steel may have common law claims and cost recovery and contribution rights against U. S. Steel related to environmental matters. The amount of potential claimsenvironmental liability associated with these transactions and properties is not estimable due to the nature and extent of the unknown conditions related to the properties divested and deconsolidated. Aside from the Slovak Government for repaymentenvironmental liabilities already recorded as a result of a portion of the grant funds received.
Duethese transactions due to other EU legislation, BAT for Large Combustion Plants (LCP), we are required to make changes to the boilers at our steamspecific environmental remediation activities and power generation plant in order to comply with stricter air emission limits for large combustion plants. The requirements for LCP resultedcases (included in the construction$182 million of a new boileraccrued liabilities for remediation discussed above), there are no other known probable and certain upgradesestimable environmental liabilities related 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 emissions ceilings for each category of emissions (total suspended particulate, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxide (NOx)). The allowable amount of discharged emissions from existing boilers will decrease each year until mid-2020. These projects will result in a reduction in electricity, emissions, and operating, maintenance and waste disposal costs once completed. The construction of the new boiler is complete with a total final installed cost of €75 million (approximately $87 million). Reconstruction of the existing boiler is also complete with a total cost of approximately €52 million (approximately $61 million). The reconstructed boiler was put into operation on May 30, 2018 and final inspection is expected to be completed in October 2018. 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.these transactions.
Guarantees – The maximum guarantees of the indebtedness of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $4 million at June 30, 20182019.
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 $1219 million at June 30, 20182019). 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 $174180 million as of June 30, 20182019, 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 theour Credit Facility 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 $4131 million and $4440 million at June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018, respectively.
Capital Commitments At June 30, 20182019, U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $604820 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 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Later
Years
 Total
$358 $554 $390 $322 $317 $717 $2,658

Remainder of 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Later
Years
 Total
$296 $579 $480 $309 $300 $1,166 $3,130


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 1516 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, 20182019, if U. S. Steel were to terminate the agreement, it may be obligated to pay in excess of $173127 million.
Total payments relating to unconditional purchase obligations were $168 million and $146 million and $151 million for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018, respectively, and $307$326 million and $292$307 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively.
23.    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.
24.    Significant Equity Investments


Summarized unaudited income statement information for our significant equity investments for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018 is reported below (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information):



(In millions) 2018 2017 2019 2018
Net sales $571
 $533
 $648
 $571
Cost of sales 511
 468
 559
 511
Operating income 38
 43
 64
 38
Net earnings 33
 38
 58
 33
Net earnings attributable to significant equity investments 33
 38
 58
 33



U. S. Steel's portion of the equity in net earnings of the significant equity investments above was $18$30 million and $20$18 million for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, which is included in the earnings from investees line on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

24.    Common Stock Repurchase Program
In November 2018, U. S. Steel announced a two year common stock repurchase program that allows for the repurchase of up to $300 million of its outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market or privately negotiated transactions at the discretion of management. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, U. S. Steel repurchased 3,964,191 shares of common stock for approximately $70 million. As of June 30, 2019, there is approximately $155 million remaining under the share repurchase authorization.

25.    Equity Investee Transactions

On May 31, 2018, U. S. Steel assigned its equity ownership interest in Leeds Retail Center, LLC and recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $18 million.





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, 20182019 and 20172018 are set forth in the following table:
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
   Six Months Ended June 30,   Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
   Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars in millions, excluding intersegment sales) 2018 2017 
%
Change
 2018 2017 
%
Change
 2019 2018 
%
Change
 2019 2018 
%
Change
Flat-Rolled Products (Flat-Rolled) $2,435
 $2,151
 13 % $4,482
 $4,016
 12 % $2,539
 $2,435
 4 % $4,944
 $4,482
 10 %
U. S. Steel Europe (USSE) 848
 740
 15 % 1,671
 1,413
 18 % 678
 848
 (20)% 1,415
 1,671
 (15)%
Tubular Products (Tubular) 309
 234
 32 % 575
 405
 42 % 316
 309
 2 % 659
 575
 15 %
Total sales from reportable segments 3,592
 3,125
 15 % 6,728
 5,834
 15 % 3,533
 3,592
 (2)% 7,018
 6,728
 4 %
Other Businesses 17
 19
 (11)% 30
 35
 (14)% 12
 17
 (29)% 26
 30
 (13)%
Net sales $3,609
 $3,144
 15 % $6,758
 $5,869
 15 % $3,545
 $3,609
 (2)% $7,044
 $6,758
 4 %



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, 20182019 versus the three months ended June 30, 20172018 is set forth in the following table:
Three Months Ended June 30, 20182019 versus Three Months Ended June 30, 20172018
 
Steel Products (a)
     
Steel Products(a)
 
 Volume Price Mix 
FX (b)
 
Coke &
Other
(c)
 Net
Change
 Volume Price Mix 
FX(b)
 
Coke & Other(c)
 Net Change
Flat-Rolled 3% 10% % % % 13% 9% (2)% (4)% —% 1% 4%
USSE % 5% 2% 8% % 15% (13)% (4)% 3% (5)% (1)% (20)%
Tubular 12% 19% % % 1% 32% (5)% 9% (1)% —% (1)% 2%
(a)a) Excludes intersegment sales
(b) Foreign currency translation effects
(c) Includes sales of coke and scrap inventory
Net sales were $3,609$3,545 million in the three months ended June 30, 2018,2019, compared with $3,144$3,609 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales for the Flat-Rolled segment primarily reflects higher realized prices (increase of $77 per net ton) across all product types and increased shipments (increase of 87220 thousand net tons) due to accelerated demand for steel products in line with the recent economic growth.primarily of hot rolled and semi-finished products. The increasedecrease in sales for the USSE segment was primarily due to strengtheningdecreased shipments (decrease of 152 thousand net tons) in most product categories due to increased import competition, flat to declining demand and the weakening of the euro versus the U.S. dollar and higher average realized euro-based prices (increase of €30 per net ton).U.S dollar. The increase in sales for the Tubular segment resulted from higher realized prices (increase of $215$75 per net ton) and increasedpartially offset by decreased shipments (increase(decrease of 216 thousand net tons) due to improved market conditions.from lower demand levels.

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, 20182019 versus the six months ended June 30, 20172018 is set forth in the following table:
Six Months Ended June 30, 20182019 versus Six Months Ended June 30, 20172018
 
Steel Products (a)
     
Steel Products(a)
 
 Volume Price Mix 
FX (b)
 
Coke &
Other
(c)
 Net
Change
 Volume Price Mix 
FX(b)
 
Coke & Other(c)
 Net Change
Flat-Rolled 4% 6% % % 2% 12% 8% 4% (3)% —% 1% 10%
USSE 1% 5% 1% 11% % 18% (9)% (2)% 3% (7)% —% (15)%
Tubular 18% 23% 1% % % 42% 6% 9% 1% —% (1)% 15%
(a) Excludes intersegment sales
(b) Foreign currency translation effects
(c) Includes sales of coke and scrap inventory
Net sales were $6,758$7,044 million in the six months ended June 30, 2018,2019, compared with $5,869$6,758 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales for the Flat-Rolled segment primarily reflects higher realized prices (increase of $49 per net ton) across all product types and increased shipments (increase of 217411 thousand net tons) due to accelerated demand for steel products in line with the recent economic growth., primarily of hot rolled and semi-finished products. The increasedecrease in sales for the USSE segment was primarily due to strengtheningdecreased shipments (decrease of 215 thousand net tons) in most product categories due to increased import competition, flat to declining demand and the weakening of the euro versus the U.S. dollar and higher average realized euro-based prices (increase of €23 per net ton).U.S dollar. The increase in sales for the Tubular segment resulted from higher realized prices (increase of $247$117 per net ton) and increased shipments (increase of 5822 thousand net tons) due to improved market conditions..


Pension and other benefits costs

Pension and other benefit costs (other than service cost) are reflected within net interest and other financial costs and the service cost component is reflected within cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Defined benefit and multiemployer pension plan costs included in cost of goods sold totaled $27$30 million and $54$59 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 20182019, respectively, compared to $26$27 million and $53$54 million in the comparable periods in 2017.


2018.
Costs related to defined contribution plans totaled $11 million and $21$23 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018,2019, respectively, compared to $10$11 million and $21 million in the comparable periods in 2017.2018.
Other benefit expense included in cost of sales totaled $4$3 million and $8$6 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 20182019, respectively, and $5$4 million and $9$8 million in the comparable periods in 2017.2018.


Selling, general and administrative expenses



Selling, general and administrative expenses were $82 million and $160 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, compared to $92 million and $170 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to $67 million and $148 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 20182019 the increasedecrease is primarily due to an increasea decrease in variable compensation.


OperatingStrategic projects and operating configuration update                            

In March 2018,June 2019, U. S. Steel announced that it would idle two blast furnaces in the U.S. and one blast furnace in Europe to better align global production with its order book. As a result, monthly blast furnace production capacity was reduced by approximately 200,000 - 225,000 tons in the U.S. and 125,000 tons in Europe. Blast furnace production at one or more of the idled furnaces may resume when market conditions improve.

In June 2019, U. S. Steel restarted the No. 1 Electric-Weld Pipe Mill (No. 1 Pipe Mill) at its Lone Star Tubular Operations to enable the Company to support increased demand for high-quality electric-welded pipe produced in the United States. The No. 1 Pipe Mill produces 7-16 inch welded pipe and is complimenting our current Tubular product offerings. It had been idled since 2016.

In May 2019, U. S. Steel announced that it will invest approximately $1.2 billion through 2022 to construct a new endless casting and rolling facility at its Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, and a cogeneration facility at its Clairton Plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, both part of the Company's Mon Valley Works. This investment in state-of-the-art sustainable steel technology is expected to significantly upgrade the production capability of our lowest liquid steel cost mill in the U.S.

The installation of endless casting and rolling technology will give U. S. Steel another world-class asset with differentiated product capabilities to serve strategic markets. The Mon Valley Works will also become the principal source of substrate for the production of the Company's industry-leading XG3TM Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) a market leading solution for our customers to improve fuel efficiency. The cogeneration facility, equipped with state-of-the-art emissions control systems at the Company's Clairton Plant, will convert a portion of the coke oven gas generated at its Clairton Plant into electricity to power the steelmaking and finishing facilities throughout U. S. Steel's Mon Valley operations.

This project, in addition to producing sustainable AHSS, is expected to improve environmental performance, energy conservation and reduce our carbon footprint associated with Mon Valley Works. First steel production is expected in 2022, contingent upon permitting and construction.

In February 2019, U. S. Steel announced that it will restart construction of the electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking facility at its Tubular Operations in Fairfield, Alabama. The EAF is expected to strengthen our competitive position and reduce cost by $90 per ton as the Company becomes self-sufficient in its rounds supply. The EAF is expected to begin producing steel in the second half of 2020.

In January 2019, U. S. Steel announced the construction of a new Dynamo line at USSE. The new line, a $130 million investment, has an annual capacity of approximately 100,000 metric tons. Construction began in mid-2019 and is targeted to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2020. The new line will enable production of sophisticated silicon grades of non-grain oriented (NGO) electrical steels to support increased demand in vehicles and generators.

In June and October 2018, U. S. Steel restarted the "B" blast furnace and steelmaking facilities and the "A" blast furnace, respectively, at its Granite City Works facility, which would enable the Company to support anticipated increased demand for steel produced in the United States as a result of actions in the Section 232 investigation into steel imports. The restart occurred in the second quarter of 2018.facility.

Additionally, in June 2018, U. S. Steel announced that it would restart the "A" blast furnace at its Granite City Works facility, which will support increased demand for steel manufactured in the United States, while allowing the Company to continue to support customers during planned asset revitalization efforts. The restart is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2018.

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


U. S. Steel will continue to evaluate potential strategic and organizational opportunities, which may include the acquisition, divestiture or consolidation of assets. We continue to focusGiven the cyclicality of our industry, we are focused on strategically deployingmaintaining and spending cash (including capital investments under our asset revitalization program), in order to invest in areas consistent with our long-term strategy, such as sustainable steel technologies, 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 maintaining 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 2017 and 2018, have resulted in improved segment results in recent quarters.
As we continue with the implementation of our asset revitalization program, described below, and increase investment in our facilities, we expect to realize the sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery and costs that we are targeting to position us to succeed over the long term, and to support future growth initiatives.


Asset Revitalization
As part of
In 2017, we launched our long-term strategy, the Board of Directors approved a $2 billion multi-year asset revitalization program, focused ona multi-year, comprehensive $2 billion investment in our Flat-Rolledmost critical assets within our Flat-rolled segment. Management evaluated performance in the key industries we serve, and developedThe program is composed of many projects across multiple Flat-Rolled segment assets with a focus on continuous improvement indesigned to continuously improve safety, quality, delivery and cost. The Company views thiscost performance. We expect capital spending for the entire program as essential to improving reliability and our ability to compete effectively in the industry.be approximately $1.5 billion. As we revitalize our assets, we expect to increaseare increasing profitability, productivity and operational stability, and reducereducing volatility. This program is designed to prioritize investment in the areas with the highest returns.

We are investing approximately $500 million to upgrade the Gary hot strip mill through a series of projects focused on expanding the line's competitive advantages. The Gary hot strip mill will further differentiate itself as a leader in heavy gauge products in strategic markets. Asset Revitalization investments are also being made at other critical Flat-rolled steel making assets, including the Mon Valley steel shop, which will provide high quality, low cost liquid steel for our future endless casting and rolling line.
The asset revitalization program includesinvestments we are making in our strategic projects, to address short-term operational and maintenance enhancements as well as larger initiatives. The projects vary in scopethe continued execution of our Asset Revitalization program, are making the Company more competitive and cost. The investments specifically address issues that arebetter positioned to achieve our critical to delivering quality products to our customers in a timely manner.success factors.
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 $1.5 billion, which consist of capital investments in our iron making facilities, steel making facilities, hot rolling facilities, and finishing facilities. The Company plans to fund the program through cash generated from operations and cash on hand.



The benefits of the asset revitalization program are evident after just one year, as we have achieved performance improvements from assets in which we have invested.  We continue to experience operational challenges on assets we have not yet fully addressed.   We expect further improvements in performance as we execute the remainder of our structured asset revitalization program.


Restructuring and Other Charges

Restructuring charges recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2018 were immaterial. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of $16 million.
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 environmental costs and Company-wide headcount reductions. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of $17 million.
Charges for restructuring and ongoing cost reduction initiatives are recorded in the period U. S. Steel 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 the restructuring and other charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.


Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes by segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 20182019 and 20172018 is set forth in the following table:

 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
 Six Months Ended June 30, %
Change
(Dollars in millions) 2018 2017  2018 2017 
Flat-Rolled $224
 $220
 2 % $257
 $132
 95%
USSE 115
 55
 109 % 225
 142
 58%
Tubular (35) (29) (21)% (62) (86) 28%
Total earnings from reportable segments 304
 246
 24 % 420
 188
 123%
Other Businesses 17
 9
 89 % 28
 22
 27%
Segment earnings before interest and income taxes 321
 255
 26 % 448
 210
 113%
Items not allocated to segments:       
 
 
Gain on equity investee transactions 18
 



 18
 
 
Granite City Works restart costs (36) 
 

 (36) 
 
Granite City Works adjustment to temporary idling charges (2) 
 

 8
 
 
Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. 
 72



 
 72
 
Loss on shutdown of certain tubular assets 
 
 

 
 (35) 
Total earnings before interest and income taxes $301
 $327
 (8)% $438
 $247
 77%
   Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
 (Dollars in millions) 2019 2018  2019 2018 
Flat-Rolled $134
 $224
 (40)% $229
 $257
 (11)%
USSE (10) 115
 (109)% 19
 225
 (92)%
Tubular (6) (35) 83 % 4
 (62) 106 %
 Total earnings from reportable segments 118
 304
 (61)% 252
 420
 (40)%
Other Businesses 10
 17
 (41)% 18
 28
 (36)%
 Segment earnings before interest and income taxes 128
 321
 (60)% 270
 448
 (40)%
Items not allocated to segments:            
 December 24, 2018 Clairton coke making facility fire (13) 
   (44) 
  
 Gain on equity investee transactions 
 18
   
 18
  
 Granite City Works restart costs 
 (36)   
 (36)  
 Granite City Works adjustment to temporary idling charges 
 (2)   
 8
  
Total earnings before interest and income taxes $115
 $301
 (62)% $226
 $438
 (48)%
Segment results for Flat-Rolled
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
 Six Months Ended June 30, %
Change
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
%
Change
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
%
Change
 2018 2017 2018 2017 20192018 20192018
Earnings before interest and taxes ($ millions) $224
 $220
 2% $257
 $132
 95%$134
$224
(40)% $229
$257
(11)%
Gross margin 15% 15% % 12% 9% 3%11%15%(4)% 11%12%(1)%
Raw steel production (mnt) 2,841
 2,711
 5% 5,626
 5,425
 4%2,984
2,841
5 % 6,059
5,626
8 %
Capability utilization 67% 64% 3% 67% 64% 3%70%67%3 % 72%67%5 %
Steel shipments (mnt) 2,584
 2,497
 3% 5,118
 4,901
 4%2,804
2,584
9 % 5,529
5,118
8 %
Average realized steel price per ton $819
 $742
 10% $780
 $731
 7%$779
$819
(5)% $789
$780
1 %
The increasedecrease in Flat-Rolled results for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to the same period in 20172018 was primarily due to lower average realized prices (approximately $65 million), higher raw material costs (approximately $30 million), increased spending for operating costs (approximately $40 million). These changes were partially offset by increased shipments, including substrate to our Tubular segment (approximately $30 million) and decreased other costs, including variable compensation (approximately $15 million).
The decrease in Flat-Rolled results for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 was primarily due to higher averageraw material costs (approximately $90 million), increased spending for operating costs (approximately $90 million) and higher energy costs (approximately $20 million). These changes were partially offset by higher realized prices (approximately $210$110 million) as a result of improved market conditions, and increased shipments, including substrate to our Tubular segment (approximately $30$60 million). This change was offset by higher raw material costs (approximately $125 million), increased spending for operating costs (approximately $65 million) and an increase in variable compensation (approximately $45 million).
The increase in Flat-Rolled resultsGross margin for the sixthree months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily due to higher average realized prices (approximately $285 million) as a result of improved market conditions, increased shipments, including substrate to our Tubular segment (approximately $45 million) and lower energy costs (approximately $30 million). This change was partially offset by higher raw material costs, including normal seasonal improvements in our mining operations, (approximately $165 million), an increase in variable compensation (approximately $45 million) and increased spending for operating costs (approximately $25 million).
Gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 increaseddecreased primarily as a result of higherlower average realized prices. due to an increased mix of semi-finished sales and continued high import levels.



Segment results for USSE
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
 Six Months Ended June 30, %
Change
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
%
Change
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
%
Change
 2018 2017 2018 2017 
Earnings before interest and taxes ($ millions) $115
 $55
 109 % $225
 $142
 58%
USSE20192018%
Change
 20192018%
Change
(Loss) earnings before interest and taxes ($ millions)$(10)$115
 $19
$225
Gross margin 18% 11% 7 % 17% 14% 3%4%18%(14)% 6%17%(11)%
Raw steel production (mnt) 1,308
 1,285
 2 % 2,600
 2,543
 2%1,148
1,308
(12)% 2,307
2,600
(11)%
Capability utilization 105% 103% 2 % 105% 103% 2%92%105%(13)% 93%105%(12)%
Steel shipments (mnt) 1,156
 1,157
  % 2,283
 2,266
 1%1,004
1,156
(13)% 2,068
2,283
(9)%
Average realized steel price per ton $707
 $620
 14 % $707
 $607
 16%
Average realized steel price per ($/ton)$652
$707
(8)% $661
$707
(7)%
Average realized steel price per (€/ton)580
593
(2)% 585
584
 %
The increasedecrease in USSE results for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to the same period in 20172018 was primarily due to higherlower average realized euro-based prices (approximately $40 million), and decreased shipments (approximately $20 million) primarily from increasing imports and adverse European Union economic conditions and the strengtheningweakening of the euro versus the U.S. dollar (approximately $20 million) and lower. Additionally, USSE results reflect higher raw material costs, primarily for iron ore, (approximately $25$35 million), which includes a favorable first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory impact. These increases were partially offset by increased spending for other operating and higher energy costs (approximately $25$10 million).
The increasedecrease in USSE results for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to the same period in 20172018 was primarily due to higherlower average realized euro-based prices (approximately $70$30 million) and decreased shipments (approximately $30 million) primarily from increasing imports and adverse European Union economic conditions and the strengtheningweakening of the euro versus the U.S. dollar (approximately $65$50 million). These increases were partially offset byAdditionally, USSE results reflect higher raw material costs, (approximately $20 million), which includes a favorableprimarily for iron ore and an unfavorable first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory impact, and(approximately $55 million), higher energy costs (approximately $15 million), increased spending for other operating costs (approximately $35$15 million) and increased costs for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions allowance (approximately $10 million).
Gross margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to the same period in 2017 increased2018 decreased primarily as a result of higherlower average realized prices.prices from increasing imports and adverse European Union economic conditions.
Segment results for Tubular
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
 Six Months Ended June 30, %
Change
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
%
Change
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
%
Change
 2018 2017 2018 2017 
Loss before interest and taxes ($ millions) $(35) $(29) (21)% $(62) $(86) 28%
Tubular20192018%
Change
 20192018%
Change
(Loss) earnings before interest and taxes ($ millions)$(6)$(35) $4
$(62)
Gross margin (5)% (5)%  % (5)% (11)% 6%2%(5)%7 % 5%(5)%10%
Steel shipments (mnt) 201
 180
 12 % 382
 324
 18%195
201
(3)% 402
380
6%
Average realized steel price per ton $1,449
 $1,234
 17 % $1,420
 $1,173
 21%$1,524
$1,449
5 % $1,537
$1,420
8%
The decreaseincrease in Tubular results for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 as compared to the same period in 20172018 was primarily due to higher average realized prices (approximately $15 million) and lower substrate costs (approximately $30$25 million) and. These changes were partially offset by increased operating costs (approximately $10 million). These decreases were partially offset by higher average realized prices (approximately $35 million).
The increase in Tubular results for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to the same period in 20172018 was primarily due to higher average realized prices (approximately $75$45 million), increased shipments (approximately $5 million) and lower substrate costs (approximately $20 million). This increase wasThese changes were partially offset by higher substrate costs (approximately $40 million) and increased operating costs (approximately $10$5 million).
Tubular results continue to be adversely impacted by high import levels. We expect import levels to decrease in the second half of the year.
Gross margin for the three and six months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to the same period in 20172018 increased primarily as a result of higher average realized prices.



Tubular continues to face significant import competition, with tubular imports comprising nearly half of the U.S tubular market.
Results for Other Businesses
Other Businesses had incomeearnings of $10 million and $18 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to earnings of $17 million and $28 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 compared.

Items not allocated to income of $9segments
We incurred $13 million and $22$44 million of costs associated with the December 24, 2018 Clairton coke making facility fire in the three and six months ended June 30, 20172019, respectively (see Environmental Matters, Litigation and Contingencies in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section for more details).


Items not allocated to segments
We recognized a gain on equity investee transactions of $18 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 as a result of the assignment of our entire equity ownership interest in Leed's Retail Center, LLC in May 2018. This gain has been reflected in the net gain on disposal of assets line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.


We recognized $36 million in Granite City Works restart costs in the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 as a result of costs associated with the restart of the "B" blast furnace at Granite City Works.


We recorded an $8 million favorable adjustment in the six months ended June 30, 2018 related to Granite City Works temporary idling charges as a result of the decision to restart the "B" blast furnace and steelmaking facilities at this facility in 2018.

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

We recorded a $35 million loss on the shut down of certain tubular assets in the six months ended June 30, 2017 as a result of the permanent shut down and relocation of the No. 6 Quench & Temper Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations.
Net interest and other financial costs
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
%
Change
 Six Months Ended June 30, %
Change
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
 Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 %
Change
(Dollars in millions) 2018 2017 2018 2017  2019 2018 2019 2018 
Interest expense $43
 $55
 (22)% $93
 $113
 (18)% $31
 $43
 (28)% $65
 $93
 (30)%
Interest income (5) (4) 25 % (10) (8) 25 % (5) (5)  % (10) (10)  %
Loss on debt extinguishment 28
 1
 100 % 74
 1
 100 % 
 28
 (100)% 
 74
 (100)%
Other financial costs (8) 16
 (150)% 2
 25
 (92)% 5
 (8) (163)% 2
 2
  %
Net periodic benefit cost (other than service cost) 17
 14
 21 % 34
 32
 6 % 23
 17
 35 % 46
 34
 35 %
Total net interest and other financial costs $75
 $82
 (9)% $193
 $163
 18 % $54
 $75
 (28)% $103
 $193
 (47)%


The decrease in net interest and other financial costs in the three months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period last year is primarily due to the loss on debt extinguishment in the three months ended June 30, 2018, reduced interest expense due to our improved debt profile and foreign exchange gains.

The decrease in net interest and other financial costs in the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period last year is primarily due to the loss on debt extinguishment in the six months ended June 30, 2018 as described below, reduced interest expense due to our improved debt profile and higher net periodic benefit cost as discussed below.
During the six months ended June 30, 2018, U. S. Steel issued $650 million aggregate principal amount of 2026 Senior Notes and repurchased through a tender offer and redemption $780 million of its 2021 Senior Secured Notes for an aggregate cash outflow of approximately $840 million, which included $60 million in premiums. Additionally, U. S. Steel repurchased approximately $31 million of its 2020 Senior Notes during the first six months of 2018.  The loss on debt extinguishment line in the table above includes $63 million in premiums and $11 million in unamortized debt issuance costs which were written off in connection with the extinguishment of debt.  For further information, see Note 1516 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
The decrease in net interest and other financial costs in the three months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the same period last year is primarily due to net foreign currency gains on our euro-U.S. dollar derivatives and reduced interest expense due to our improved debt profile partially offset by a loss on debt extinguishment.
The increase in net interest and other financial costs in the six months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to the same period last year is primarily due to the loss on extinguishment as described above partially offset by net foreign currency gains on our euro-U.S. dollar derivatives and reduced interest expense due to our improved debt profile.
The net periodic benefit cost (other than service cost) components of pension and other benefit costs are reflected in the table above, and remained consistentincreased in the three and six monthsmonth periods ended June 30, 20182019 as compared to the same periods last year.year primarily due to a lower expected return on asset assumption for pension assets, a lower asset return than expected in 2018 partially offset by the natural maturation of the plan and increased discount rates.



Total net periodic pension cost, including service cost and multiemployer plans, is expected to total approximately $135$165 million in 2018.2019. Total other benefits costs, including service cost, in 20182019 are expected to total approximately $60$55 million. The pension cost projection includes approximately $54$72 million of contributions to the Steelworkers Pension Trust.
Income taxes
The income tax (benefit) provision (benefit) was $(7) million and $1 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $12 million and $13 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $(16) million. The tax provision in both periods reflects a benefit for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion from iron ore that we produce and $3 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.consume or sell. In 2018, the tax provision also reflects a tax benefit for the release of a portion of the domestic valuation allowance due to pretax income. Included in the
The tax provision infor the first six monthsquarter of 2017 is a2019 was based on an estimated annual effective rate, which requires management to make its best estimate of annual pretax income or loss. For the quarter ended June 30, 2019, the Company computed its tax benefit of $13 million related tousing the carryback of certain losses to prior years.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the 2017 Act) was signed into law. The 2017 Act includes changes to U.S. federal tax rates, imposes significant additional limitations on the deductibility of interest, allows for the immediate expensing of capital expenditures, and puts into effect the migration from a worldwide system of taxation to a territorial system, among other things. We continue to examine the impact the 2017 Act may have on our Company, and we do not expect the new provisions to have a material impact on the 2018discrete period effective tax rate, duewhich reflects the actual taxes attributable to our current corporate tax structureyear-to-date earnings and our net operating losses. However,losses, because we do expectdetermined that a reduction in cash taxes paid in 2018 and future years due to the eliminationreliable estimate of the Alternative Minimum Tax.
Each quarter U. S. Steel analyzesexpected annual effective tax rate could not be made. A small change in our estimated marginal pretax results for the likelihood that our deferredyear ended December 31, 2019 could create a large change in the expected annual effective 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,rate. The sensitivity of the deferredeffective tax asset may not be realized.
At June 30, 2018, U. S. Steel reviewed all available positive and negative evidence and determined that it is more likely than not that allrate was increased by the benefit for percentage depletion in excess of its net domestic deferred tax asset may not be realized.
U. S. Steel will continue to monitor the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis taking into consideration, among other items, the uncertainty regarding the Company's continued ability to generate domestic income in the near term. As our projectionscost depletion for 2019 develop later this year, and with consideration of the profitability of our domestic operations in 2017 and 2018, we may determine that realization is more likely than not for some or all of the deferred tax assets with a valuation allowance, and we will reduce the related valuation allowance and record a non-cash benefit to earnings. iron ore.
For further information on income taxes see Note 1113 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation were $68 million and $122 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to net earnings of $214 million and $232 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, compared to net earnings of $261 million and $81 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The changes primarily reflect the factors discussed above.


BALANCE SHEET
Accounts receivableInventories increased by $277$74 million from year-end 2017 primarily due to higher average realized prices as well as increased shipment volumes across all of our segments.
Inventories increased by $110 million from year-end 20172018 primarily as a result of increased operating levels and higher raw material prices.prices for our Flat-Rolled and USSE segments.
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilitiesOperating lease assets increased by $161$237 million from year-end 2017 primarily2018 as a result of increased operating levels and higher raw material prices across allthe adoption of our segments.the new accounting standard for leases (see Note 8 for further details).
Property, plant and equipment, net increased by $121$368 million from year-end 2018 primarily due to the level of capital expenditures exceeding depreciation expense.
Long-term debt decreasedAccounts payable and other accrued liabilities increased by $159$80 million from year-end 20172018 primarily as a result of higher raw material prices for our Flat-Rolled and USSE segments.
Payroll and benefits payable decreased by $106 million from year-end 2018 primarily due to profit-based incentive payments related to 2018 financial performance that were paid in the tenderfirst quarter of approximately $4992019.
Current operating lease liabilities increased by $54 million of our 2021 Senior Secured Notes in March from year-end 2018 and the redemptionas a result of the remaining $281 million in April 2018, partially offsetadoption of the new accounting standard for leases (see Note 8 for further details).
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities increased by the issuance of $650 million aggregate principal amount of our 2026 Senior Notes in March 2018 and the repurchase of approximately $31 million of our 2020 Senior Notes in June 2018. For additional information, see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


Employee benefits decreased by $67$188 million from year-end 20172018 as a result of the adoption of the new accounting standard for leases (see Note 8 for further details).
Employee benefits decreased by $54 million from year-end 2018 primarily as a result of impacts from the natural maturation of our pension plans.


CASH FLOW
Net cash provided by operating activities was $293$366 million for the six months ended June 30, 20182019 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $243$293 million in the same period last year. The increase in cash from operations is primarily due to stronger financial results, partially offset by changes in working capital period over period,. partially offset by lower financial results.
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 30,20182019 and 20172018 are as follows:
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Twelve Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Twelve Months Ended June 30,
 2018 2017 2018 2017 2019 2018 2019 2018
Accounts Receivable Turnover 2.2
 2.2
 8.5
 8.3
 2.1
 2.2
 8.8
 8.5
Inventory Turnover 1.7
 1.6
 6.4
 5.9
 1.5
 1.7
 6.4
 6.4
The increasedecrease in the inventoryaccounts receivable turnover approximates 43 days for the three months ended June 30, 20182019 as compared to the same period ended June 30, 20172018 and is primarily due to an increasedecreased sales as a result of lower average realized prices and decreased shipments in cost of goods sold mainly attributed to higher raw material costs.our USSE segment. The increase in the inventoryaccounts receivable turnover approximates 5 days1 day for the twelve months ended June 30, 20182019 as compared to the same period ended June 30, 20172018 and is primarily due to increased sales as a result of higher average realized prices and increased shipments in our Flat-Rolled and Tubular segments.
The decrease in the inventory turnover approximates 7 days for the three months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2018 and is primarily due to an increase in cost of goods sold mainly attributed to higher raw material costs.
The increase in the accounts receivable turnover approximates 1 day for the twelve months ended June 30, 2018 as compared to June 30, 2017 and is primarily due to increased sales as a result of increased prices across all segments.
The last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory method is the predominant method of inventory costing in the United States. At June 30, 20182019 and June 30, 2017,2018, the LIFO method accounted for 7370 percent and 7473 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, 2018,2019, and December 31, 20172018 the


replacement cost of the inventory was higher by approximately $846$961 million and $802$1,038 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 for the remainder of 2018.2019.
Our cash conversion cycle for the second quarter of 2018 decreased2019 increased by one dayfive days as compared to the fourth quarter of 20172018 as shown below:
Cash Conversion Cycle2018  20172019  2018
$ millions Days  $ millions Days$ millions Days  $ millions Days
Accounts receivable, net (a)
$1,656
 41  $1,379
 43$1,638 43  $1,659 42
         
+ Inventories (b)
$1,848
 53  $1,738
 58$2,166 61  $2,092 58
         
- Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities (c)
$2,318
 65  $2,163
 71$2,565 71  $2,477 72
         
         
= Cash Conversion Cycle (d)
  29    30 33  28
(a) Calculated as Average Accounts Receivable, net divided by total Net Sales multiplied by the number of days in the period.
(b) Calculated as Average Inventory divided by total Cost of Sales multiplied by the number of days in the period.
(c) Calculated as Average Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities less bank checks outstanding and other current liabilities divided by total Cost of Sales multiplied by the number of days in the period.
(d) Calculated as Accounts Receivable Days plus Inventory Days less Accounts Payable Days.




The cash conversion cycle is a non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measure. We believe the cash conversion cycle is a useful measure in providing investors with information regarding our cash management performance and is a widely accepted measure of working capital management efficiency. The cash conversion cycle should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to other GAAP metrics as an indicator of performance.
Capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2018,2019, were $381$628 million, compared with $120$381 million in the same period in 20172018. Flat-rolled capital expenditures were $318$501 million and included spending for the Mon Valley sulfur dioxide (SO2) Boiler Stack project,No. 3 Blast Furnace outage, Gary Hot Strip Mill upgrades, Great Lakes B2 Blast Furnace D4 Major Repairs, Minntac Open Pit Equipment, Gary Blast Furnace 6 Reline and Skip Incline Replacement, Gary ETL Demineralization Water,outage, Midwest Tin Cold Mill upgrades, and various other infrastructure, environmental and strategic projects. Tubular capital expenditures of $24were $48 million primarily related toand included spending for the Fairfield Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) project, Offshore Operations threading line and& swage extension as well asand various other strategic capital projects. USSE capital expenditures of $38$75 million consisted of spending for a boiler house upgrade, coke oven gas desulfurization, ammonia still and boilers, steel shop ladle metallurgy dedustingSinter Strand emission control, the new Dynamo line, Ore Bridges Emission control and various other infrastructure and environmental projects.
U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment at June 30, 2018,2019, totaled $604$820 million.

Capital expenditures for 20182019 are expected to total approximately $950 million$1.3 billion and remain focused largely on strategic,projects that further our strategy (including the Fairfield EAF project and continued execution of Asset Revitalization), infrastructure and environmental projects, as well as asset revitalization ofprojects.
Common stock repurchased under our equipmentcommon stock repurchase program approved in 2018 totaled 3,964,191 shares and approximately $70 million in the six months ended June 30, 2019. See Note 24 to improve our operating reliability and efficiency, and product quality and cost by focusing on investments in our North American Flat-Rolled segment.the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs, totaled $640 million in the six months ended June 30, 2018. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, U. S. Steel issued $650 million aggregate principal amount of 2026 Senior Notes. U. S. Steel received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $640 million after fees of approximately $10 million related to underwriting and third-partythird party expenses. For further information, see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Repayment of long-term debt totaled $874 million in the six months ended June 30, 2018. Pursuant to a cash tender offer, U. S. Steel repurchased $499through a tender offer and subsequent redemption approximately $780 million of ourits outstanding 2021 Senior Secured Notes in March 2018 and redeemed the remaining $281 million in April 2018. Approximatelypaid premiums of $60 million in premiums were paid for the 2021 Senior Secured Notes transactions.tender. Additionally, U. S. Steel repurchased approximately $31 million of its 2020 Senior Notes through a series of open market purchases in June 2018 and paid premiums of approximately $3 million. For further information, see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.




LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s liquidity as of June 30, 20182019:
(Dollars in millions)
 

Cash and cash equivalents$1,231
 Amount available under $1.5 Billion Credit Facility Agreement1,500

Amount available under USSK credit facilities290

Total estimated liquidity$3,021
(Dollars in millions) 
Cash and cash equivalents$651
Amount available under $1.5 Billion Credit Facility Agreement1,500
Amount available under USSK credit facilities329
Total estimated liquidity$2,480
 
As of June 30, 20182019, $136$122 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.
On February 26, 2018, U. S. Steel entered into the Credit Facility Agreement, replacing its Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Credit Facility Agreement maintains the facility size of $1.5 billion and extends the maturity date to 2023.
As of June 30, 2018,2019, there were no amounts drawn under the $1.5 billion Credit Facility Agreement. U. S. Steel must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent four consecutive quarters when availability under the Credit Facility Agreement is less than the greater of 10 percent of the total aggregate commitments and $150 million. Based on the four quarters as of June 30, 2018,2019, we would 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 Credit Facility Agreement expires in February 2023.

At June 30, 2018,2019, USSK had no borrowings of €200 million (approximately $228 million) under its 200€460 million (approximately $233$524 million) unsecured revolving credit facility (the USSK Credit Agreement).facility. The USSK Credit Agreement contains certain USSK financial covenants, as well as other customary termsincluding a maximum net debt to EBITDA ratio and conditions.a minimum stockholders' equity to assets ratio. At June 30, 2018,2019, USSK had full availability of €260 million (approximately $296 million) under the USSK Credit Agreement. Currently, theThe USSK Credit Agreement expires in July 2021.September 2023.
At June 30, 2018,2019, USSK had no borrowings under its €40€20 million and €10 million unsecured credit facilities (collectively, approximately $58$34 million) and the aggregate availability was approximately $57$33 million due to approximately $1 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding. The €40 million credit facility expires in December 2018. Currently, the €10 million credit facility also expires in December 2018, but can be extended one additional year to the final maturity date at the mutual consent of USSK and its lender.

During the three months ended June 30, 2018, U. S. Steel repurchased approximately $31 million of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2020 (2020 Senior Notes) at a weighted average price of 106.946 percent of par through a series of open market purchases. Additionally, in July 2018, U. S. Steel repurchased an additional $44 million of its 2020 Senior Notes for a weighted average price 107.234 percent of par.
In March 2018, U. S. Steel issued $650 million aggregate principal amount of 2026 Senior Notes. U. S. Steel received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $640 million after fees of approximately $10 million related to the underwriting and third-party expenses. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 Senior Notes, together with cash on hand, were used to repurchase all of our outstanding 2021 Senior Secured Notes (see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, "Debt" for further details). U. S. Steel will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on March 15th and September 15th of each year, commencing on September 15, 2018.
We may from time to time seek to retire or repurchase 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.
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 $174$180 million of liquidity sources for financial assurance purposes as of June 30, 2018.2019. Increases in certain of these commitments which use collateral are reflected within cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.


At June 30, 2018,2019, in the event of a change in control of U. S. Steel, the following may occur: (a) debt obligations totaling $2,151$1,978 million as of June 30, 20182019 may be declared due and payable; (b) the Credit Facility Agreement and the USSK credit facilities 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 $24$21 million or provide a cash collateralized letter of credit to secure the remaining obligation.
The maximum guarantees of the indebtedness of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $4 million at June 30, 2018.2019. 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 20182019 are expected to be for capital expenditures, including asset revitalization, employee benefits and operating costs, which includes purchases of raw materials. We finished the second quarter of 20182019 with $1,231$651 million of cash and cash equivalents and $3.0$2.5 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 (Midwest) in Portage, Indiana that impacted a water outfall that discharges to Burns Waterway near Lake Michigan. U. S. Steel identified the source of the release and made the necessary repairs. We determined that all repairs were safely working as intended and, on April 14, 2017, resumed operations in a controlled, phased and highly monitored approach with extensive input from participating government agencies. The Company has since implemented substantial operational, process and notification improvements at Midwest. The Company has been presented with cost reimbursements, loss of use and penalty requests from the involved governmental agencies. Separately, the Company was placed on notice of potential citizens’ enforcement suits regarding the April 2017 incident and other historical alleged CWA and Permit violations at Midwest. In January of 2018, The Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago initiated suits in the Northern District of Indiana alleging such violations.CWA and Permit violations at Midwest. On April 2, 2018, the U.S. EPAEnvironmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the State of Indiana initiated a separate action against the Company and lodged a Consent Decree negotiated between U. S. Steel and the relevant governmental agencies consisting of all material terms to resolve the CWA and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) violations at the Midwest Plant. A public comment period for the Consent Decree ensued. The suits that the Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago filed are currently stayed. The Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago initially agreedalso filed motions, which were granted, to stay their actions pending finalization ofintervene in the Consent Decree but recently filed a motioncase. U. S. Steel continues to lift that stay.  The public comment period for the Consent Decree was extended to sixty days and has since closed.  Thework with United States Department of Justice, U.S. EPA, and the StateIndiana Department of Indiana are currently reviewing the public commentsEnvironmental Management (IDEM) towards a finalized Consent Decree.

EU Environmental Requirements and U. S. Steel is awaiting their response to those comments.





Slovak Operations

A MemorandumUnder the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), USSK's final allocation of Understanding (MOU) was signedallowances for the Phase III period, which covers the years 2013 through 2020 is 48 million allowances. We estimate a shortfall of approximately 14 million allowances for the Phase III period. Based on projected future production levels, we started to purchase allowances in March 2013 between U. S. Steel and the governmentthird quarter of Slovakia. The MOU outlines areas2017 to meet the annual compliance submission in which the government and U. S. Steel will work togetherfuture. As of June 30, 2019, we have purchased approximately 12 million European Union Allowances totaling €132 million (approximately $150 million). However, due to help create a more competitive environment and conditions for USSK. Incentives the governmentnumber of Slovakia agreed to provide include potential participation in a renewable energy program that provides the opportunity to reduce electricity costs, as wellvariables such 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), thefuture market value of these incentives as stated inallowances, future production levels and future emissions intensity levels, we cannot reliably estimate the MOU could be as much as €75 million (approximately $87 million). We currently expectfull cost of complying with the total amount of EU funds will be as much as €78 million (approximately $91 million). The final grant value will depend on actual project spending and eligible costs. The MOU expired in March 2018; however, USSK will continue to receive the incentive funding for the approved BAT projects through their completion.ETS regulations at this time.


The EU’s Industry EmissionIndustrial Emissions Directive requires implementation of EU determined best available techniques (BAT) for iron and steel production, 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 emissions 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 emissions 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 totalfuture capital expenditures for projects to comply with orthat go beyond the BAT requirements foris up to €138 million (approximately $157 million) over the 2017 to 2020 program period is €138 million (approximately $161 million). During 2017,period. These costs may be mitigated if USSK expended €2 million (approximately $1 million) toward the total estimated capital expenditures for the 2017 to 2020 program 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 under 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 $161 million) of spending noted, we currently believe we will be eligible to receive up to €78 million (approximately $91 million) of incentive grants. This could potentially reduce our net cash expenditures to approximately €60 million (approximately $70 million). The actual amount of capital spending will be dependent upon, among other things, the actual amount of incentive grants received. In order to receive full grant amounts, USSK is required to complycomplies with certain financial covenants, which are assessed annually. USSK complied with these covenants as of June 30, 2018.2019. If we are unable to meet these covenants in the future, USSK might be required to provide additional collateral (e.g. bank guarantee) to secure potential claims from the Slovak Government for repaymentfull value of a portion of the grant funds received.

We also believe there willestimated expenditures. There could 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.

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. Following a decision of the Supreme Court, which reversed and remanded the lien petition to the Regional Court, the lien has been removed. The Regional Court, which had originally issued the ex parte judicial lien, has decided that the imposition of a lien is not warranted and has not re-imposed the lien. The underlying case is still ongoing.


For further discussion of laws applicable in Slovakia and the EU and their impact on USSK, see Note 22 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters, EU Environmental Requirements.”



New and Emerging Environmental Regulations


United States and European Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations




Future compliance with CO2emission 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. On March 28, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13783 instructing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)U.S. EPA to review the Clean Power Plan. On October 16, 2017, the U.S. EPA proposed to repeal the Clean Power Plan after reviewing the plan pursuant to President Trump’s executive order. Any repeal and/or replacement of the Clean Power Plan is likely to be challenged by various proponents of the plan, such as environmental groups and certain states. Any impacts to our operations as a result of any future greenhouse gas regulations are not estimable at this time since the matter is unsettled. In any case, to the extent expenditures associated with any greenhouse gas regulation, as with all costs, are not ultimately reflected in the prices of U. S. Steel's products and services, operating results will be reduced. In addition, on April 2, 2018, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a notice in which the EPA withdrew from its prior January 12, 2017 Final Determination regarding greenhouse gas emission standards for model year (MY) 2022-2025 light duty vehicles. In the April 2, 2018 notice, the EPA provided its new determination that the greenhouse gas emission standards for MY 2022-2025 light duty vehicles are not appropriate in light of the record before the EPA and, therefore, the standards should be revised. The EPA, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will initiate a notice and comment rulemaking in a forthcoming Federal Register notice to further consider appropriate standards for MY 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles. California and other states

There have threatened to sue the EPA over the Agency’s withdrawal of the prior determination. There werebeen no material changes in U. S. Steel’s exposure to European Greenhouse Gas Emissions regulations since December 31, 2017.2018.


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 U.S. EPA has developed various industry-specific MACT standards pursuant to this requirement. The CAA requires the U.S. EPA to promulgate regulations establishing emission standards for each category of Hazardous Air Pollutants. The U.S. 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 U.S. EPA is currently in the process of completing a Residual Risk and Technology Review of the Integrated Iron and Steel MACT regulations, Coke MACT regulations, and Taconite Iron Ore Processing MACT regulations as required by the CAA. The U.S. EPA is under a court order to complete the Residual Risk and Technology Review of the Integrated Iron and Steel regulations no later than March 13, 2020; and to complete the Residual Risk and Technology Review of the Taconite Iron Ore Processing Regulations by June 30, 2020. Because the U.S. EPA has not completed its review, any impacts related to the U.S. EPA’s review of these standards cannot be estimated at this time.


On March 12, 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) submitted a CAA Section 126126(b) petition to the U.S. EPA. In the petition, the DEC asserts that stationary sources from the following nine states are interfering with attainment or maintenance of the 2008 and 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in New York state:York: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. DEC is requesting the U.S. EPA to require sources of nitrogen oxides in the nine states to reduce such emissions. Under the CAA, unless extended, the EPA has 60-days to approve or deny the petition. On May 4, 2018, citing Section 307(d)(10) of the CAA, the U.S. EPA issued a notice extending the deadline for the agency to respond to the petition until November 9, 2018. TheOn May 20, 2019, U.S. EPA indicated the extension is justified because more time is needed to review the petition and to solicit public comment. EPA approval of the petition could potentially result in increased capital and operating costs to our operationspublished a notice in the states identifiedFederal Register in which it proposed to deny DEC’s 126(b) petition. The public comment period for the petition.proposed action closed on July 15, 2019.


The CAA also requires the U.S. EPA to develop and implement NAAQS for criteria pollutants, which include, among others, particulate matter (PM) - consisting of PM10 and PM2.5, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, SOsulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.


In June 2010, the U.S. 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. Subsequently, theU.S. 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-attainmentnon-


attainment designation requires the facilitiesregion to implement operational and/or capital improvements to demonstrate attainment with the 2010 standard. U. S. Steel worked with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) in developing a State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Allegheny County portion of the Pennsylvania SIP that includes reductions of SO2 and improved dispersion from U. S. Steel sources. The SIP is currently being reviewed byOn November 19, 2018, U.S. EPA published a proposed rule to approve the EPA.SIP. Comments on the proposed rule were accepted until December 19, 2018. In addition, as noted in the Legal Proceedings section, U. S. Steel continues to work with the regulatory authorities to address the Wayne County, Michigan (where Great Lakes Works is located) nonattainment status. The operational and financial impacts of the SO2 NAAQS isare not estimated to be material at this time.


In October 2015, the U.S. EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone from 75 ppb to 70 ppb. On November 6, 2017, the U.S. EPA designated most areas in which we operate as attainment with the 2015 standard. In a separate ruling, on June 4, 2018, the U.S. EPA designated other areas in which we operate as “marginal nonattainment” with the 2015 ozone standard. While on December 6, 2018, U.S. EPA published a final rule regarding implementation of the 2015 ozone standard. Because anyno state regulatory or permitting actions to bring the ozone nonattainment areas into attainment have yet to be proposed or developed for U. S. Steel facilities, the operational and financial impact of the ozone NAAQS cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.


On December 14, 2012, the U.S. 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 U.S. EPA designated some areas in which U. S. Steel operates as nonattainment with the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard. On April 6, 2018, the U.S. EPA published a notice that Pennsylvania, California and Idaho failed to submit a SIP to demonstrate attainment with the 2012 fine particulate standard by the deadline established by the CAA. As a result of the notice, Pennsylvania, a state in which we operate, is required to submit a SIP to the U.S. EPA no later than November 7, 2019 to avoid sanctions. Because it is earlyOn April 29, 2019, the ACHD published a draft SIP for the Allegheny County nonattainment area which demonstrates that all of Allegheny County will meet its reasonable further progress requirements and be in attainment with the SIP development stages, any impacts to U. S. Steel cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.2012 PM2.5 annual and 24-hour NAAQS by December 31, 2021 with the existing controls that are in place.


In 2010, the U.S. 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 U.S. 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.estimated.


In July 2018, the ACHD provided U. S. Steel, ACHD Regulation Subcommittee members and interested parties with draft regulations that would modify the existing air regulations applicable to coke plants in Allegheny County. While ACHD currently has some of the most stringent air regulations in the country governing coke plants, which apply to U. S. Steel’s coke plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania (the only remaining coke plant in Allegheny County and one of two remaining in Pennsylvania), the draft regulations would reduce the current allowable emissions from coke plant operations and would be more stringent than the Federal Best Available Control Technology and Lowest Achievable Emission Rate requirements. In various meetings with ACHD, U. S. Steel has raised significant objections, in particular, that ACHD has not demonstrated that continuous compliance with the draft rule is economically and technologically feasible. While U. S. Steel continues to meet with ACHD regarding the draft rule, U. S. Steel believes that any rule promulgated by ACHD must comply with their statutory authority. If the draft rule or similar rule is adopted, the financial and operational impacts to U. S. Steel could be material. In U. S. Steel’s June 27, 2019, Settlement Agreement with ACHD, in which the appeals of four recently issued Orders were resolved as discussed in the Legal Proceedings, to assist in developing rules objectively and with technical justification, U. S. Steel and ACHD agreed to certain procedures that ACHD will follow in developing a new rule.

Environmental Remediation


In the United States, U. S. Steel has been identified as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at seveneight sites under CERCLA as of June 30, 2018.2019. Of these, there are twothree sites 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 17 additional sites 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 estimable. 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"Item 1. Legal Proceedings - Environmental Proceedings."
The total accrual for such liabilities at June 30, 2018 was $179 million. These amounts exclude liabilities related to asset retirement obligations, disclosed in Note 16 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.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
U. S. Steel did not enter into any new material off-balance sheet arrangements during the second quarter of 2018.

2019.

GUIDANCE

The success to date of our ongoing $2 billion asset revitalization program, as well as our earnings power in the current market, makes us increasingly optimistic about future investments that will drive long-term profitable growth.

We currently expect that third quarter 2018 adjusted EBITDA will be approximately $525 million. We expect our Flat-rolled segment results to continue to improve as more of our adjustable contract and spot shipments realize the benefit of second quarter increases in index prices, partially offset by higher planned outage costs. We expect results for our Tubular segment to turn positive as selling price increases catch up to the rising substrate costs we saw in the first half of the year. We expect results for our European segment to be lower in the third quarter, primarily due to planned outages that coincide with normal seasonal customer demand patterns.

Based on our progress to date, we are increasing full-year 2018 adjusted EBITDA guidance to approximately $1.85 - $1.90 billion.

Please refer to the table below for the reconciliation of Guidance net earnings to adjusted EBITDA.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA GUIDANCE
   Year EndedYear Ended
  Quarter EndedDec. 31Dec. 31
  Sept. 3020182018
(Dollars in millions)2018(Low end of range)(High end of range)
Reconciliation to Projected Adjusted EBITDA Included in Guidance   
 Projected net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation included in Guidance$288
$925
$975
 Estimated income tax expense22
50
50
 Estimated net interest and other financial costs61
315
315
 Estimated depreciation, depletion and amortization129
520
520
 Gain on equity investee transactions
(18)(18)
 Granite City Works blast furnace B restart costs
36
36
 Estimated Granite City Works blast furnace A restart costs25
30
30
 Granite City works adjustment to temporary idling charges
(8)(8)
 Projected adjusted EBITDA included in Guidance$525
$1,850
$1,900

We present earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures, as additional measurements to enhance the understanding of our operating performance. We believe that EBITDA, considered along with net earnings (loss), is a relevant indicator of trends relating to our operating performance and provides management and investors with additional information for comparison of our operating results to the operating results of other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that excludes the effects of gains on the sale of ownership interests in equity investees, facility restart costs and significant temporary idling charges. We present adjusted EBITDA to enhance the understanding of our ongoing operating performance and established trends affecting our core operations, by excluding the effects of items such as gains on the sale of ownership interests in equity investees, facility restart costs and significant temporary idling charges that can obscure underlying trends. U. S. Steel's management considers adjusted EBITDA as an alternative measure of operating performance and not as an alternative measure of the Company's liquidity. 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. 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 Guidance. 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.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
U. S. Steel continues to face import competition, from foreign steel producers, manymuch of which are heavily subsidizedis unfairly-traded, supported by theirforeign governments, and dumpfueled by massive global steel into our markets. Trade-distortingovercapacity. Such practices, policies and practices, coupled with global steel overcapacity impact pricing in our markets and influence the Company's ability to compete on a level playing field.operational and financial performance. U. S. Steel continues to lead the industry in efforts to address dumped and subsidized steel importsthese challenges that injurethreaten the Company, our workers, our stockholders, and our country’s national and economic security.
On April 19, 2017, the U.S. DepartmentThrough a series of Commerce (DOC) initiated an investigation underPresidential Proclamations pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as of the date of this filing, U.S. imports of certain steel products are subject to determinea 25 percent tariff, except for imports from: (1) Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea, which are subject to restrictive quotas; (2) Canada and Mexico, which are currently not subject to either tariffs or quotas but tariffs could be re-imposed on surging product groups after consultations; and (3) Australia, which is not subject to tariffs, quotas, or an anti-surge mechanism.
In May 2019, the effects of steelSection 232 tariffs for imports from Turkey were adjusted from 50 to 25 percent. Also in May 2019, the United States announced agreements with Canada and Mexico to eliminate the Section 232 tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico; eliminate the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. national security. On May 24, 2017, U. S. Steel testified at the DOC public hearingexports to Canada and remained active throughout the investigation. On January 11, 2018, the DOC submitted its investigation reportMexico; terminate World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes regarding Section 232 and retaliation; implement effective measures to the President. On March 8, 2018, the President signed Proclamation 9705 imposing 25 percentprevent unfairly traded imports and transshipment, to monitor for import surges, re-impose Section 232 tariffs on steel imports from all countries except for Canadaimport surges after consultations; and Mexico. On March 19, 2018, the DOC published the requirements andlimit retaliation to steel.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is managing a process forin which U.S. companies tomay request andand/or oppose temporary product exclusions from the 25 percent tariff. CompaniesSection 232 tariffs or quotas. Over 77,000 exclusions have 30 days from the publication of an exclusion request to submit opposition comments, and each request should be adjudicated in roughly 90 days. On March 22, 2018, the President signed Proclamation 9711 temporarily exempting steel imports from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union (EU), Mexico, and South Korea from the 25 percent tariffs until May 1, 2018. On April 30, 2018, the President signed Proclamation 9740 that (a) extended the exemptionbeen requested for steel imports from Argentina, Australia,products. U. S. Steel is opposing exclusion requests for products that are the same as, or substitute products for, those U. S. Steel produces.
Several legal challenges and Brazil due to agreementsretaliatory trade measures have been initiated in principle on alternative meansresponse to the tariffsSection 232 action. In June 2019, the Supreme Court denied the American Institute for International Steel’s (AIIS) petition for writ of certiorari in AIIS’ constitutional challenge to address imports’ threat to national security; (b) extended the exemption for steel imports from Canada, the EU, and Mexico from the tariffs until June 1, 2018; and (c) imposed an annual restrictive quota and other measures on steel imports from South Korea in lieuSection 232 statute. AIIS’ appeal of the tariffs, retroactive to January 1, 2018. On June 5, 2018,U.S. Court of International Trade’s (CIT) March 2019 decision upholding the President signed Proclamation 9759 that imposed annual restrictive quotas on steel imports from Argentina and Brazil, retroactive to January 1, 2018. As a result, since June 1, 2018,constitutionality of the 25 percent tariffs apply to steel imports from Canada,Section 232 statute is still pending before the EU, and Mexico. China, Canada,U.S. Court of Appeals for the EU, India, Mexico, Norway, and RussiaFederal Circuit (CAFC). Multiple countries have challenged the Section 232 action by filing requests for consultation withat the WTO, imposed retaliatory tariffs, and/or acted to safeguard their domestic steel industries from increased steel imports. In turn, the United States has challenged the retaliation at the World Trade Organization (WTO). China,WTO. Decisions in these WTO disputes are not expected until the EU, India, Japan, and Turkey have also requested consultations regardingfourth quarter of 2019 at the earliest.
Since its implementation in March 2018, the Section 232 action under the WTO’s Agreement on Safeguards. On June 27, 2018, the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) and AIIS members Sim-Tex and Kurt Orban Partners filed a complaint athas supported the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) challenging the constitutionality ofsteel industry's and U. S. Steel’s multiple restarts and investment initiatives. The Company continues to actively defend the Section 232 statute.action through all available tools and strategies, including by highlighting these benefits and the importance of maintaining the Section 232 action.
In February 2019, the European Commission (EC) imposed a definitive tariff rate quota (TRQ) safeguard on certain steel imports: 25 percent tariffs on certain steel imports that exceed quotas based on 105 percent of average import volumes for 2015-2017 and increasing 5 percent annually, effective February 2019 through June 2021. In May 2019, the EC initiated a review of the safeguard with a decision on any changes to the safeguard expected by late September 2019. In July 2019, the EC increased its safeguard quotas by 5 percent, pursuant to automatic increase provisions, despite the current EC review and the significant opposition to the increase from the EU steel industry.
Antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD or antisubsidy) duties apply in addition to the Section 232 tariffs and quotas and the EC’s TRQ safeguard, and AD/CVD orders will last beyond the Section 232 action and EC’s TRQ safeguard. Thus, U. S. Steel continues to actively defend and maintain the 54 antidumping (AD)U.S. AD/CVD orders and countervailing duty (CVD)11 EU AD/CVD orders


covering products U. S. Steel produces in multiple proceedings before the DOC, U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)(ITC), CIT, CAFC, the CIT, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit,EC and European courts, and the WTO.
On May 17,In 2018, in response to circumvention petitions filed by U. S. Steelfollowing an investigation of China’s technology transfer and other domestic steel producers in September 2016, the DOC found that imports of cold-rolled and corrosion-resistant steel from Vietnam made from Chinese substrate are coveredintellectual property violations by the AD/CVD orders on such imports from China. As a resultU.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under Section 301 of the DOC’s final determination,Trade Act of 1974, the United States imposed 10 and 25 percent tariffs on approximately $250 billion of U.S. imports of cold-rolled steel from Vietnam made from Chinese hot-rolled steel are subject to 522.23% cash deposit requirements and U.S. imports of corrosion-resistant steel from Vietnam made from Chinese hot- or cold-rolled steel are subject to 238.48% cash deposit requirements, both retroactive to November 4, 2016. On June 12, 2018, U. S. Steel and other domestic producers filed additional similar circumvention petitions on: (1) imports of cold-rolled and corrosion-resistant steel from Vietnam made from Korean substrate; and (2) imports of corrosion-resistant steel from Vietnam made from Taiwanese substrate.
On May 31, 2018, the USITC unanimously voted (5-0) to continue the 2000 AD order on tin mill products from Japan for another five years. Thus, AD duties of up to 95.29% will continue to apply to covered tin mill imports from Japan.
On December 12, 2016, China filed a complaint at the WTO against the U.S. and the 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 and reviews. 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. AD laws. U. S. Steel and other domestic producers submitted comments to the DOC on May 10, 2017. On October 26, 2017, the DOC issued a memorandum concluding that it will continue to use the NME methodology for AD proceedings involving imports from China, becauseincluding finished steel couplings, some products used in steel production and certain downstream products. In May 2019, the state continuesSection 301 tariffs on certain imports from China increased from 10 to fundamentally distort China’s economy.25 percent. As of the date of this filing, the United States plans to impose 10 percent tariffs on the approximately $300 billion of imports from China then requested additional consultations withthat are currently not subject to the U.S. regarding its WTO complaint. The outcome of these WTO disputes may impact U.S. AD orders on Chinese goods,Section 301 tariffs, including many steel products.products, effective September 1. The United States continues to negotiate with China on structural trade issues, including China's subsidies and government support of its steel industry.


The G-20’s Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity continues to work to reduce global steel overcapacity, currently estimated at 425 million tons. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Steel Committee and trilateral negotiations between the United States, EU, and Japan also continue to address global steel overcapacity.
U. S. Steel continually assesses the impact of imports and global excess capacity on our business, and continueswill continue to execute a broad, global strategy to enhance the meansmaximize opportunities and manner that it competes in the U.S. marketnavigate challenges presented by imports, global steel overcapacity, and internationally.international trade law and policy developments.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
See Notes 2 and 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.




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, 2017.2018.






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, 20182019. 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, 20182019, 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.






UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)
 Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Six Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in millions) 2018 2017 2018 2017(Dollars in millions) 2019 2018 2019 2018
SEGMENT EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES: 
 
    SEGMENT EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES: 
 
    
Flat-Rolled $224
 $220
 $257
 $132
Flat-Rolled $134
 $224
 $229
 $257
U. S. Steel Europe 115
 55
 225
 142
U. S. Steel Europe (10) 115
 19
 225
Tubular (35) (29) (62) (86)Tubular (6) (35) 4
 (62)
Total reportable segments 304
 246
 420
 188
Total reportable segments 118
 304
 252
 420
Other Businesses 17
 9
 28
 22
Other Businesses 10
 17
 18
 28
Items not allocated to segments: 
 
 
 
Items not allocated to segments: 
 
 
 
Gain on equity investee transactions 18
 
 18
 
Granite City Works restart costs (36) 
 (36) 
Granite City Works adjustment to temporary idling charges (2) 
 8
 
Gain associated with retained interest in U. S. Steel Canada Inc. 
 72
 
 72
Loss on shutdown of certain tubular assets 
 
 
 (35)
December 24, 2018 Clairton coke making facility fire (13) 
 (44) 
Gain on equity investee transactions 
 18
 
 18
Granite City Works restart costs 
 (36) 
 (36)
Granite City Works adjustment to temporary idling charges 
 (2) 
 8
Total earnings before interest and income taxes $301
 $327
 $438
 $247
Total earnings before interest and income taxes $115
 $301
 $226
 $438
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES 
 
 
 
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled $142
 $47
 318
 72
Flat-Rolled $254
 $142
 $501
 $318
U. S. Steel Europe 17
 20
 38
 34
U. S. Steel Europe 41
 17
 75
 38
Tubular 13
 4
 24
 11
Tubular 29
 13
 48
 24
Other Businesses 1
 2
 1
 3
Other Businesses 2
 1
 4
 1
Total $173
 $73
 $381
 $120
Total $326
 $173
 $628
 $381
OPERATING STATISTICS 
 
 
 
OPERATING STATISTICS 
 
 
 
Average realized price: ($/net ton) (a)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled $819
 $742
 780
 731
U. S. Steel Europe 707
 620
 707
 607
Tubular 1,449
 1,234
 1,420
 1,173
Steel Shipments:(a)(b)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled 2,584
 2,497
 5,118
 4,901
U. S. Steel Europe 1,156
 1,157
 2,283
 2,266
Tubular 201
 180
 382
 324
Intersegment Shipments:(b)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled to Tubular 65
 94
 132
 94
U. S. Steel Europe to Flat-Rolled 22
 25
 22
 47
Raw Steel Production:(b)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled 2,841
 2,711
 5,626
 5,425
U. S. Steel Europe 1,308
 1,285
 2,600
 2,543
Raw Steel Capability Utilization: (c)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled 67% 64% 67% 64%
U. S. Steel Europe 105% 103% 105% 103%
Average realized price: ($/net ton unless otherwise noted)(a)
Average realized price: ($/net ton unless otherwise noted)(a)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled $779
 $819
 $789
 $780
U. S. Steel Europe 652
 707
 661
 707
U. S. Steel Europe (€/net ton) 580
 593
 585
 584
Tubular 1,524
 1,449
 1,537
 1,420
Steel shipments (thousands of net tons):(a)
Steel shipments (thousands of net tons):(a)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled 2,804
 2,584
 5,529
 5,118
U. S. Steel Europe 1,004
 1,156
 2,068
 2,283
Tubular 195
 201
 402
 380
Intersegment steel (unless otherwise noted) shipments (thousands of net tons):Intersegment steel (unless otherwise noted) shipments (thousands of net tons): 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled to Tubular 52
 65
 133
 132
Flat-Rolled to U. S. Steel Europe (iron ore pellets and fines) 189
 
 189
 
U. S. Steel Europe to Flat-Rolled 
 22
 
 22
Raw steel production (thousands of net tons):Raw steel production (thousands of net tons): 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled 2,984
 2,841
 6,059
 5,626
U. S. Steel Europe 1,148
 1,308
 2,307
 2,600
Raw steel capability utilization:(b)
Raw steel capability utilization:(b)
 
 
 
 
Flat-Rolled 70% 67% 72% 67%
U. S. Steel Europe 92% 105% 93% 105%
(a) Excludes intersegment transfers.
(b) Based on annual raw steel production capability of 17.0 million net tons for Flat-Rolled and 5.0 million net tons for USSE.
(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.




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


On April 11, 2017, there was a process waste water release at our Midwest Plant (Midwest) in Portage, Indiana that impacted a water outfall that discharges to Burns Waterway near Lake Michigan. U. S. Steel identified the source of the release and made the necessary repairs. We determined that all repairs were safely working as intended and, on April 14, 2017, resumed operations in a controlled, phased and highly monitored approach with extensive input from participating government agencies. The Company has since implemented substantial operational, process and notification improvements at Midwest. The Company has been presented with cost reimbursements, loss of use and penalty requests from the involved governmental agencies. Separately, the Company was placed on notice of potential citizens’ enforcement suits regarding the April 2017 incident and other historical alleged CWA and Permit violations at Midwest. In January of 2018, The Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago initiated suits in the Northern District of Indiana alleging such violations.CWA and Permit violations at Midwest. On April 2, 2018, the U.S. EPA and the State of Indiana initiated a separate action against the Company and lodged a Consent Decree negotiated between U. S. Steel and the relevant governmental agencies consisting of all material terms to resolve the CWA and NPDES violations at the Midwest Plant. A public comment period for the Consent Decree ensued. The suits that the Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago filed are currently stayed. The Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago initially agreedalso filed motions, which were granted, to stay their actions pending finalization ofintervene in the Consent Decree but recently filed a motioncase. U. S. Steel continues to lift that stay. The public comment period for the Consent Decree was extended to sixty days and has since closed. Thework with United States Department of Justice, U.S. EPA, and the State of Indiana are currently reviewing the public comments and U. S. Steel is awaiting their response to those comments.

IDEM towards a finalized Consent Decree.
On August 9, 2017,November 30, 2018, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued rulemaking proposalsa new Water Discharge Permit for the Minntac Tailings Basin waters. The Permit contains new sulfate limitations applicable to replacewater in the current sulfate standard with an equation-based standard. As part ofTailings Basin and groundwater flowing from U. S. Steel’s property. The MPCA also acted on the rulemaking process, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) was appointed to preside over public hearingssame date, denying the Company’s requests for variances from ground and comments. The Company and others challenged thesurface water standards and presented evidence thatrequest for a contested case hearing. U. S. Steel filed appeals with the standards were unsupported by science and thatMinnesota Court of Appeals on December 19, 2018 challenging the MPCA failed to consider associated costs as part of the rulemaking process.  On January 9, 2018, the ALJ rejected the MPCA’s proposals, concluding that the MPCA failed to comply with state law requirements for drafting and adopting a new standard, that portions of the rule were unsupportedactions taken by the MPCA’s evidenceMPCA. Separate appeals have been filed by a Minnesota Native American Tribe (Fond du Lac Band) and thata nonprofit environmental group (Water Legacy). U. S. Steel has filed Petitions to Intervene in both cases. The briefing is now complete and the MPCA proposal was unconstitutional due to vagueness. On March 28, 2018,matter is pending a determination by the MPCA submitted comments to the Chief ALJ seeking revisions to these determinations.Court.
On October 2, 2017, an Amended Shareholder Class Action Complaint was filed in Federal Court in the Western District of Pennsylvania consolidating previously-filed actions. Separately, four related shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in State and Federal courts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The underlying consolidated class action lawsuit alleges that U. S. Steel, certain current and former officers, an upper level manager of the Company and the financial underwriters who participated in the August 2016 secondary public offering of the Company's common stock (collectively, Defendants) violated federal securities laws in making false statements and/or failing to discover and disclose material information regarding the financial condition of the Company. The lawsuit claims that this conduct caused a prospective class of plaintiffs to sustain damages during the period from January 27, 2016 to 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 derivative lawsuits generally make the same allegations against the same officers and also allege that certain current and former members of the Board of Directors failed to exercise appropriate control and oversight over the Company and were unjustly compensated. TheyThe plaintiffs seek to recover losses that were allegedly sustained. The class action Defendants moved to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims. On September 29, 2018 the Court ruled on those motions granting them in part and denying them in part. On March 18, 2019, the plaintiffs withdrew the claims against the Defendants related to the 2016 secondary offering. Therefore, the underwriters are no longer parties to the case. The Company isand the individual defendants are vigorously defending these matters.the remaining claims.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEEDINGS


The following is a summary of the proceedings of U. S. Steel that were pending or contemplated as of June 30, 2018,2019, 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,


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.


As of June 30, 2018,2019, U. S. Steel has received information requests or been identified as a PRP at a total of seveneight CERCLA sites, twothree of which have liabilities that have 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 five sites will be between $100,000 and $1 million for four 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 MPCA in 1985 and a Record of Decision signed by MPCA in 1989. U. S. Steel has partnered with the Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) of USEPAU.S. EPA Region 5 to address contaminated sediments in the St. Louis River Estuary and several other Operable Units that could impact the Estuary if not addressed. An amendment to the Project Agreement between U. S. Steel and GLNPO was executed during the second quarter of 2018 to recognize the costs associated with implementing the proposed remedial plan at the site.


While work continues on completion of the remedial design and educating the public and key stakeholders on the details of the plan, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2018.2019. 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, 20182019 at approximately $47$45 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 17 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 7seven sites have potential costs between $100,000 and $1 million per site, 5five sites may involve remediation costs between $1 million and $5 million per site and 5five 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)U.S. 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 continuesEvaluations are underway at six groundwater areas on several items, there has been no material change in the statuseast side of the project duringfacility 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 six months ended June 30, 2018.U.S. EPA. 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 $26$25 million as of June 30, 2018,2019, based on our current estimate of known remaining costs. Significant additional costs associated with the six groundwater areas at this site are possible and are referenced in Note 22 to the Condensed Consolidated


Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters - Remediation Projects - Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”

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 approvalU. S. Steel awarded a contract for the implementation of the 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, 2018.fourth quarter of 2018 and submitted several design documents to UDEQ for approval. Construction, waste stabilization and placement along with closure of the CAMU are expected to be complete in 2020. U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $62$58 million as of June 30, 2018,2019, 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. WorkU. S. Steel continues to monitor the impacts of the remedial plan implemented in 2016 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, 2018.2019. As of June 30, 2018,2019, approximately $1 million has been accrued for ongoing environmental studies, investigations and remedy monitoring. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 22 to the Condensed 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 U.S 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, with the approval of the U.S 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, 2018.2019. In total, the accrued liability for remaining work under the Corrective Action Program, was approximately $201,000$271,000 at June 30, 2018.2019. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 22 to the Condensed 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 U.S 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 U.S 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, 2018.2019. As of June 30, 2018,2019, the accrued liability to maintain the interim measures, and clear properties through the Act 2 process is approximately $270,000.$214,000. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 22 to the Condensed 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 and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) commenced 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 discussions continue with OEPA on finalizingdrafting the Statement of Basis identifying potential remedies to address areas documented in 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, 2018.2019. As of June 30, 2018,2019, costs to complete additional projects are estimated to be approximately $101,000.$81,000. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 22 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters - Remediation Projects - Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”





Joliet Works


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). The Program requires investigation and establishment of cleanup objectives followed by submission/approval of a Remedial Action Plan 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 subarea, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the six months ended June 30, 2018.2019. U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of $287,000$273,000 as of June 30, 2018.2019. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 22 to the Condensed 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 finalizing the institutional controls required under the Plan while theThe Removal Action Design Plan was approved during the second quarter of 2018. AsThe Waste Deposition Area design and the Interim Risk Management Plan (which includes institutional controls) were approved by KDHE during the fourth quarter of 2018. An amended consent order for remediation was signed in May 2019 and a remediation contract was executed in June 2019.U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $10 million as of June 30, 2018, an accrual2019, for our estimated share of approximately $268,000 remains available for addressing these outstanding issues. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments - Environmental Matters - Remediation Projects - Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”cost of remediation.


South Works


On August 29, 2017, U. S. Steel was notified by the U.S. Coast Guard of a sheen on the water in the North Vessel Slip at our former South Works in Chicago, Illinois.  U. S. Steel has been working with the IEPA under their voluntary Site Remediation Program since 1993 to evaluate the condition of the property including the North Vessel Slip. The result of this cooperative effort has been the issuance of a series of “No Further Remediation” (NFR) notices to U. S. Steel including one specific to the North Vessel Slip. U. S. Steel has notified the IEPA of the potential changed condition and is working closely with the IEPA and the U. S. Coast Guard to determine the source of the sheen and options to address the issue. U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of $29,000$22,000 as of June 30, 2018.2019.


Air Related Matters

Gary Works

In November 2018, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) advised U. S. Steel that it intends to address certain deviations from the Gary Works Title V Permit that were to have occurred in late 2017 and the first three quarters of 2018 in an enforcement action that it anticipates would be resolved through an Agreed Order. IDEM indicated that it intends to address the following issues in the action: intermittent exceedances of opacity standards at the steel producing roof monitor; deviations from certain miscellaneous inspection requirements; exceedance of the hydrochloric acid limit at the pickle line (which U. S. Steel has since demonstrated compliance); and exceedance of


the particulate matter limit at the iron pellet screeners. Generally, the deviations were self-disclosed by U. S. Steel in reports submitted to IDEM. U. S. Steel is currently working with IDEM to resolve the issues.

Great Lakes Works


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


As a result, pursuant to the CAA, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) mustEnvironment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) was required to submit a SIP to the U.S. EPA that demonstrates that the entire nonattainment area (and not just the monitor) willwould be in attainment by October 2018 by using conservative air dispersion modeling. To develop the SIP, U. S. Steel met with MDEQEGLE on multiple occasions and had offered reduction plans to MDEQEGLE but the parties could not agree to a plan. MDEQ,EGLE, instead promulgated Rule 430 which was solely directed at U. S. Steel. The Company challenged Rule 430 before the Michigan Court of Claims who by Order dated October 4, 2017, granted the Company’s motion for summary disposition voiding Rule 430 finding that it violated rule-making provisions of the Michigan Administrative Procedures Act and Michigan Constitution. Since Rule 430 has been invalidated and EGLE's SIP has not been approved, U.S. EPA has indicated that it would promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP). pursuant to its obligations and authority under the CAA. Because development of the FIP is in the early stages, the impacts of the nonattainment designation to the Company are not estimable at this time.


On January 31, 2018,17, 2019, U. S. Steel received a Violation Notice from MDEQand EGLE met to discuss resolution of violations that were alleged to have occurred intermittently in which MDEQ alleges that2017 and 2018 regarding opacity from: the D4 Blast Furnace slag pit, D4 Blast Furnace backdraft stack, B2 Blast Furnace casthouse roof monitor, B2 Blast Furnace backdraft stack, and Basic Oxygen Furnace Shop Roof Monitor; and exceedances of applicable limits at the pickle line. Subsequent to the meeting in late February, EGLE advised U. S. Steel exceeded the applicable six-minute opacity standard at the B2 Blast Furnace Casthouse on October 25, 2017.that it was assessing a civil penalty of $378,883 for these alleged violations. U. S. Steel respondedand EGLE continue to the notice on February 21, 2018. No penalty has been assessed.negotiate resolution.



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 IEPA alleges that U. S. Steel violated the emission limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds from the Basic Oxygen Furnace Electrostatic Precipitator Stack. In addition, the IEPA 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.


Minnesota Ore Operations


On February 6, 2013, the U.S. EPA published a 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.Technology (BART). 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 U.S. EPA and a petition for judicial review of the 2013 FIP and denial of the Minnesota SIP to the Eighth Circuit. In April 2016, the 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 U.S. EPA and a petition for judicial review of the 2016 FIP before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. While the proceedings regarding the petition for judicial review of the 2013 FIP remained stayed, oral arguments regarding the petition for judicial review of the 2016 FIP were heard by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on November 15, 2017. Thus, both petitions for judicial review remain with the Eighth Circuit. On December 4, 2017, U.S. EPA published a notification in the Federal Register in which the U.S. EPA denied U. S. Steel’s administrative petitions for reconsideration and stay of the 2013 FIP and 2016 FIP. On February 1, 2018, U. S. Steel filed a petition for judicial review of U.S. EPA’s denial of the administrative petitions for reconsideration to the 8thEighth Circuit Court of Appeals. U. S. Steel continues to defend its three petitions


that are before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding BART requirements at Minntac and Keetac while pursuing a resolution that would include an equitable revision to the FIP.


Mon Valley Works


On November 9, 2017, U.S. EPA Region III and ACHD jointly issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) regarding the Company’s Edgar Thomson facility in Braddock, PA. In addition, on November 20, 2017, ACHD issued a separate, but related NOV to the Company regarding the Edgar Thomson facility. In the NOVs, based upon their inspections and review of documents collected throughout the last two years, the agencies allege that the Company has violated the CAA by exceeding the allowable visible emission standards from certain operations during isolated events. In addition, the agencies allege that the Company has violated certain maintenance, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. U. S. Steel met with U.S. EPA Region III and ACHD on December 18, 2017.2017 and again on August 15, 2018. ACHD, U.S. EPA Region III and U. S. Steel continue to negotiate a potential resolution of the matter.


U. S. Steel received a civil enforcement order with an assessed penalty in the amount of $263,375 from the ACHD on April 4, 2018.  The allegations in the order are based on events that were alleged to have occurred in February and March of 2016.  The allegations were the subject of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations that were resolved through a settlement agreement after U. S. Steel contested the OSHA citations.  Specifically, the ACHD alleges that U. S. Steel failed to properly abate asbestos-containing material in conformance with applicable permits and regulations.  After meeting with U. S. Steel, on May 3, 2018, the ACHD vacated the original order and issued a new order reducing the penalty to $198,625 for alleged violations of the asbestos Operating and Maintenance Permit.  U. S. Steel appealed the new order on June 4, 2018.  In addition, the ACHD issued three new civil enforcement orders on June 3, 2018, assessing a total penalty of $91,100 for the Company’s alleged failure to submit quarterly reports of asbestos removed under its Operating and Maintenance Permits at the Irvin Works, Edgar Thomson, and


Clairton plants in 2015, 2016, 2017, and the first quarter of 2018.  The Company appealed the June 3, 2018 orders on June 28, 2018.  The parties are currently engaged in negotiations to resolve the asbestos matters with the ACHD.

On June 28, 2018, U. S. Steel received an Enforcement Order from the ACHD for the Clairton plantPlant for alleged violations of various environmental permit and regulatory requirements pertaining to air emissions. The total penalty demand is $1,091,950 for alleged violations that were to have occurred in late 2017 and early 2018. ACHD ordered U. S. Steel to conduct a SO2 stack testtests of C Battery Quench Tower exhaust. ACHD also ordered U. S. Steel to provide an assessment of all emissions points at the Clairton facility to ACHD; and to propose measures, for ACHD approval, to reduce SO2, particulate matter and visible emissions within sixty days of receipt of the Order. In the Order, ACHD demanded that if U. S. Steel fails to meet any requirements in the Order, U. S. Steel shall place its two worst performing batteries on hot idle until ACHD determines U. S. Steel is in compliance with the Order. U. S. Steel intendshas appealed the Order and posted the penalty amount in an escrow account. A hearing was held December 3 - 6, 2018 and post-hearing briefing concluded on March 29, 2019.

On November 14, 2018, U. S. Steel received a revised Administrative Order from the ACHD with an assessed penalty of $613,716 for alleged violations regarding fugitive emission sources (coke oven doors, lids, offtakes, charging, high opacity doors and soaking) at the Clairton Plant that were alleged to vigorously defendhave occurred during the second quarter of 2018. On December 12, 2018, U. S. Steel appealed the Administrative Order.

On March 29, 2019, ACHD issued Enforcement Order #190305, in which ACHD assessed a civil penalty of $707,568 for alleged battery fugitive emissions violations that were to have occurred during the third and fourth quarters of 2018. On April 25, 2019, U. S. Steel appealed Administrative Order #190305 and placed the civil penalty into escrow.

On May 10, 2019, ACHD issued Enforcement Order #190501, in which ACHD assessed a civil penalty of $337,670 for alleged battery fugitive emissions violations that were to have occurred during the first quarter of 2019. On June 4, 2019, U. S. Steel appealed Administrative Order #190501 and placed the civil penalty into escrow.

All four appeals were consolidated. On June 27, 2019, U. S. Steel and ACHD entered into a Settlement Agreement that is now in effect resolving the four appeals discussed above. A comment period expired on July 31, 2019 after a public hearing that was held on July 30, 2019.

On December 24, 2018, U. S. Steel's Clairton Plant experienced a fire, affecting portions of the facility involved in desulfurization of the coke oven gas generated during the coking process. With the desulfurization process out of operation as a result of the fire, U. S. Steel was not able to certify compliance with Clairton Plant’s Title V permit levels for sulfur emissions. U. S. Steel promptly notified ACHD, which has regulatory jurisdiction for the Title V permit, and updated the ACHD regularly on our efforts to mitigate any potential environmental impacts until the desulfurization process was returned to normal operations. Of the approximately 2,400 hours between the date of the fire and April 4, 2019, when the Company resumed desulfurization, there were ten intermittent hours where average SO2 emissions exceeded the hourly NAAQS for SO2 at the Allegheny County regional air quality monitors located in Liberty and North Braddock boroughs which are near U. S. Steel's Mon Valley Works facilities. ACHD has asserted that these emission levels were the result of our inability to complete the desulfurization process following the fire and informed U. S. Steel that it will pursue enforcement action against the Company following restoration of the desulfurization process to normal operations. On February 13, 2019, PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council, both environmental, non-governmental organizations, sent U. S. Steel a 60-day notice of intent to sue letter pursuant to the CAA. The letter alleges Title V permit violations at the Clairton, Irvin, and Edgar Thomson facilities as a result of the December 24, 2018 Clairton Plant fire. The 60-day notice letter also alleged that the violations caused adverse public health and welfare impacts to the communities surrounding the Clairton, Irvin, and Edgar Thomson facilities. PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council subsequently filed a Complaint in Federal Court in the Western District of Pennsylvania on


April 29, 2019 to which U. S. Steel has responded. On May 3, 2019, ACHD filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit which was granted by the Court. On June 25, 2019, ACHD filed its Complaint in Intervention, seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties regarding the alleged Permit violations following the December 24, 2018 fire.

On May 2, 2019 the Environmental Integrity Project, the Breathe Project and Clean Air Council, environmental, non-governmental organizations, issued a separate 60-day notice of intent to sue letter contending that the Company violated the CERCLA notification requirements with respect to the Clairton fire.

In addition, as a result of the fire and our temporary inability to desulfurize coke oven gas, on February 28, 2019, the ACHD issued an Enforcement Order that would have required U. S. Steel to take immediate measures to significantly reduce the production of coke oven gas that would have put the safety of employees, contractors and the public at risk. On March 1, 2019, U. S. Steel filed a notice of appeal of the Order, submitted a petition for stay of the Order, and requested an emergency status conference. On March 1, 2019, after hearing U. S. Steel's testimony, the ACHD Hearing Officer ordered a temporary stay of the Order. WhileAfter meeting with U. S. Steel, on March 12, 2019, the outcomeACHD issued a revised order that superseded the February 28, 2019 Order. On April 4, 2019, U. S. Steel completed repairs to the desulphurization equipment which enabled us to resume desulfurizing all of the coke oven gas generated. No penalty was assessed in the February 28 or March 12 orders. U. S. Steel fully complied with the revised order.

On April 24, 2019, U. S. Steel was served with a class action complaint that was filed in the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas related to the December 24, 2018 fire at Clairton. The complaint asserts common law nuisance and negligence claims and seeks compensatory and punitive damages that allegedly were the result of U. S. Steel's conduct that resulted in the fire and U. S. Steel's operations subsequent to the fire. U. S. Steel is uncertain, an unfavorable resolution could have a material impact onvigorously defending the Company's financial results.matter.
ASBESTOS LITIGATION
As of June 30, 2018,2019, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 760777 active cases involving approximately 2,3002,360 plaintiffs. The vast majority of these cases involve multiple defendants. At December 31, 2017, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 820 active cases involving approximately 3,315 plaintiffs. About 1,540, or approximately 6765 percent, of these plaintiff claims are currently pending in jurisdictions which permit filings with massive numbers of plaintiffs. At December 31, 2018, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 755 active cases involving approximately 2,320 plaintiffs. Based upon U. S. Steel’s experience in such cases, we believeit 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.
The following table shows activity with respect to asbestos litigation:
Period ended Opening
Number
of Claims
 
Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved
(a)
 New
Claims
 Closing
Number
of Claims
 Opening
Number
of Claims
 
Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved
(a)
 New
Claims
 Closing
Number
of Claims
December 31, 2015 3,455 415 275 3,315
December 31, 2016 3,315 225 250 3,340 3,315 225 250 3,340
December 31, 2017 3,340 275 250 3,315 3,340 275 250 3,315
June 30, 2018 3,315 1,160 145 2,300
December 31, 2018 3,315 1,285 290 2,320
June 30, 2019 2,320 100 140 2,360
(a) The period ending June 30,December 31, 2018 includes approximately 1,000 dismissed cases previously pending in the State of Texas.


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.
Further, U. S. Steel does not believe that an accrual for unasserted claims is required. At any given reporting date, it is probable that there are unasserted claims that will be filed against the Company in the future. In 2018, the Company


engaged an outside valuation consultant to assist in assessing its ability to estimate an accrual for unasserted claims. This assessment was based on the Company's settlement experience, including recent claims trends. The analysis focused on settlements made over the last several years as these claims are likely to best represent future claim characteristics. After review by the valuation consultant and U. S. Steel management, it was determined that the Company could not estimate an accrual for unasserted 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.condition.



Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

We face risks relating to changes in U.S. and foreign tariffs, trade agreements, laws, and policies
Through a series of Presidential Proclamations pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the U.S. government recently imposed restrictive quotas on certain steel imports from Argentina, Brazil, and Korea, and a 25 percent tariff on certain steel imports from all other countries except Australia. The Section 232 national security tariffs and quotas on steel imports currently provide U. S. Steel and other domestic steel producers critical relief from import competition. With no scheduled end date, the duration of the Section 232 relief is not known. Further, the U.S. government may negotiate alternatives to the Section 232 tariffs for certain countries. The U.S. Department of Commerce continues to administer its Section 232 product exclusion process. The Section 232 action on aluminum and steel imports, potential Section 232 action on other products, and recent and potential additional U.S. import tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 have resulted in the possibility of tariffs being applied to materials and/or items we purchase from subject countries or regions as part of our manufacturing process, and may result in additional, retaliatory action by foreign governments on U.S. exports of a range of products. All of the above poses a degree of uncertainty to our financial and operational performance, our customers, and overall economic conditions, all of which could impact steel demand and our performance. Thus, the overall impact of the Section 232 relief on our future financial and operational performance remains uncertain. 



Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Period 
(a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased

 
(b)
Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)

 
(c)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs

 
(d)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs

June 1, 2018 - June 30, 2018 3,137 $37.615
  




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 INFORMATIONISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
None.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and the Affiliated Purchasers

Share repurchase activity under the Company's stock repurchase program during the three months ended June 30, 2019 was as follows:

Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid per Share 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (a)
April 1 - 30, 2019 557,673
 $17.637
 557,673
 $173,113,900
May 1 - 31, 2019 770,162
 $14.719
 770,162
 $161,778,200
June 1 - 30, 2019 520,481
 $13.107
 520,481
 $154,956,300
Quarter ended June 30, 2019 1,848,316
 $15.145
 1,848,316
 $154,956,300
(a) On November 1, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to repurchase up to $300 million of our outstanding common stock over a two-year period at the discretion of management, of which approximately $145 million had been utilized as of June 30, 2019. The Company’s stock repurchase program does not obligate it to acquire any specific number of shares. Under this program, the shares will be purchased from time to time at prevailing market prices, through open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending upon market conditions.
Item 6.EXHIBITS
   
10.1
31.1 
  
31.2 
  
32.1 
  
32.2 
  
95 
  
101 INS XBRL Instance Document  - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL 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






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. DarraghKimberly D. Fast
  
  Colleen M. DarraghKimberly D. Fast
  Vice President &Acting Controller
August 2, 20182019
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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