6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1007-1-3-F

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024
Appendix 6 CCR 1007-1-3-F - CRITERIA RELATING TO USE OF FINANCIAL TESTS AND PARENT COMPANY GUARANTEES FOR PROVIDING REASONABLE ASSURANCE OF FUNDS FOR DECOMMISSIONING

3F.1 Introduction

3F.1.1 An applicant or licensee may provide reasonable assurance of the availability of funds for decommissioning based on obtaining a parent company guarantee that funds will be available for decommissioning costs and on a demonstration that the parent company passes a financial test. This Appendix establishes criteria for passing the financial test and for obtaining the parent company guarantee.

3F.2 Financial Test

3F.2.1 To pass the financial test, the parent company must meet the criteria of either 3F.2.1.1 or 3F.2.1.2 of this Appendix:

3F.2.1.1 The parent company must have:

(1) Two of the following three ratios: a ratio of total liabilities to net worth less than 2.0; a ratio of the sum of net income plus depreciation, depletion, and amortization to total liabilities greater than 0.1; and ratio of current assets to current liabilities greater than 1.5; and

(2) Net working capital and tangible net worth each at least ten times the current decommissioning cost estimates (or prescribed amount if a certification is used); and

(3) Tangible net worth of at least $10 million; and

(4) Assets located in the United States amounting to at least 90 percent of total assets or at least ten times the current decommissioning cost estimates (or prescribed amount if a certification is used).

3F.2.1.2 The parent company must have:

(1) A current rating for its most recent bond issuance of AAA, AA, A, or BBB as issued by Standard and Poor's or AAA, AA, A, or BAA as issued by Moody's; and

(2) Tangible net worth at least ten times the current decommissioning cost estimate (or prescribed amount if a certification is used); and

(3) Tangible net worth of at least $10 million; and

(4) Assets located in the United States amounting to at least 90 percent of total assets or at least ten times the current decommissioning cost estimates (or prescribed amount if certification is used).

3F.2.2 The parent company's independent certified public accountant must have compared the data used by the parent company in the financial test, which is derived from independently audited, year end financial statements for the latest fiscal year, with the amounts in such financial statement. In connection with that procedure the licensee shall inform the Department within 90 days of any matters coming to the auditor's attention which cause the auditor to believe that the data specified in the financial test should be adjusted and that the company no longer passes the test.

3F.2.3 Follow-up

3F.2.3.1. After the initial financial test, the parent company must repeat the passage of the test within 90 days after the close of each succeeding fiscal year.

3F.2.3.2 If the parent company no longer meets the requirements of 3F.2.1 of this section, the licensee must send notice to the Department of intent to establish alternate financial assurance as specified in the Department's regulations.

(1) The notice must be sent by certified mail within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year for which the year-end financial data show that the parent company no longer meets the financial test requirements.

(2) The licensee must provide alternate financial assurance within 120 days after the end of such fiscal year.

3F.3 Parent Company Guarantee

3F.3.1 The terms of a parent company guarantee which an applicant or licensee obtains must provide that:

3F.3.1,1. The parent company guarantee will remain in force unless the guarantor sends notice of cancellation by certified mail to the licensee and the Department. Cancellation may not occur, however, during the 120 days beginning on the date of receipt of the notice of cancellation by both the licensee and the Department, as evidenced by the return receipts.

3F.3.1.2 If the licensee fails to provide alternate financial assurance as specified in the

Department's regulations within 90 days after receipt by the licensee and Department of a notice of cancellation of the parent company guarantee from the guarantor, the guarantor will provide such alternative financial assurance in the name of the licensee.

3F.3.1.3 The parent company guarantee and financial test provisions must remain in effect until the Department has terminated the license or until another financial assurance method acceptable to the Department has been put in effect by the licensee.

3F.3.1.4 If a trust is established for decommissioning costs, the trustee and trust must be acceptable to the Department. An acceptable trustee includes the following: an appropriate state or federal government agency or an entity which has the authority to act as a trustee and whose trust operations are regulated and examined by a state or federal agency.

6 CCR 1007-1-3-F

Colorado Register, Vol 37, No. 14. July 25, 2014, effective 8/14/2014
38 CR 02, January 25, 2015, effective 2/14/2015
38 CR 05, March 10, 2015, effective 3/30/2015
38 CR 12, June 25, 2015, effective 7/15/2015
38 CR 14, July 25, 2015, effective 8/14/2015
39 CR 02, January 25, 2016, effective 2/14/2016
39 CR 16, August 25, 2016, effective 9/14/2016
39 CR 22, November 25, 2016, effective 12/15/2016
40 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 6/30/2017
40 CR 20, October 25, 2017, effective 11/14/2017
42 CR 24, December 25, 2019, effective 1/14/2020
43 CR 14, July 25, 2020, effective 8/14/2020
43 CR 18, September 25, 2020, effective 10/15/2020
44 CR 11, June 10, 2021, effective 7/15/2021
44 CR 14, July 25, 2021, effective 8/14/2021
45 CR 22, November 25, 2022, effective 12/15/2022
46 CR 21, November 10, 2023, effective 12/15/2023