Sunoco 2008 Annual Report Download - page 63

Many of Sunoco’s current terminals are being addressed with the above containment/remediation strategy.
At some smaller or less impacted facilities and some previously divested terminals, the focus is on remediating
discrete interior areas to attain regulatory closure.
Sunoco owns or operates certain retail gasoline outlets where releases of petroleum products have occurred.
Federal and state laws and regulations require that contamination caused by such releases at these sites and at
formerly owned sites be assessed and remediated to meet the applicable standards. The obligation for Sunoco to
remediate this type of contamination varies, depending on the extent of the release and the applicable laws and
regulations. A portion of the remediation costs may be recoverable from the reimbursement fund of the
applicable state, after any deductible has been met.
In summary, total future costs for environmental remediation activities will depend upon, among other
things, the identification of any additional sites, the determination of the extent of the contamination at each site,
the timing and nature of required remedial actions, the nature of operations at each site, the technology available
and needed to meet the various existing legal requirements, the nature and terms of cost-sharing arrangements
with other potentially responsible parties, the availability of insurance coverage, the nature and extent of future
environmental laws and regulations, inflation rates, terms of consent agreements or remediation permits with
regulatory agencies and the determination of Sunoco’s liability at the sites, if any, in light of the number,
participation level and financial viability of the other parties.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements requiring adoption subsequent to
December 31, 2008, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Item 8).
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the information included in this report contains “forward-looking statements” (as defined in
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). These
forward-looking statements discuss estimates, goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events,
results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to the Company, based on current
beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, Sunoco. Forward-
looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “budget,” “could,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,”
“scheduled,” “should,” or other similar words, phrases or expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events
or outcomes. Although management believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based
upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions, any or all of which may ultimately prove to be
inaccurate. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
• Changes in refining, marketing and chemical margins;
• Changes in coal and coke prices;
• Variation in crude oil and petroleum-based commodity prices and availability of crude oil and
feedstock supply or transportation;
• Effects of transportation disruptions;
• Changes in the price differentials between light-sweet and heavy-sour crude oils;
• Changes in the marketplace which may affect supply and demand for Sunoco’s products;
• Changes in competition and competitive practices, including the impact of foreign imports;
• Effects of weather conditions and natural disasters on the Company’s operating facilities and on
product supply and demand;
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