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Accounting for the environmental impacts of Texaco's operations in Ecuador: Chevron's contingent environmental liability disclosures

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  • Buccina, Stacie
  • Chene, Douglas
  • Gramlich, Jeffrey

Abstract

This paper examines the disclosure of a contingent legal obligation that arose as a result of Texaco Inc.’s oil drilling and extraction activities in Ecuador. We examine Texaco's and, after Texaco's acquisition by Chevron in 2001, Chevron's, financial reporting and SEC disclosures pertaining to a lawsuit claiming damages related to the environmental effects of Texaco's 30 years of operations in Ecuador. After an historical review of Texaco's drilling and extraction activities in Ecuador, and the ensuing litigation that began in 1993, we consider U.S. accounting and reporting rules as they apply to Texaco and Chevron. Given these rules, we analyze the appropriateness and timing of Chevron's disclosures related to the heretofore-unresolved litigation. The discussion employs legitimacy and stakeholder theories to explain Chevron's disclosures.

Suggested Citation

  • Buccina, Stacie & Chene, Douglas & Gramlich, Jeffrey, 2013. "Accounting for the environmental impacts of Texaco's operations in Ecuador: Chevron's contingent environmental liability disclosures," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 110-123.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:accfor:v:37:y:2013:i:2:p:110-123
    DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2013.04.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jennifer Chen & Robin Roberts, 2010. "Toward a More Coherent Understanding of the Organization–Society Relationship: A Theoretical Consideration for Social and Environmental Accounting Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(4), pages 651-665, December.
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    7. Mahadeo, Jyoti Devi & Oogarah-Hanuman, Vanisha & Soobaroyen, Teerooven, 2011. "Changes in social and environmental reporting practices in an emerging economy (2004–2007): Exploring the relevance of stakeholder and legitimacy theories," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 158-175.
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    6. Juan Durango-Cordero & Mehdi Saqalli & Christophe Laplanche & Marine Locquet & Arnaud Elger, 2018. "Spatial Analysis of Accidental Oil Spills Using Heterogeneous Data: A Case Study from the North-Eastern Ecuadorian Amazon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-13, December.
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