# ASC 410-10: Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations — Overall

Source: FASB Accounting Standards Codification, Basic View

[Read online](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/410/10/)

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## ASC 410-10: Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations — Overall

### Machine-generated study aids

```json
{
  "summary": "ASC 410-10 is a purely navigational \"Overall\" subtopic within the Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations Topic. Its sole purpose is to explain the difference between Subtopic 410-20 (asset retirement obligations, the associated asset retirement cost, and environmental remediation liabilities arising from normal operation of a long-lived asset) and Subtopic 410-30 (environmental remediation liabilities generally). It contains no independent recognition or measurement rules.",
  "key_points": [
    "Topic 410 comprises three Subtopics: Overall (410-10), Asset Retirement Obligations (410-20), and Environmental Obligations (410-30) (410-10-05-1).",
    "The sole purpose of the Overall Subtopic is to explain the differences between the other two Subtopics (410-10-05-2).",
    "Subtopic 410-20 governs the liability for an asset retirement obligation and the associated asset retirement cost, and also an environmental remediation liability that results from the normal operation of a long-lived asset (see 410-20-55-7).",
    "Subtopic 410-30 governs accounting and financial reporting for environmental remediation liabilities (i.e., those not arising from normal operation of a long-lived asset) (410-10-05-2).",
    "410-10 itself prescribes no recognition, measurement, presentation, or disclosure requirements; the operative guidance resides in 410-20 and 410-30."
  ],
  "categories": [
    "Recognition",
    "Contingencies and guarantees",
    "Inventory and PP&E"
  ],
  "audience_level": "introductory",
  "student_note": "The exam trap is picking the wrong subtopic: if the environmental liability arises from the normal operation of a long-lived asset (e.g., legally required removal of contaminated equipment at retirement), it is an ARO under 410-20; remediation of past contamination or improper operation falls under 410-30. 410-10 itself has no substantive rules.",
  "related_topics": [
    "410-20",
    "410-30",
    "450-20",
    "420",
    "360-10"
  ],
  "key_concepts": [
    "asset retirement obligation",
    "asset retirement cost",
    "environmental remediation liability",
    "long-lived asset",
    "normal operation",
    "scope navigation"
  ]
}
```

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## ASC 410-10-00: 00 Status

[Read section](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/410/10/#00-status)

SEC content: no

##### [410-10-00-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/410/10/#410-10-00-1)

Pending content: no

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No updates have been made to this subtopic.

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## ASC 410-10-05: 05 Overview and Background

[Read section](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/410/10/#05-overview-and-background)

SEC content: no

##### [410-10-05-1](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/410/10/#410-10-05-1)

Pending content: no

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The Asset [Retirement](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/glossary/r/#retirement "The other-than-temporary removal of a long-lived asset from service. That term encompasses sale, abandonment, recycling, or disposal in some other manner. However, it does not encompass the temporary idling of a long-lived asset. After an entity retires an asset, that asset is no longer under the control of that entity, no longer in existence, or no longer capable of being used in the manner for which the asset was originally acquired, constructed, or developed.") and Environmental Obligations Topic includes the following Subtopics:

1.  a
    
    Overall
    
2.  b
    
    Asset Retirement Obligations
    
3.  c
    
    Environmental Obligations.

##### [410-10-05-2](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/410/10/#410-10-05-2)

Pending content: no

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The sole purpose of the Overall Subtopic is to explain the differences between the other two Subtopics. Subtopic 410-20 provides guidance on accounting for and financial reporting of a liability for an asset retirement obligation (and the associated asset retirement cost) and an environmental remediation liability that results from the normal operation of a long-lived asset (see paragraph [410-20-55-7](https://asc.understandingaccounting.org/asc/410/20/#410-20-55-7)). Subtopic 410-30 provides guidance on accounting for and financial reporting of environmental remediation liabilities.