The question here is to determine the associated COSTS to the Asset Retirement Obligation in Jan 1, 2018. and construction of the

plant in 2017. I am not sure how to approach this kind of long answer question because there are a lot of elements to choose from and a lot of words are used to confuse me.

Will the deprecation for that year be calculated on the ARO?

You have started on a new job with the designation of VP-Special Assignments and Issues. Before you

could even get comfortable in your supersoft executive leather chair, in strides your boss, Ackque Feegerz

carrying a sheaf of papers. "Ah, nothing looks better than a busy accountant on a Monday morning," then

looked at his watch and added, "you are already 15 minutes behind schedule. We do not pay for idle time

and so from tomorrow, do come in at least an hour before office starts." Then he deposited two files on

your desk, and remarked, "Do please sort these out before 11:00 AM and begin with File I. Don't bother

me with petty questions. You are expected to take independent decisions, my man," and he was gone.

His note pinned on the folder informed you that it was essential for you to show sufficient details in your

responses. And thus you start your day with this File I!

The company, Digi Communications, Inc., [DCI], began as a small startup firm in the late twentieth

century but in five years, it grew rapidly and expanded competitively into several areas of this industry. It

is currently operating internationally and its shares are listed on the NYSE. Its reporting platform is IFRS

and has a fiscal year-end of December 31.

You now begin work on the file related to the obligations for asset retirement. In late 2016, it procured a

permit to strip mine 1,000 acres of pristine land in the western regions of Saskatchewan. The provincial

government had issued the lease free of cost as a grant to stimulate employment in this region. The

company had earlier submitted a legally binding comprehensive plan which included a timetable for the

full reclamation of the land at the end of this lease. Although the permit is valid for ten years from the

date of the commencement of operations, the management is expecting to finish its mining after

seven years. Once it has closed the mine, DCI will restore the land and ground cover to its original

topographical condition then provide reforestation, and finally encourage rehabilitation of pre-existing

wildlife to the area. DCI will also engage in activities designed to minimize the air and water pollution

created by the strip mining process.

DCI has made the following estimates regarding the ultimate cost of the asset retirement obligation if the

work was done currently:

L 1. All relevant labor cost estimates related to this reclamation work are currently $20 per hour.

However, DCI is certain that this cost will increase by 10% by the end of the next seven years

and then level off.

L 2. It will take approximately 10 hours per acre related to the restoration work on the soil, ground

cover and tree planting. Similarly, the cost of equipment used for this work plus additional

overhead costs is expected to be 75% of these labor costs.

L 3. Other grass seeding and tree planting costs (seeds and trees) estimate is $1,100 per acre.

L 4. The company has not previously made any attempts to restore pre-existing wildlife (several bird

species, garter snakes) on its other property investments. Based on conservative estimates, these

costs have been pegged at $500,000 for this project.

L 5. The company was legally obligated to finish of the restoration work within six months of

ending the mining operation.

L 6. The estimates of the restoration work (points 2 through 4 above) were made based on current

prices. However to accommodate possible future price increases to when the work will be

performed, the company expects to pay an additional 15% of the restoration estimate described in

points 2 through 4.

L 7. The initial investment to set up the plant and equipment in order to commence the mining work

was estimated to be $21,000,000 and was classified as Asset - Landmine. The plant was

scheduled to be set up and paid for in 2017 and the production was scheduled to commence on

January 1, 2018. A discount rate of 4% per annum was considered to be realistic. Finally, the

company will account for the ARO from the date of the commencement of the production

process.