The demand for environmental accounting information has led to both
the need for further accounting guidance and to accounting research
conducted by academics as well as the business sector. Accounting standard setters have responded by providing guidance in evaluating and reporting environmental liabilities. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 92 (SEC 1993) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has
issued Statement of Position 96-1 (AICPA 1996). Both of these publications relate to the recognition and valuation of environmental liabilities,the appropriate discount rate, and whether expected insurance proceeds may offset the gross cleanup liability.