UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal year endedDecember 31, 20172020

or

For the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission File No.1-11596

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(770) 587-9898

(Registrant’s telephone number)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:    

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes [  ] Yes [X] No [X]

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes [  ] Yes [X] No [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

[X] Yes [X] No [  ] No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).

[X] Yes [X] No [  ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X] No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated Filer[Filer [  ] Non-accelerated Filer [  ][X] Smaller reporting company [X] Emerging growth company [  ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes [  ] Yes [X] No [X]

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant computed by reference to the closing sale price of such stock as reported by NASDAQ as of the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2017)2020), was approximately $40,026,912.$72,649,482). For the purposes of this calculation, all directors and executive officers of the Registrant (as indicated in Item 12) have been deemed to be affiliates. Such determination should not be deemed an admission that such directors and executive officers, are, in fact, affiliates of the Registrant. The Company’s Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Markets.

As of February 20, 2018,18, 2021, there were 11,747,05512,165,734 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.001 par value, outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference: None

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

INDEX

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Company Overview and Principal Products and Services

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (the Company, which may be referred to as we, us, or our), a Delaware corporation incorporated in December of 1990, is an environmental and environmental technology know-how company.

We have grown through acquisitionsThe principal element of our business strategy consists of upgrading our facilities within our Treatment Segment to increase efficiency and internal growth. Our goal ismodernize and expand treatment capabilities to meet the changing markets associated with the waste management industry. Within our Services Segment, we continue to focus on the saferevitalize and efficient operation of our three waste treatment facilities and on-site activities, identify and pursue strategic acquisitions to expand our business development programs to further increase competitive procurement effectiveness and broaden the market base,penetration within both the commercial and conduct research and development (“R&D”) of innovative technologies to solve complex waste management challenges providing increased value to our clients.government sectors. The Company continues to focusremains focused on expansion into both commercial and international markets to supplement government spending in the USA,United States of America (“USA”), from which a significant portion of the Company’s revenue is derived. This includes new services, new customers and increased market share in our current markets.

Additionally, our goal is for ourOur majority-owned subsidiary, Perma-Fix Medical S.A. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Perma-Fix Medical Corporation (“PFM Corporation” – a Delaware corporation) (together known as “PF Medical” or our “Medical Segment), to raiseSegment”) which is currently involved on a limited basis in the necessary capital to continue its research and development (“R&D activities in order to pursue commercialization&D”) of itsthe Company’s medical isotope production technology, (see “Medical Segment” belowhas not generated any revenue and has substantially reduced R&D costs and activities due to the need for capital to fund these activities. The Company anticipates that the Medical Segment will not resume full R&D activities until the necessary capital is obtained through its own credit facility or additional equity raise, or obtains partners willing to provide funding for its R&D.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The spread of COVID-19 in early 2020 continues to result in significant volatility in the U.S. and international markets. We continue to closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business. Since the start of the pandemic, we have experienced delays in waste shipment from certain customers within our Treatment Segment directly related to the impact of COVID-19 including generator shutdowns and limited sustained operations, along with other factors. However, we expect to see a gradual return in waste receipts from these customers starting in the first half of 2021 as they accelerate operations. Within our Services Segment, all of the projects that were previously shutdown in late March 2020 due to the pandemic recommenced starting in late June 2020 as stay-at-home orders and certain other restrictions resulting from the pandemic were lifted.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have remained focused on keeping our employees working and, at the same time, focusing on protecting the health and wellbeing of our employees and the communities in which we operate while assuring the continuity of our business operations.

Our management team has proactively implemented our business continuity and safety plans and has taken a variety of measures to ensure the ongoing availability of our waste treatment and remediation services, while taking health and safety measures, including separating employee and customer contact, social distancing between employees, implementing enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols in all of our facilities, and implementing remote work policies, when necessary.

The situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to remain fluid and volatile. The potential for a material impact on our business increases the longer COVID-19 impacts the level of economic activities in the United States and globally as our customers may further information in connectioncontinue to delay waste shipments and projects may shut down again. For this reason, we cannot reasonably estimate with this segment).any degree of certainty the future impact COVID-19 may have on our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity during the next twelve months.

For a more detailed discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s results of operations, please see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” – “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Segment Information and Foreign and Domestic Operations and Sales

The Company has three reportable segments. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 280, “Segment Reporting”, we define an operating segment as:

TREATMENT SEGMENT reporting includes:

In 2020, we expanded our low-level radioactive waste processing and treatment capability within our Treatment Segment through the addition of our EWOC facility. The Company continues withEWOC facility serves primarily as a multi-disciplinary equipment and component processing center for large component, size/volume reduction, sort/segregation, waste transload, and system operability testing. The ultimate objective of the closurefacility will be receipt, preparation, packaging, and transportation of its East Tennessee Materials and Energy Corporation (“M&EC”) facility within the Treatment Segment.low-level radioactive waste to final disposal facilities (landfills, approved radiological waste repositories). Operations at the M&EC facility arehave been limited during the remaining termto date as we continue to complete transition of the lease and the facility continues to transition waste shipments and operational capabilities to our other Treatment Segment facilities, subject to customer requirements and regulatory approvals. Simultaneously, the Company continues with closure and decommissioning activitiessite. No revenue was generated at EWOC in accordance with M&EC’s license and permit requirements. Current plans are to complete closure activities by the end of the facility’s lease term, which has been extended to June 30, 2018 from January 21, 2018.2020.

For 2017,2020, the Treatment Segment accounted for $37,750,000$30,143,000, or 75.9%28.6%, of total revenue, as compared to $32,253,000$40,364,000, or 63.0%54.9%, of total revenue for 2016. Treatment Segment revenues for 2017 and 2016 included revenues of $6,312,000 and $4,419,000 for the M&EC subsidiary, which is currently in closure status.2019. See “– Dependence“Dependence Upon a Single or Few Customers” for further details and a discussion as to our Segments’ contracts with the federal government clients (domestic and foreign) or with others as a subcontractor to the federal government.government clients.

SERVICES SEGMENT, reportingwhich includes:

For 2017,2020, the Services Segment accounted for $12,019,000$75,283,000, or 24.1%71.4%, of total revenue, as compared to $18,966,000$33,095,000, or 37.0%45.1%, of total revenue for 2016.2019. See “ – Dependence“Dependence Upon a Single or Few Customers” for further details and a discussion as to our Segments’ contracts with the federal government clients (domestic and foreign) or with others as a subcontractor to the federal government clients.

MEDICAL SEGMENT reporting includes: R&D costs for the new medical isotope production technology from our majority-owned Polish subsidiary (of which we own approximately 60.5% at December 31, 2017), PF Medical. The Medical Segment has not generated any revenue as it continues to be primarily in the R&D stage. R&D costs consist primarily(see a discussion of employee salaries and benefits, laboratory costs, third party fees, and other related costs associated with the development of new technology. As previously disclosed, during the latter part of 2016, our Medical Segment ceased a substantial portion of its R&D activities for the new medical isotope production technology due to the need for substantial capital to fund such activities. We anticipate that our Medical Segment will not restart its full scale R&D activities until it obtains the necessary funding.above under “Company Overview and Principal Products and Services”).

Our Treatment and Services Segments provide services to research institutions, commercial companies, public utilities, and governmental agencies nationwide,(domestic and foreign), including the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) and U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”). The distribution channels for our services are through direct sales to customers or via intermediaries.

Our corporate office is located at 8302 Dunwoody Place, Suite 250, Atlanta, Georgia 30350.

Foreign Revenue

Our consolidated revenue for 20172020 and 20162019 included approximately $84,000$5,550,000, or 0.2%5.3%, and $139,000$5,488,000, or 0.3%, respectively, from our United Kingdom operation, Perma-Fix UK Limited (“PF UK Limited”).

Our consolidated revenue for 2017 and 2016 included approximately $1,073,000 or 2.2% and $262,000 or 0.5%7.5%, respectively, from Canadian customers (including revenues generated by our Perma-Fix of Canada, Inc. (“PF Canada”) subsidiary).

Importance of Patents, Trademarks and Proprietary Technology

We do not believe we are dependent on any particular trademark in order to operate our business or any significant segment thereof. We have received registration to May 2022 and December 2020, for the service marks “Perma-Fix Environmental Services” and “Perma-Fix”, respectively. We also have registration to April 2023 for a service mark for PF Canada. In addition, we have received registration for two service marks for our Safety & Ecology Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively known as “Safety and Ecology Corporation” or “SEC”) to periods ranging from 2018 to 2027.

We are active in the R&D of technologies that allow us to address certain of our customers’ environmental needs. To date, we have fifteen active patents and the filing of several applications for which patents are pending. These fifteen active patents have remaining lives ranging from approximately one to seventeen years. These active patents include an U.S and an international patent for new technology for the production of radiological isotopes for certain types of medical applications; and which have been licensed to PFM Corporation. These patents are effective through March 2032.

Permits and Licenses

Waste management service companies are subject to extensive, evolving and increasingly stringent federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Such federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations govern our activities regarding the treatment, storage, processing, disposal and transportation of hazardous, non-hazardous and radioactive wastes, and require us to obtain and maintain permits, licenses and/or approvals in order to conduct certain of our waste activities. We are dependent on our permits and licenses discussed below in order to operate our businesses. Failure to obtain and maintain our permits or approvals would have a material adverse effect on us, our operations, and financial condition. The permits and licenses have terms ranging from one to ten years, and provided that we maintain a reasonable level of compliance, renew with minimal effort, and cost. We believe that these permit and license requirements represent a potential barrier to entry for possible competitors.

PFF, located in Gainesville, Florida, operates its hazardous, mixed and low-level radioactive waste activities under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) Part B permit, Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) authorization, Restricted RX Drug Distributor-Destruction license, biomedical, and a radioactive materials license issued by the State of Florida.

DSSI, located in Kingston, Tennessee, conducts mixed and low-level radioactive waste storage and treatment activities under RCRA Part B permits and a radioactive materials license issued by the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Co-regulated TSCA Polychlorinated Biphenyl (“PCB”) wastes are also managed for PCB destruction under the EPA Approval effective June 2008.

Approval.

PFNWR, located in Richland, Washington, operates a low-level radioactive waste processing facility as well as a mixed waste processing facility. Radioactive material processing is authorized under radioactive materials licenses issued by the State of Washington and mixed waste processing is additionally authorized under a RCRA Part B permit with TSCA authorization issued jointly by the State of Washington and the EPA.

M&EC,EWOC, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, performs hazardous,operates a low-level radioactive and mixed waste storage and treatment operationsmaterial processing facility. Radioactive material processing is authorized under a RCRA Part B permit and a radioactive materials licensematerial licenses issued by the State of Tennessee Department of EnvironmentEnvironmental and Conservation. Co-regulated TSCA PCB wastes are also managed under EPA Approvals applicable to site-specific treatment units. The M&EC facility is currently undergoing closure activity requirements. The Company fully impaired the permit valueConservation, Division of approximately $8,288,000 for our M&EC subsidiary in 2016. The permits at M&EC will be terminated upon completion of requirements pursuant to M&EC’s closure plan.radiological health.

The combination of a RCRA Part B hazardous waste permit,permits, TSCA authorization,authorizations, and a radioactive materials license, asmaterial licenses held by the Company and its subsidiaries comprising our Treatment Segment areis very difficult to obtain for a single facility and make these facilitiesthis Segment unique.

We believe that the permitting and licensing requirements, and the cost to obtain such permits, are barriers to the entry of hazardous waste and radioactive and mixed waste activities as presently operated by our waste treatment subsidiaries. If the permit requirements for hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal (“TSD”) activities and/or the licensing requirements for the handling of low levellow-level radioactive matters are eliminated or if such licenses or permits were made less rigorous to obtain, we believe such would allow companies to enter into these markets and provide greater competition.

Backlog

TheOur Treatment Segment of our Company maintains a backlog of stored waste, which represents waste that has not been processed. The backlog is principally a result of the timing and complexity of the waste being brought into the facilities and the selling price per container. At December 31, 2017,2020, our Treatment Segment had a backlog of approximately $7,666,000,$7,631,000, as compared to approximately $5,250,000$8,506,000 at December 31, 2016.2019. Additionally, the time it takes to process waste from the time it arrives may increase due to the types and complexities of the waste we are currently receiving. We typically process our backlog during periods of low waste receipts, which historically has been in the first or fourth quarters.

Dependence Upon a Single or Few Customers

Our Treatment and Services Segments have significant relationships with the federalU.S and Canadian governmental authorities. A significant amount of our revenues from our Treatment and Services Segments are generated indirectly as subcontractors for others who are prime contractors to government authorities, particularly the U.S Department of Energy (“DOE”) and continue to enter into contracts,U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”) or directly as the prime contractor or indirectly for others as a subcontractor, with the federal government.to government authorities. The contracts that we are a party to with others as subcontractors to the U.S federal government or directly with others as a subcontractor to the U.S federal government generally provide that the government may terminate or renegotiate the contracts on 30 daysdays’ notice, at the government’s election. The contracts/task order agreements that we are a party to with Canadian governmental authorities generally provide that the government authorities may terminate the contracts/task order agreements at any time for any reason for convenience. Our inability to continue under existing contracts that we have with the U.S federal government and Canadian government authorities (directly or indirectly as a subcontractor) or significant reductions in the level of governmental funding in any given year could have a material adverse effectimpact on our operations and financial condition.

We performed services relating to waste generated by the federal government clients (domestic and foreign (primarily Canadian)), either indirectly for others as a subcontractor to government entities or directly as a prime contractor to government entities, representing approximately $36,654,000$96,582,000, or 73.6%91.6%, of our total revenue during 2017,2020, as compared to $27,354,000$59,985,000, or 53.4%81.7%, of our total revenue during 2016.2019.

Revenue generated by one of the customers (PSC Metal, Inc.us as a subcontractor to a customer for a remediation project performed for a government entity (the “DOE”) (non-government related and excluded from above) in thewithin our Services Segment in 2020 and 2019 accounted for approximately $9,763,000$41,011,000 or 19.1% of the total38.9% and $8,529,000 or 11.6% (included in revenues generated relating to government clients above) of our total revenue for 2020 and 2019, respectively. This remediation project included among other things, decontamination support of a building. As work progressed throughout stages of this project in 2020, additional contaminations were regularly discovered which resulted in approvals for additional work to be performed under this project. This project is expected to be completed by the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. Project work for this customer commenced in March 2016 and was completed in December 2016.

first half of 2021.

As our revenues are project/event based where the completion of one contract with a specific customer may be replaced by another contract with a different customer from year to year, we do not believe the loss of one specific customer from one year to the next will generally have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

Competitive Conditions

The Treatment Segment’s largest competitor is EnergySolutions (“ES”) which operates treatment facilities in Oak Ridge, TN and Erwin, TN and a disposal facilityfacilities for low level radioactive waste in Clive, UT.UT and Barnwell, SC. Waste Control Specialists (“WCS”), which has licensed disposal capabilities for low level radioactive waste in Andrews, TX, is also a competitor in the treatment market with increasing market share. Perma-Fix now hasThese two competitors also provide us with options for disposal of our treated nuclear waste and thus mitigates prior risk of ES providing the only outlet for disposal.waste. The Treatment Segment treats and disposes of DOE generated wasteswaste largely at DOE owned sites. Smaller competitors are also present in the market place; however, we believe they do not present a significant challenge at this time. Our Treatment Segment currently solicits business primarily on a North AmericanAmerica basis with both government and commercial clients; however, we continue to focus on emerging international markets for additional work.

Our Services Segment is engaged in highly competitive businesses in which a number of our government contracts and some of our commercial contracts are awarded through competitive bidding processes. The extent of such competition varies according to the industries and markets in which our customers operate as well as the geographic areas in which we operate. The degree and type of competition we face is also often influenced by the project specification being bid on and the different specialty skill sets of each bidder for which our Services Segment competes, especially projects subject to the governmental bid process. We also have the ability to prime federal government small business procurements (small business set asides). Based on past experience, we believe that large businesses are more willing to team with small businesses in order to be part of these often substantialoften-substantial procurements. There are a number of qualified small businesses in our market that will provide intense competition that may provide a challenge to our ability to maintain strong growth rates and acceptable profit margins. For international business there are additional competitors, many from within the country the work is to be performed, making winning work in foreign countries more challenging. If our Services Segment is unable to meet these competitive challenges, it could lose market share and experience an overall reduction in its profits.

Certain Environmental Expenditures and Potential Environmental Liabilities

Environmental Liabilities

We have three remediation projects, which are currently in progress atrelating to our Perma-Fix of Dayton, Inc. (“PFD”), Perma-Fix of Memphis, Inc. (“PFM”), and Perma-Fix South Georgia, Inc. (“PFSG”) subsidiaries, which are all included within our discontinued operations. These remediation projects principally entail the removal/remediation of contaminated soil and, in most cases, the remediation of surrounding ground water. These remediation activities are closely reviewed and monitored by the applicable state regulators.

At December 31, 2017,2020, we had total accrued environmental remediation liabilities of $871,000,$854,000. At December 31, 2020, $744,000 of which $632,000 arethe total accrued environmental liabilities was recorded as a current liability, a decrease of $54,000 from the December 31, 2016 balance of $925,000. The net decrease of $54,000 represents payments on remediation projects at PFSG and PFD totaling approximately of $79,000 and an increase to the reserve of approximately $25,000 at PFD due to reassessment of the remediation reserve.

No insurance or third party recovery was taken into account in determining our cost estimates or reserves.current.

The nature of our business exposes us to significant cost to comply with governmental environmental laws, rules and regulations and risk of liability for damages. Such potential liability could involve, for example, claims for cleanup costs, personal injury or damage to the environment in cases where we are held responsible for the release of hazardous materials; claims of employees, customers or third parties for personal injury or property damage occurring in the course of our operations; and claims alleging negligence or professional errors or omissions in the planning or performance of our services. In addition, we could be deemed a responsible party for the costs of required cleanup of properties, which may be contaminated by hazardous substances generated or transported by us to a site we selected, including properties owned or leased by us. We could also be subject to fines and civil penalties in connection with violations of regulatory requirements.

Research and Development (“R&D”)

Innovation and technical know-how by our operations is very important to the success of our business. Our goal is to discover, develop and bring to market innovative ways to process waste that address unmet environmental needs. We conduct research internally, and also through collaborations with other third parties. The majority of our research activities are performed as we receive new and unique waste to treat. Our competitors also devote resources to R&D and many such competitors have greater resources at their disposal than we do. As previously discussed, our Medical Segment ceased a substantial portion of its R&D activities during the latter part of 2016 due to the need for substantial capital to fund such activities. We are continually exploring ways to raise this capital. We anticipate that our Medical Segment will not restart its full scale R&D activities until it obtains the necessary funding. We have estimated that during 2017 and 2016, we spent approximately $1,595,000 and $2,046,000, respectively, in R&D activities, of which approximately $1,141,000 and $1,489,000, respectively, were spent by our Medical Segment for the R&D of its medical isotope production technology.

Number of Employees

In our service-driven business, our employees are vital to our success. We believe we have good relationships with our employees. At December 31, 2017, we employed approximately 246 employees, of whom 236 are full-time employees and 10 are part-time/temporary employees.

Governmental Regulation

Environmental companies, such as us, and their customers are subject to extensive and evolving environmental laws and regulations by a number of national,federal, state and local environmental, safety and health agencies, the principal of which being the EPA. These laws and regulations largely contribute to the demand for our services. Although our customers remain responsible by law for their environmental problems, we must also comply with the requirements of those laws applicable to our services. We cannot predict the extent to which our operations may be affected by future enforcement policies as applied to existing laws or by the enactment of new environmental laws and regulations. Moreover, any predictions regarding possible liability are further complicated by the fact that under current environmental laws we could be jointly and severally liable for certain activities of third parties over whom we have little or no control. Although we believe that we are currently in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we could be subject to fines, penalties or other liabilities or could be adversely affected by existing or subsequently enacted laws or regulations. The principal environmental laws affecting our customers and us are briefly discussed below.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (“RCRA”)

RCRA and its associated regulations establish a strict and comprehensive permitting and regulatory program applicable to companies, such as us, that treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste. The EPA has promulgated regulations under RCRA for new and existing treatment, storage and disposal facilities including incinerators, storage and treatment tanks, storage containers, storage and treatment surface impoundments, waste piles and landfills. Every facility that treats, stores or disposes of hazardous waste must obtain a RCRA permit or must obtain interim status from the EPA, or a state agency, which has been authorized by the EPA to administer its program, and must comply with certain operating, financial responsibility and closure requirements.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA,” also referred to as the “Superfund Act”)

CERCLA governs the cleanup of sites at which hazardous substances are located or at which hazardous substances have been released or are threatened to be released into the environment. CERCLA authorizes the EPA to compel responsible parties to clean up sites and provides for punitive damages for noncompliance. CERCLA imposes joint and several liabilities for the costs of clean up and damages to natural resources.

Health and Safety Regulations

The operation of our environmental activities is subject to the requirements of the OSHA and comparable state laws. Regulations promulgated under OSHA by the Department of Labor require employers of persons in the transportation and environmental industries, including independent contractors, to implement hazard communications, work practices and personnel protection programs in order to protect employees from equipment safety hazards and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Atomic Energy Act

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 governs the safe handling and use of Source, Special Nuclear and Byproduct materials in the U.S. and its territories. This act authorized the Atomic Energy Commission (now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission “USNRC”) to enter into “Agreements with states to carry out those regulatory functions in those respective states except for Nuclear Power Plants and federal facilities like the VA hospitals and the DOE operations.” The State of Florida Department of Health (with the USNRC oversight), Office of Radiation Control, regulates the permittinglicensing and radiological program of the PFF facility, andfacility; the State of Tennessee (with the USNRC oversight), Tennessee DepartmentDivision of Radiological Health, regulates permittinglicensing and the radiological program of the DSSI facility and M&EC facilities. Thethe EWOC facility; and the State of Washington (with the USNRC oversight) Department of Health, regulates permittinglicensing and the radiological operations of the PFNWR facility.

Other Laws

Our activities are subject to other federal environmental protection and similar laws, including, without limitation, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the TSCA. Many states have also adopted laws for the protection of the environment which may affect us, including laws governing the generation, handling, transportation and disposition of hazardous substances and laws governing the investigation and cleanup of, and liability for, contaminated sites. Some of these state provisions are broader and more stringent than existing federal law and regulations. Our failure to conform our services to the requirements of any of these other applicable federal or state laws could subject us to substantial liabilities which could have a material adverse effect on us, our operations and financial condition. In addition to various federal, state and local environmental regulations, our hazardous waste transportation activities are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Interstate Commerce Commission and transportation regulatory bodies in the states in which we operate. We cannot predict the extent to which we may be affected by any law or rule that may be enacted or enforced in the future, or any new or different interpretations of existing laws or rules.

The following are certain risk factors that could affect our business, financial performance, and results of operations. These risk factors should be considered in connection with evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K, as the forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and actual results and conditions could differ materially from the current expectations. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk, and before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risk factors as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in the other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

Risk Related to COVID-19

COVID-19 could result in material adverse effects on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business is uncertain and difficult to predict, as the responses to the pandemic continue to evolve rapidly. Since the latter part of the second quarter of 2020, all of the projects within our Services Segment that were previously shutdown have restarted as stay-at-home orders and certain other restrictions resulting from the pandemic were lifted. Within our Treatment Segment, we continue to experience delays in waste shipment from certain customers directly related to the impact of COVID-19 including generator shutdowns and limited sustained operations, along with other factors. However, we expect to see a gradual return in waste receipts from these customers starting in the first half of 2021 as they accelerate operations. COVID-19 disruption could have a material adverse effect on our business as our customers could curtail and reduce capital and overall spending.

The severity of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic on our business will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic, the extent and severity of the impact on our customers, the impact on governmental programs and budgets, distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the rate at which people are inoculated with the vaccines, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions resume, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted with any accuracy or confidence at this time. Our future results of operations and liquidity could be adversely impacted by continued delays in waste shipments and/or the recurrence of project work shut downs as well as potential partial/full shutdown of any of our facilities due to COVID-19.

Risks Relating to our Business and Operations

Failure to maintain our financial assurance coverage that we are required to have in order to operate our permitted treatment, storage and disposal facilities could have a material adverse effect on us.

We maintain finite risk insurance policies and bonding mechanisms which provide financial assurance to the applicable states for our permitted facilities in the event of unforeseen closure of those facilities. We are required to provide and to maintain financial assurance that guarantees to the state that in the event of closure, our permitted facilities will be closed in accordance with the regulations. In the event that we are unable to obtain or maintain our financial assurance coverage for any reason, this could materially impact our operations and our permits which we are required to have in order to operate our treatment, storage, and disposal facilities.

If we cannot maintain adequate insurance coverage, we will be unable to continue certain operations.

Our business exposes us to various risks, including claims for causing damage to property and injuries to persons that may involve allegations of negligence or professional errors or omissions in the performance of our services. Such claims could be substantial. We believe that our insurance coverage is presently adequate and similar to, or greater than, the coverage maintained by other companies in the industry of our size. If we are unable to obtain adequate or required insurance coverage in the future, or if our insurance is not available at affordable rates, we would violate our permit conditions and other requirements of the environmental laws, rules, and regulations under which we operate. Such violations would render us unable to continue certain of our operations. These events would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

The inability to maintain existing government contracts or win new government contracts over an extended period could have a material adverse effect on our operations and adversely affect our future revenues.

A material amount of our Treatment and Services Segments’ revenues are generated through various U.S. government contracts or subcontracts involving the U.S. government.(domestic and foreign (primarily Canadian)). Our revenues from governmental contracts and subcontracts relating to governmental facilities within our segments were approximately $36,654,000$96,582,000, or 73.6%91.6%, and $27,354,000$59,985,000, or 53.4%81.7%, of our consolidated operating revenues for 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. Most of our government contracts or our subcontracts granted under government contracts are awarded through a regulated competitive bidding process. Some government contracts are awarded to multiple competitors, which increase overall competition and pricing pressure and may require us to make sustained post-award efforts to realize revenues under these government contracts. All contracts with, or subcontracts involving, the U.S federal government are terminable, or subject to renegotiation, by the applicable governmental agency on 30 days notice, at the option of the governmental agency. The contracts/task order agreements that we are a party to with Canadian governmental authorities generally provide that the government authorities may terminate the contracts/task order agreements at any time for any reason for convenience. If we fail to maintain or replace these relationships, or if a material contract is terminated or renegotiated in a manner that is materially adverse to us, our revenues and future operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our existing and future customers may reduce or halt their spending on hazardous waste and nuclear services with outside vendors, including us.

A variety of factors may cause our existing or future customers (including the federal government)government clients) to reduce or halt their spending on hazardous waste and nuclear services from outside vendors, including us. These factors include, but are not limited to:

These events could result in or cause the federal government clients to terminate or cancel its existing contracts involving us to treat, store or dispose of contaminated waste and/or to perform remediation projects, at one or more of the federal sites since all contracts with, or subcontracts involving, the federal government are terminable upon or subject to renegotiation at the option of the government on 30 days notice.sites. These events also could adversely affect us to the extent that they result in the reduction or elimination of contractual requirements, lower demand for nuclear services, burdensome regulation, disruptions of shipments or production, increased operational costs or difficulties or increased liability for actual or threatened property damage or personal injury.

Economic downturns, and/or reductions in government funding or other events beyond our control (such as the continued impact of COVID-19) could have a material negative impact on our businesses.

Demand for our services has been, and we expect that demand will continue to be, subject to significant fluctuations due to a variety of factors beyond our control, including, without limitation, economic conditions, reductions in the budget for spending to remediate federal sites due to numerous reasons including, without limitation, the substantial deficits that the federal government has and is continuing to incur.incur, and/or the continued impact resulting from COVID-19. During economic downturns, and large budget deficits that the federal government and many states are experiencing, and other events beyond our control, including, but not limited to the impact from COVID-19, the ability of private and government entities to spend on waste services, including nuclear services, may decline significantly. Our operations depend, in large part, upon governmental funding, particularly funding levels at the DOE. Significant reductions in the level of governmental funding (for example, the annual budget of the DOE) or specifically mandated levels for different programs that are important to our business could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.flow.

The loss of one or a few customers could have an adverse effect on us.

One or a few governmental customers or governmental related customers have in the past, and may in the future, account for a significant portion of our revenue in any one year or over a period of several consecutive years. Because customers generally contract with us for specific projects, we may lose these significant customers from year to year as their projects with us are completed. Our inability to replace the business with other similar significant projects could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We are a holding company and depend, in large part, on receiving funds from our subsidiaries to fund our indebtedness.

Because we are a holding company and operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations depends, in large part, on the operating performance and cash flows of our subsidiaries.

Our Treatment Segment has limited end disposal sites to utilize to dispose of its waste which could significantly impact our results of operations.

Our Treatment Segment has limited options available for disposal of its nuclear waste. Currently, there are only three disposal sites, each site having different owners, for our low-level radioactive waste we receive from non-governmental sites, allowing us to take advantage of the pricing competition between the three sites. If any of these disposal sites ceases to accept waste or closes for any reason or refuses to accept the waste of our Treatment Segment, for any reason, we would have limited remaining site to dispose of our nuclear waste. With limited end disposal site to dispose of our waste, we could be subject to significantly increased costs which could negatively impact our results of operations.

Our operations are subject to seasonal factors, which cause our revenues to fluctuate.

We have historically experienced reduced revenues and losses during the first and fourth quarters of our fiscal years due to a seasonal slowdown in operations from poor weather conditions, overall reduced activities during these periods resulting from holiday periods, and finalization of government budgets during the fourth quarter of each year. During our second and third fiscal quarters there has historically been an increase in revenues and operating profits. If we do not continue to have increased revenues and profitability during the second and third fiscal quarters, this could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity.

We are engaged in highly competitive businesses and typically must bid against other competitors to obtain major contracts.

We are engaged in highly competitive business in which most of our government contracts and some of our commercial contracts are awarded through competitive bidding processes. We compete with national, international (primarily Canada currently) and regional firms with nuclear and/or hazardous waste services practices, as well as small or local contractors. Some of our competitors have greater financial and other resources than we do, which can give them a competitive advantage. In addition, even if we are qualified to work on a new government contract, we might not be awarded the contract because of existing government policies designed to protect certain types of businesses and under-represented minority contractors. Although we believe we have the ability to certify and bid government contract as a small business, there are a number of qualified small businesses in our market that will provide intense competition. For international business, which we continue to focus on, there are additional competitors, many from within the country the work is to be performed, making winning work in foreign countries more challenging. Competition places downward pressure on our contract prices and profit margins. If we are unable to meet these competitive challenges, we could lose market share and experience on overall reduction in our profits.

We bear the risk of cost overruns in fixed-price contracts. We may experience reduced profits or, in some cases, losses under these contracts if costs increase above our estimates.

Our revenues may be earned under contracts that are fixed-price or maximum price in nature. Fixed-price contracts expose us to a number of risks not inherent in cost-reimbursable contracts. Under fixed price and guaranteed maximum-price contracts, contract prices are established in part on cost and scheduling estimates which are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions about future economic conditions, prices and availability of labor, equipment and materials, and other exigencies. If these estimates prove inaccurate, or if circumstances change such as unanticipated technical problems, difficulties in obtaining permits or approvals, changes in laws or labor conditions, weather delays, cost of raw materials, our suppliers’ or subcontractors’ inability to perform, and/or other events beyond our control, such as the impact of the Coronavirus, cost overruns may occur and we could experience reduced profits or, in some cases, a loss for that project. Errors or ambiguities as to contract specifications can also lead to cost-overruns.

Adequate bonding is necessary for us to win certain types of new work and support facility closure requirements.

We are often required to provide performance bonds to customers under certain of our contracts, primarily within our Services Segment. These surety instruments indemnify the customer if we fail to perform our obligations under the contract. If a bond is required for a particular project and we are unable to obtain it due to insufficient liquidity or other reasons, we may not be able to pursue that project. In addition, we provide bonds to support financial assurance in the event of facility closure pursuant to state requirements. We currently have a bonding facility but, the issuance of bonds under that facility is at the surety’s sole discretion. Moreover, due to events that affect the insurance and bonding markets generally, bonding may be more difficult to obtain in the future or may only be available at significant additional cost. There can be no assurance that bonds will continue to be available to us on reasonable terms. Our inability to obtain adequate bonding and, as a result, to bid on new work could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we cannot maintain our governmental permits or cannot obtain required permits, we may not be able to continue or expand our operations.

We are a nuclear services and waste management company. Our business is subject to extensive, evolving, and increasingly stringent federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Such federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations govern our activities regarding the treatment, storage, recycling, disposal, and transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste and low-level radioactive waste. We must obtain and maintain permits or licenses to conduct these activities in compliance with such laws and regulations. Failure to obtain and maintain the required permits or licenses would have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. If any of our facilities are unable to maintain currently held permits or licenses or obtain any additional permits or licenses which may be required to conduct its operations, we may not be able to continue those operations at these facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

Risks Related to Laws and Regulations

As a government contractor, we are subject to extensive government regulation, and our failure to comply with applicable regulations could subject us to penalties that may restrict our ability to conduct our business.

Our governmental contracts which are primarily with the DOE or subcontracts relating to DOE sites, are a significant part of our business. Allowable costs under U.S. government contracts are subject to audit by the U.S. government. If these audits result in determinations that costs claimed as reimbursable are not allowed costs or were not allocated in accordance with applicable regulations, we could be required to reimburse the U.S. government for amounts previously received.

Governmental contracts or subcontracts involving governmental facilities are often subject to specific procurement regulations, contract provisions and a variety of other requirements relating to the formation, administration, performance and accounting of these contracts. Many of these contracts include express or implied certifications of compliance with applicable regulations and contractual provisions. If we fail to comply with any regulations, requirements or statutes, our existing governmental contracts or subcontracts involving governmental facilities could be terminated or we could be suspended from government contracting or subcontracting. If one or more of our governmental contracts or subcontracts are terminated for any reason, or if we are suspended or debarred from government work, we could suffer a significant reduction in expected revenues and profits. Furthermore, as a result of our governmental contracts or subcontracts involving governmental facilities, claims for civil or criminal fraud may be brought by the government or violations of these regulations, requirements or statutes.

We are a holding company and depend, in large part, on receiving funds from our subsidiaries to fund our indebtedness.

Because we are a holding company and operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations depends, in large part, on the operating performance and cash flows of our subsidiaries.

Loss of certain key personnel could have a material adverse effect on us.

Our success depends on the contributions of our key management, environmental and engineering personnel. Our future success depends on our ability to retain and expand our staff of qualified personnel, including environmental specialists and technicians, sales personnel, and engineers. Without qualified personnel, we may incur delays in rendering our services or be unable to render certain services. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in our efforts to attract and retain qualified personnel as their availability is limited due to the demand for hazardous waste management services and the highly competitive nature of the hazardous waste management industry. We do not maintain key person insurance on any of our employees, officers, or directors.

Changes in environmental regulations and enforcement policies could subject us to additional liability and adversely affect our ability to continue certain operations.

We cannot predict the extent to which our operations may be affected by future governmental enforcement policies as applied to existing environmental laws, by changes to current environmental laws and regulations, or by the enactment of new environmental laws and regulations. Any predictions regarding possible liability under such laws are complicated further by current environmental laws which provide that we could be liable, jointly and severally, for certain activities of third parties over whom we have limited or no control.

Our Treatment Segment has limited end disposal sites to utilize to dispose of its waste which could significantly impact our results of operations.

Our Treatment Segment has limited options available for disposal of its nuclear waste. Currently, there are only two disposal sites, each site having different owners, for our low level radioactive waste we receive from non-governmental sites, allowing us to take advantage of the pricing competition between the two sites. If either of these disposal sites ceases to accept waste or closes for any reason or refuses to accept the waste of our Treatment Segment, for any reason, we would be limited to only the one remaining site to dispose of our nuclear waste. With only one end disposal site to dispose of our waste, we could be subject to significantly increased costs which could negatively impact our results of operations.

Our businesses subject us to substantial potential environmental liability.

Our business of rendering services in connection with management of waste, including certain types of hazardous waste, low-level radioactive waste, and mixed waste (waste containing both hazardous and low-level radioactive waste), subjects us to risks of liability for damages. Such liability could involve, without limitation:

Our operations are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations. We have in the past, and could in the future, be subject to substantial fines, penalties, and sanctions for violations of environmental laws and substantial expenditures as a responsible party for the cost of remediating any property which may be contaminated by hazardous substances generated by us and disposed at such property, or transported by us to a site selected by us, including properties we own or lease.

As our operations expand, we may be subject to increased litigation, which could have a negative impact on our future financial results.

Our operations are highly regulated and we are subject to numerous laws and regulations regarding procedures for waste treatment, storage, recycling, transportation, and disposal activities, all of which may provide the basis for litigation against us. In recent years, the waste treatment industry has experienced a significant increase in so-called “toxic-tort” litigation as those injured by contamination seek to recover for personal injuries or property damage. We believe that, as our operations and activities expand, there will be a similar increase in the potential for litigation alleging that we have violated environmental laws or regulations or are responsible for contamination or pollution caused by our normal operations, negligence or other misconduct, or for accidents, which occur in the course of our business activities. Such litigation, if significant and not adequately insured against, could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to fund our operations. Protracted litigation would likely cause us to spend significant amounts of our time, effort, and money. This could prevent our management from focusing on our operations and expansion.

Our operations are subject to seasonal factors, which cause our revenues to fluctuate.

We have historically experienced reduced revenues and losses during the first and fourth quarters of our fiscal years due to a seasonal slowdown in operations from poor weather conditions, overall reduced activities during these periods resulting from holiday periods, and finalization of government budgets during the fourth quarter of each year. During our second and third fiscal quarters there has historically been an increase in revenues and operating profits. If we do not continue to have increased revenues and profitability during the second and third fiscal quarters, this could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity.

If environmental regulation or enforcement is relaxed, the demand for our services will decrease.

The demand for our services is substantially dependent upon the public’s concern with, and the continuation and proliferation of, the laws and regulations governing the treatment, storage, recycling, and disposal of hazardous, non-hazardous, and low-level radioactive waste. A decrease in the level of public concern, the repeal or modification of these laws, or any significant relaxation of regulations relating to the treatment, storage, recycling, and disposal of hazardous waste and low-level radioactive waste would significantly reduce the demand for our services and could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. We are not aware of any current federal or state government or agency efforts in which a moratorium or limitation has been, or will be, placed upon the creation of new hazardous or radioactive waste regulations that would have a material adverse effect on us; however, no assurance can be made that such a moratorium or limitation will not be implemented in the future.

We and our customers operate in a politically sensitive environment, and the public perception of nuclear power and radioactive materials can affect our customers and us.

We and our customers operate in a politically sensitive environment. Opposition by third parties to particular projects can limit the handling and disposal of radioactive materials. Adverse public reaction to developments in the disposal of radioactive materials, including any high profilehigh-profile incident involving the discharge of radioactive materials, could directly affect our customers and indirectly affect our business. Adverse public reaction also could lead to increased regulation or outright prohibition, limitations on the activities of our customers, more onerous operating requirements or other conditions that could have a material adverse impact on our customers’ and our business.

We may be exposed to certain regulatory and financial risks related to climate change.

Climate change is receiving ever increasing attention from scientists and legislators alike. The debate is ongoing as to the extent to which our climate is changing, the potential causes of this change and its potential impacts. Some attribute global warming to increased levels of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, which has led to significant legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Presently there are no federally mandated greenhouse gas reduction requirements in the United States. However, there are a number of legislative and regulatory proposals to address greenhouse gas emissions, which are in various phases of discussion or implementation. The outcome of federal and state actions to address global climate change could result in a variety of regulatory programs including potential new regulations. Any adoption by federal or state governments mandating a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could increase costs associated with our operations. Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict the effect on our financial position, operating results and cash flows.

We may not be successful in winning new business mandates from our government and commercial customers or international customers.

We must be successful in winning mandates from our government, commercial customers and international customers to replace revenues from projects that we have completed or that are nearing completion and to increase our revenues. Our business and operating results can be adversely affected by the size and timing of a single material contract.

The elimination or any modification of the Price-Anderson Acts indemnification authority could have adverse consequences for our business.

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or the AEA, comprehensively regulates the manufacture, use, and storage of radioactive materials. The Price-Anderson Act (“PAA”) supports the nuclear services industry by offering broad indemnification to DOE contractors for liabilities arising out of nuclear incidents at DOE nuclear facilities. That indemnification protects DOE prime contractor, but also similar companies that work under contract or subcontract for a DOE prime contract or transporting radioactive material to or from a site. The indemnification authority of the DOE under the PAA was extended through 2025 by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Under certain conditions, the PAA’s indemnification provisions may not apply to our processing of radioactive waste at governmental facilities, and domay not apply to liabilities that we might incur while performing services as a contractor for the DOE and the nuclear energy industry. If an incident or evacuation is not covered under PAA indemnification, we could be held liable for damages, regardless of fault, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. If such indemnification authority is not applicable in the future, our business could be adversely affected if the owners and operators of new facilities fail to retain our services in the absence of commercial adequate insurance and indemnification.

We are engaged in highly competitive businesses and typically must bid against other competitors to obtain major contracts.

We are engaged in highly competitive business in which most of our government contracts and some of our commercial contracts are awarded through competitive bidding processes. We compete with national and regional firms with nuclear and/or hazardous waste services practices, as well as small or local contractors. Some of our competitors have greater financial and other resources than we do, which can give them a competitive advantage. In addition, even if we are qualified to work on a new government contract, we might not be awarded the contract because of existing government policies designed to protect certain types of businesses and under-represented minority contractors. Although the Company has the ability to certify and bid government contract as a small business, there are a number of qualified small businesses in our market that will provide intense competition. For international business, which we continue to focus on, there are additional competitors, many from within the country the work is to be performed, making winning work in foreign countries more challenging. Competition places downward pressure on our contract prices and profit margins. If we are unable to meet these competitive challenges, we could lose market share and experience on overall reduction in our profits.

Our failure to maintain our safety record could have an adverse effect on our business.

Our safety record is criticalRisks Relating to our reputation. In addition, many of our governmentFinancial Performance and commercial customers require that we maintain certain specified safety record guidelines to be eligible to bidPosition and Need for contracts with these customers. Furthermore, contract terms may provide for automatic termination in the event that our safety record fails to adhere to agreed-upon guidelines during performance of the contract. As a result, our failure to maintain our safety record could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be unable to utilize loss carryforwards in the future.Financing

We have approximately $10,099,000 and $57,956,000 in net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes, respectively, which will expire in various amounts starting in 2021 if not used against future federal and state income tax liabilities, respectively. Our net loss carryforwards are subject to various limitations. Our ability to use the net loss carryforwards depends on whether we are able to generate sufficient income in the future years. Further, our net loss carryforwards have not been audited or approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

If any of our permits, other intangible assets, and tangible assets becomes impaired, we may be required to record significant charges to earnings.

Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), we review our intangible and tangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Our permits are tested for impairment at least annually (the Company has no goodwill at December 31, 2017).annually. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances, indicating that the carrying value of our permit, other intangible assets, and tangible assets may not be recoverable, include a decline in stock price and market capitalization, reduced future cash flow estimates, and slower growth rates in our industry. During 2016, we recorded approximately $8,288,000 and $1,816,000 in impairment charges for intangible and tangible assets, respectively, in connection with the pending closure of our M&EC facility by June 2018. During 2017, we fully impaired the remaining tangible assets of our M&EC facility resulting in an additional impairment charge recorded in the amount of approximately $672,000. We may be required, in the future, to record additional impairment charges in our financial statements, in which any impairment of our permit, other intangible assets, and tangible assets is determined. Such impairment charges could negatively impact our results of operations.

We bear the risk of cost overruns in fixed-price contracts. We may experience reduced profits or, in some cases, losses under these contracts if costs increase above our estimates.

Our revenues may be earned under contracts that are fixed-price in nature. Fixed-price contracts expose us to a number of risks not inherent in cost-reimbursable contracts. Under fixed price and guaranteed maximum-price contracts, contract prices are established in part on cost and scheduling estimates which are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions about future economic conditions, prices and availability of labor, equipment and materials, and other exigencies. If these estimates prove inaccurate, or if circumstances change such as unanticipated technical problems, difficulties in obtaining permits or approvals, changes in laws or labor conditions, weather delays, cost of raw materials or our suppliers’ or subcontractors’ inability to perform, cost overruns may occur and we could experience reduced profits or, in some cases, a loss for that project. Errors or ambiguities as to contract specifications can also lead to cost-overruns.

Adequate bonding is necessary for us to win certain types of new work and support facility closure requirements.

We are often required to provide performance bonds to customers under fixed-price contracts, primarily within our Services Segment. These surety instruments indemnify the customer if we fail to perform our obligations under the contract. If a bond is required for a particular project and we are unable to obtain it due to insufficient liquidity or other reasons, we may not be able to pursue that project. In addition, we provide bonds to support financial assurance in the event of facility closure pursuant to state requirements. We currently have a bonding facility but, the issuance of bonds under that facility is at the surety’s sole discretion. Moreover, due to events that affect the insurance and bonding markets generally, bonding may be more difficult to obtain in the future or may only be available at significant additional cost. There can be no assurance that bonds will continue to be available to us on reasonable terms. Our inability to obtain adequate bonding and, as a result, to bid on new work could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Closure of our M&EC facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee could negatively impact our financial results.

Our M&EC facility is schedule to close by the end of the second quarter of 2018. Our strategic plan includes the process of transitioning waste shipments and operational capabilities to our other Treatment Segment facilities, subject to customer requirements and regulatory approvals. Simultaneously, we continue with closure and decommissioning activities in accordance with M&EC’s license and permit requirements. We believe that the pending closure of our M&EC facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee should reduce our fixed costs within our Treatment Segment with minimal loss in revenue, thereby improving our Treatment Segment gross margin. However, as certain waste shipments are dependent on our customers’ requirements and the operational capabilities of our other Treatment facilities to accept and treat these wastes, there are no guarantees that our other Treatment facilities will be able to treat these wastes. In such event, our financial results could be materially impacted.

Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or failure to remediate a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and stock price.

Maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and is important in helping to prevent financial fraud. If we are unable to maintain adequate internal controls, our business and operating results could be harmed. We are required to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes Oxley and the related rules of the Commission, which require, among other things, management to assess annually the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or effectively remediate any material weakness identified in internal control over financial reporting, there is a reasonable possibility that a misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected in a timely manner. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly, and our business, financial condition, and reputation could be harmed.

Systems failures, interruptions or breaches of security and other cyber security risks could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to certain operational risks to our information systems. Because of efforts on the part of computer hackers and cyberterrorists to breach data security of companies, we face risk associated with potential failures to adequately protect critical corporate, customer and employee data. As part of our business, we develop and retain confidential data about our company and our customers, including the U.S. government. We also rely on the services of a variety of vendors to meet our data processing and communications needs.

Despite our implemented security measures and established policies, we cannot be certain that all of our systems are entirely free from vulnerability to attack or other technological difficulties or failures or failures on the part of our employees to follow our established security measures and policies. Information security risks have increased significantly. Our technologies, systems, and networks may become the target of cyber-attacks, computer viruses, malicious code, or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of our or our customers’ confidential, proprietary and other information and the disruption of our business operations. A security breach could adversely impact our customer relationships, reputation and operation and result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, financial loss to us or to our customers or to our employees, and litigation exposure. Although we are aware that on at least one occasion during 2017 that there was a breach of our existing security procedures and policies as to employee information due to an employee’s error in not following our existing security procedures and policies, we do not believe this breach had a material adverse effect on us. While we maintain a system of internal controls and procedures, any breach, attack, or failure as discussed above could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations or liquidity.

There is also an increasing attention on the importance of cybersecurity relating to infrastructure. This creates the potential for future developments in regulations relating to cybersecurity that may adversely impact us, our customers and how we offer our services to our customers.

Risks Relating to our Intellectual Property

If we cannot maintain our governmental permits or cannot obtain required permits, we may not be able to continue or expand our operations.

We are a nuclear services and waste management company. Our business is subject to extensive, evolving, and increasingly stringent federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Such federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations govern our activities regarding the treatment, storage, recycling, disposal, and transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste and low-level radioactive waste. We must obtain and maintain permits or licenses to conduct these activities in compliance with such laws and regulations. Failure to obtain and maintain the required permits or licenses would have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. If any of our facilities are unable to maintain currently held permits or licenses or obtain any additional permits or licenses which may be required to conduct its operations, we may not be able to continue those operations at these facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

We believe our proprietary technology is important to us.

We believe that it is important that we maintain our proprietary technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by us to protect our proprietary technologies will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of these technologies by third parties. Misappropriation of our proprietary technology could have an adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. Changes to current environmental laws and regulations also could limit the use of our proprietary technology.

Risks Relating to our Financial Position and Need for Financing

Breach of any of the covenants in our credit facility could result in a default, triggering repayment of outstanding debt under the credit facility and the termination of our credit facility.

Our credit facility with our bank contains financial covenants. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our credit facility triggering our lender to immediately require the repayment of all outstanding debt under our credit facility and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. In the past, we had instances in whichwhen we failed to meet our minimum quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio; however,ratio (“FCCR”) requirement, our lender has either waived these instances of non-compliance were waived byor provided certain amendments to our lender. In the past, our lender also has amended the methodology in calculating the quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio and changed the minimum quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio requirement so we canFCCR requirements which enabled us to meet our quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio. We met each ofFCCR requirements. Additionally, our minimumlender has in the past waived our quarterly fixed charge coverage ratio requirements in 2017.FCCR testing requirements. If we fail to meet any of our financial covenants going forward, including the minimum quarterly fixed charge coverage ratioFCCR requirement, in the future and our lender does not further waive the non-compliance or further revise our covenant requirement so that we are in compliance, our lender could acceleratesaccelerate the payment of our borrowings under our credit facility and terminate our credit facility. In such event, we may not have sufficient liquidity to repay our debt under our credit facility and other indebtedness.

Our amount of debt and borrowing availability under our credit facility could adversely affect our operations.

At December 31, 2017,2020, our aggregate consolidated debt was approximately $3,962,000 (excluding debt issuance costs).$6,729,000, which included our PPP Loan balance of approximately $5,318,000. We have applied for loan forgiveness on the entire PPP Loan balance which is subject to the review and approval of our lender and the SBA. Our Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated October 31, 2011, as subsequently amended (“Revised Loan Agreement”)May 8, 2020 provides for a total credit facility commitment of approximately $18,100,000,$19,742,000, consisting of a $12,000,000$18,000,000 revolving line of credit and a term loan balance of $6,100,000.approximately $1,742,000. The maximum we can borrow under the revolving part of the credit facility is based on a percentage of the amount of our eligible receivables outstanding at any one time reduced by outstanding standby letters of credit and any borrowing reduction that our lender may impose from time to time. At December 31, 2017,2020, we had no borrowingsborrowing under the revolving part of our credit facility and borrowing availability of up to an additional $3,687,000.$14,220,000. A lack of positive operating results could have material adverse consequences on our ability to operate our business. Our ability to make principal and interest payments, or to refinance indebtedness, and borrow under our credit facility will depend on both our and our subsidiaries’ future operating performance and cash flow. Prevailing economic conditions, interest rate levels, and financial, competitive, business, and other factors affect us. Many of these factors are beyond our control.

Our indebtedness could limit our financial and operating activities, and adversely affect our ability to incur additional debt to fund future needs.

As a result of our indebtedness, we could, among other things, be:

Any of the foregoing could adversely impact our operating results, financial condition, and liquidity. Our ability to continue our operations depends on our ability to generate profitable operations or complete equity or debt financings to increase our capital.

We may be unable to utilize loss carryforwards in the future.

We have approximately $14,264,000 and $71,316,000 in net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes, respectively, which will expire in various amounts starting in 2021 if not used against future federal and state income tax liabilities, respectively. Approximately $12,199,000 of our federal net operating loss carryforwards were generated after December 31, 2017 and thus do not expire. Our net loss carryforwards are subject to various limitations. Our ability to use the net loss carryforwards depends on whether we are able to generate sufficient income in the future years. Further, our net loss carryforwards have not been audited or approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

Our Paycheck Protection Loan (“PPP Loan”) may be audited

In April 2020, we received a PPP Loan under the CARES Act in the amount of approximately $5,666,000 which had a principal balance of approximately $5,318,000 at December 31, 2020. We are aware that PPP loans in excess of $2,000,000 may be subject to being audited by the appropriate governmental authority. If our PPP Loan is audited, it is currently unknown how our PPP Loan could be affected by an audit. An audit could result, among other things, in us being required to return all or a portion of our PPP Loan.

Risks Relating to our Common Stock

Issuance of substantial amounts of our Common Stock could depress our stock price.

Any sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock in the public market could cause an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. The issuance of our Common Stock will result in the dilution in the percentage membership interest of our stockholders and the dilution in ownership value. At December 31, 2017,2020, we had 11,730,98112,153,897 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

In addition, at December 31, 2017,2020, we had outstanding options to purchase 624,800658,400 shares of our Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $2.79 to $13.35$7.29 per share. Further, our preferred share rights plan, if triggered, could result in the issuance of a substantial amount of our Common Stock. The existence of this quantity of rights to purchase our Common Stock under the preferred share rights plan could result in a significant dilution in the percentage ownership interest of our stockholders and the dilution in ownership value. Future sales of the shares issuable could also depress the market price of our Common Stock.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

Since our inception, we have not paid cash dividends on our Common Stock, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our credit facility prohibits us from paying cash dividends on our Common Stock without prior approval from our lender.

The price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly, which may make it difficult for our stockholders to resell our Common Stock when a stockholder wants or at prices a stockholder finds attractive.

The price of our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Capital Markets constantly changes. We expect that the market price of our Common Stock will continue to fluctuate. This may make it difficult for our stockholders to resell the Common Stock when a stockholder wants or at prices a stockholder finds attractive.

Future issuance of our Common Stock could adversely affect the price of our Common Stock, our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings and could dilute the percentage ownership of our common stockholders.

Future sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock or equity-related securities in the public market, or the perception that such sales or conversions could occur, could adversely affect prevailing trading prices of our Common Stock and could dilute the value of Common Stock held by our existing stockholders. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares of our Common Stock or the availability of shares of our Common Stock for future sale will have on the trading price of our Common Stock. Such future sales or conversions could also significantly reduce the percentage ownership of our common stockholders.

Our Preferred Share Rights Plan may adversely affect our stockholders.

The Company adopted a Preferred Share Purchase Rights Plan (“Rights Plan”) dated May 2018. As part of the Rights Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) declared a dividend distribution of one Preferred Share Purchase Right (“Right”) on each outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock to stockholders of record on May 12, 2018. The Rights Plan is designed to assure that all of the Company’s shareholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the Company and to guard against partial tender abusive tactics to gain control of the Company. The Rights Plan, as amended, is to terminate the earliest of (1) close of business on May 2, 2021, (2) the time at which the Rights are redeemed, (3) the time at which the Rights are exchange, or (4) closing of any merger or acquisition of the Company which has been approved by the Board prior to any person becoming such an acquiring person.

In general, the Rights under the Rights Plan will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company’s Common Stock or announces a tender or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the Common Stock (with certain exceptions). Each Right under the Rights Plan (other than the Rights owned by such acquiring person or members of such group which are void) will entitle shareholders to buy one one-thousandth of a share of a new series of participating preferred stock at an exercise price of $20.00. Each one one-thousandth of a share of such new preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of a Right has economic terms designed to approximate the value of one share of Common Stock. Shareholders who have beneficial ownership of 15% or more at the adoption of the new Rights Plan are grandfathered in, but may not acquire additional shares without triggering the new Rights Plan.

If the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction, each Right will entitle its holder (other than Rights owned by such acquiring person or members of such group which are void) to purchase, at the Right’s then current exercise price, a number of the acquiring company’s common shares having a market value at the time of twice the Right’s exercise price.

In addition, if a person or group (with certain exceptions) acquires 15% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, each Right will entitle its holder (other than the Rights owned by such acquiring person or members of such group which are void) to purchase, in lieu of preferred stock, at the Right’s then current exercise price, a number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock having a market value of twice the Right’s exercise price.

Following the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (with certain exceptions), and prior to an acquisition of 50% or more of the Company’s Common Stock by such person or group, the Company’s Board may, at its option, exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such acquiring person or members of such group) in whole or in part, for shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock (or one one-thousandth of a share of the new series of participating preferred stock) per Right.

Prior to the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company’s Common Stock (with certain exceptions), the Rights are redeemable for $0.001 per Right at the option of the Board of Directors.

The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our Board. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our Board.

General Risk Factors

Loss of certain key personnel could have a material adverse effect on us.

Our success depends on the contributions of our key management, environmental and engineering personnel. Our future success depends on our ability to retain and expand our staff of qualified personnel, including environmental specialists and technicians, sales personnel, and engineers. Without qualified personnel, we may incur delays in rendering our services or be unable to render certain services. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in our efforts to attract and retain qualified personnel as their availability is limited due to the demand for hazardous waste management services and the highly competitive nature of the hazardous waste management industry. We do not maintain key person insurance on any of our employees, officers, or directors.

We may not be successful in winning new business mandates from our government and commercial customers or international customers.

We must be successful in winning mandates from our government, commercial customers and international customers to replace revenues from projects that we have completed or that are nearing completion and to increase our revenues. Our business and operating results can be adversely affected by the size and timing of a single material contract.

Our failure to maintain our safety record could have an adverse effect on our business.

Our safety record is critical to our reputation. In addition, many of our government and commercial customers require that we maintain certain specified safety record guidelines to be eligible to bid for contracts with these customers. Furthermore, contract terms may provide for automatic termination in the event that our safety record fails to adhere to agreed-upon guidelines during performance of the contract. As a result, our failure to maintain our safety record could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Systems failures, interruptions or breaches of security and other cyber security risks could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to certain operational risks to our information systems. Because of efforts on the part of computer hackers and cyberterrorists to breach data security of companies, we face risk associated with potential failures to adequately protect critical corporate, customer and employee data. As part of our business, we develop and retain confidential data about us and our customers, including the U.S. government. We also rely on the services of a variety of vendors to meet our data processing and communications needs.

Despite our implemented security measures and established policies, we cannot be certain that all of our systems are entirely free from vulnerability to attack or other technological difficulties or failures or failures on the part of our employees to follow our established security measures and policies. Information security risks have increased significantly. Our technologies, systems, and networks may become the target of cyber-attacks, computer viruses, malicious code, or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss or destruction of our or our customers’ confidential, proprietary and other information and the disruption of our business operations. A security breach could adversely impact our customer relationships, reputation and operation and result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, financial loss to us or to our customers or to our employees, and litigation exposure. While we maintain a system of internal controls and procedures, any breach, attack, or failure as discussed above could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations or liquidity.

There is also an increasing attention on the importance of cybersecurity relating to infrastructure. This creates the potential for future developments in regulations relating to cybersecurity that may adversely impact us, our customers and how we offer our services to our customers.

We may be exposed to certain regulatory and financial risks related to climate change.

Climate change is receiving ever increasing attention from scientists and legislators alike. The debate is ongoing as to the extent to which our climate is changing, the potential causes of this change and its potential impacts. Some attribute global warming to increased levels of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, which has led to significant legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Presently there are no federally mandated greenhouse gas reduction requirements in the United States. However, there are a number of legislative and regulatory proposals to address greenhouse gas emissions, which are in various phases of discussion or implementation. The outcome of federal and state actions to address global climate change could result in a variety of regulatory programs including potential new regulations. Any adoption by federal or state governments mandating a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could increase costs associated with our operations. Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict the effect on our financial position, operating results and cash flows.

We believe our proprietary technology is important to us.

We believe that it is important that we maintain our proprietary technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by us to protect our proprietary technologies will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of these technologies by third parties. Misappropriation of our proprietary technology could have an adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. Changes to current environmental laws and regulations also could limit the use of our proprietary technology.

Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or failure to remediate a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and stock price.

Maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and is important in helping to prevent financial fraud. If we are unable to maintain adequate internal controls, our business and operating results could be harmed. We are required to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes Oxley and the related rules of the Commission, which require, among other things, management to assess annually the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or effectively remediate any material weakness identified in internal control over financial reporting, there is a reasonable possibility that a misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected in a timely manner. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly, and our business, financial condition, and reputation could be harmed.

Delaware law, certain of our charter provisions, our stock option plans, outstanding warrants and our Preferred Stock may inhibit a change of control under circumstances that could give you an opportunity to realize a premium over prevailing market prices.

We are a Delaware corporation governed, in part, by the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware public corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. As a result of Section 203, potential acquirers may be discouraged from attempting to effect acquisition transactions with us, thereby possibly depriving our security holders of certain opportunities to sell, or otherwise dispose of, such securities at above-market prices pursuant to such transactions. Further, certain of our option plans provide for the immediate acceleration of, and removal of restrictions from, options and other awards under such plans upon a “change of control” (as defined in the respective plans). Such provisions may also have the result of discouraging acquisition of us.

We have authorized and unissued 17,636,57717,120,061 (which include shares issuable under outstanding options to purchase 624,800658,400 shares of our Common Stock and shares issuable under an outstanding warrant to purchase 60,000 shares of our Common Stock) shares of our Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares of our Preferred Stock as of December 31, 20172020 (which includes 600,00050,000 shares of our Preferred Stock reserved for issuance under our new preferred share rights plan)plan discussed below). These unissued shares could be used by our management to make it more difficult for, and thereby discourage an attempt to acquire control of us.

Our Preferred Share Rights Plan (the “Rights Plan”) may adversely affect our stockholders.

In May 2008, we adopted a Rights Plan, designed to ensure that all of our stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of a proposed takeover or abusive tender offer. However, the Rights Plan may also have the effect of deterring, delaying, or preventing a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

In general, under the terms of the Rights Plan, subject to certain limited exceptions, if a person or group acquires 20% or more of our Common Stock or a tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of our Common Stock is announced or commenced, our other stockholders may receive upon exercise of the rights (the “Rights”) issued under the Rights Plan the number of shares our Common Stock or of one-one hundredths of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the Right. In addition, if we are acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in which we are not the survivor or more than 50% of our assets or earning power is sold or transferred, then each holder of a Right (other than the acquirer) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the Right. The initial purchase price of each Right was $13, subject to adjustment, including adjustment for reverse stock split.

The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our board of directors. The Rights may be redeemed by us at $0.001 per Right at any time before any person or group acquires 20% or more of our outstanding common stock. The rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our board of directors. The Rights Plan terminates on May 2, 2018.

Not Applicable.

Our principal executive office is in Atlanta, Georgia. Our Business Center is located in Knoxville,Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Our Treatment Segment facilities are located in Gainesville, Florida; Kingston, Tennessee; Richland, Washington; and Richland, Washington. Our M&ECOak Ridge, Tennessee. All of the properties where these facilities operate on are held by our senior lender as collateral for our credit facility located inwith the exception of the property at Oak Ridge, Tennessee which is currently undergoing closure requirement activitiesleased which we planan option to complete by the second quarter of 2018.purchase. Our Services Segment maintains offices, as noted below, which are all leased properties. We maintain properties in Valdosta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee, which are all non-operational and are included within our discontinued operations.

The properties where three of our facilities operate on (Kingston, Tennessee; Gainesville, Florida; and Richland, Washington) are held by our senior lender as collateral for our credit facility. The Company currently leases properties in the following locations:locations for operations and administrative functions within our Treatment and Services Segments, including our corporate office and Business Center:

We believe that the above facilities currently provide adequate capacity for our operations and that additional facilities are readily available in the regions in which we operate, which could support and supplement our existing facilities.

In the normal courseSee “Part II” – “Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” – “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” – “Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies” – “Legal Matters” for a discussion of conducting our business, we may become involved in litigation or be subject to local, state and federal agency (government)legal proceedings. We are not a party to any litigation or governmental proceeding, which our management believes could result in any judgments or fines that would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity or results of future operations.

Not Applicable.

PART II

Our Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Markets (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “PESI.” The following table sets forth the high and low market trade prices quoted for the Common Stock during the periods shown. The source of such quotations and information is the NASDAQ online trading history reports.

At February 20, 2018,12, 2021, there were approximately 187137 stockholders of record of our Common Stock, including brokerage firms and/or clearing houses holding sharesStock. The actual number of our Common Stock for their clientele (with each brokerage house and/or clearing house being considered as one holder). However, the totalstockholders is greater than this number, ofand includes beneficial stockholders at February 20, 2018 was approximately 2,210.

owners whose shares are held in “street name” by banks, brokers, and other nominees.

Since our inception, we have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock and have no dividend policy. Our Revised Loan Agreementloan agreement dated May 8, 2020 prohibits us from paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock without prior approval from our lender. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our outstanding Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

No sales of unregistered securities occurred during 2017. There were no purchases made by us or on behalf of us or any of our affiliated members of shares of our Common Stock during 2017.2020.

We have adopted a preferred share rights plan (the “Rights Plan”), as amended, which is designed to protect us against certain creeping acquisitions, open market purchases, and certain mergers and other combinations with acquiring companies. The Rights Plan is to terminate at the earliest of (1) close of business on May 2, 2021 (the “Final Expiration Date”), (2) the time at which the Rights are redeemed, (3) the time at which the Rights are exchange, or (4) closing of any merger or acquisition of the Company approved by the Board prior to any person becoming acquiring person.

See Item 1A. - Risk Factors – “Our Preferred Share Rights Plan (the “Rights Plan”) may adversely affect our stockholders” as to further discussion relating to the terms of our Rights Plan. The Rights Plan terminates on May 2, 2018.in addition to its termination date.

See Note 57 “Capital Stock, Stock Plans, Warrants, and Stock Based Compensation” in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and “Equity Compensation Plan”Plans” in Part III, Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matter” for securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans which are incorporated herein by reference.

Not required under Regulation S-K for smaller reporting companies.

Certain statements contained within this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“MD&A”) may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively, the “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995”). See “Special Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements” contained in this report.

Management’s discussion and analysis is based, among other things, upon our audited consolidated financial statements and includes our accounts, the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the accounts of our majority-owned Polish subsidiary, and the account of a variable interest entity for which we are the primary beneficiary, after elimination of all significant intercompany balances and transactions.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item 8 of this report.

COVID-19 Impact

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early part of 2020, we have remained focused on keeping our employees working and, at the same time, focusing on protecting the health and wellbeing of our employees and the communities in which we operate while assuring the continuity of our business operations.

Our management team has proactively implemented our business continuity and safety plans and has taken a variety of measures to ensure the ongoing availability of our waste treatment and remediation services, while taking health and safety measures, including separating employee and customer contact, social distancing between employees, implementing enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols in all of our facilities, and implementing remote work policies, when necessary.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents potential new risks to our business and results in significant volatility in the U.S. and international markets. We continue to closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business. Starting in late March 2020, our operations were impacted by the shutdown of a number of projects and the delays of certain waste shipments. Since the latter part of the second quarter of 2020, all of the projects that were previously shutdown within our Services Segment restarted as stay-at-home orders and certain other restrictions resulting from the pandemic were lifted. Despite the shutdown of certain projects for part of 2020, revenues generated within our Services Segment in 2020 exceeded our revenue generated in 2019 by approximately $42,188,000. We continue to experience delays in waste shipments from certain customers within our Treatment Segment directly related to the impact of COVID-19 including generator shutdowns and limited sustained operations, along with other factors. However, we expect to see a gradual return in waste receipts from these customers starting in the first half of 2021 as they accelerate operations. As the impact of COVID-19 remains fluid, the uncertainty in waste receipt shipments may impact our results of operations for the first quarter of 2021 and potentially the second quarter of 2021. The potential for a material impact on our business increases the longer COVID-19 impacts the level of economic activities in the United States and globally as our customers may continue to delay waste shipments and project work may shut down again. For this reason, we cannot reasonably estimate with any degree of certainty the future impact COVID-19 may have on our results of operations, financial position, and liquidity during the next twelve months.

At this time, we believe we have sufficient liquidity on hand to continue business operations during the next twelve months. At December 31, 2020, our borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility was approximately $14,220,000 which was based on a percentage of eligible receivables and subject to certain reserves and included our cash on hand of approximately $7,924,000. In April 2020, we entered into a promissory note (“PPP Loan”) with our credit facility lender in the amount of approximately $5,666,000 under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) that was established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act” - see “CARES Act – PPP Loan” under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for a discussion of the PPP Loan). During the third quarter of 2020, we repaid approximately $348,000 of the PPP Loan resulting from clarification in the loan calculation at the time of the loan origination. On October 5, 2020, we applied for forgiveness on the entire PPP Loan balance as permitted under the program, which is subject to the review and approval of our lender and Small Business Administration (“SBA”). Proceeds from the PPP Loan have allowed us to avoid having to furlough or layoff certain eligible employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, although there are no assurances that such will not be required going forward. We continue to assess reducing operating costs during this volatile time, which include curtailing capital expenditures, eliminating non-essential expenditures and implementing a hiring freeze as needed. We elected to defer payment of our share of social security taxes as permitted under the CARES Act, as amended (see “CARES Act – Deferral of Employment Tax Deposits” within this MD&A for a discussion of this deferral). Based on our current projection, we believe that we will be able to meet the current covenant requirements under our loan agreement for the next twelve months despite the impact of COVID-19.

We are closely monitoring our customers’ payment performance. However, since a significant portion of our revenues is derived from government related contracts, we do not expect our accounts receivable collections to be materially impacted due to COVID-19.

Review

Revenue decreased $1,450,000increased $31,967,000 or 2.8%43.5% to $49,769,000$105,426,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 from $51,219,000$73,459,000 for the corresponding period of 2016.2019. The decreaseincrease was entirely within our Services Segment where revenue increased $42,188,000 or 127.5% from increased projects and the sizable value of certain projects. Our Treatment Services revenue decreased by $10,221,000 or 25.3% primarily due to delays in waste shipments from certain customers resulting from the impact of COVID-19 as discussed above. The delays in waste shipments were also partly attributed to the transition of new prime contractors at certain DOE sites which resulted in delays in waste shipments to us as subcontractors under certain contracts. Additionally, lower averaged price waste from revenue was primarily duemix contributed to the decrease in revenue of approximately $6,947,000within the Treatment Segment. Gross profit increased $309,000 or 36.6% from $18,966,0002.0% due to $12,019,000the increase in revenues in the Services Segment. Treatment Segment revenue increasedSelling, General, and Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased by approximately $5,497,000$88,000 or 17.0% from higher waste volume and higher averaged price waste resulting from revenue mix. Total gross profit increased $1,536,000 or 21.7%0.7% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 as compared to the corresponding period of 2016 primarily due to higher revenue generated from our Treatment Segment. Total selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $377,000 or 3.5% for the twelve months ended2019. At December 31, 2017 as compared to the corresponding period of 2016.

We continue our plan to close our East Tennessess Materials and Energy Corporation (“M&EC”) facility by the end of the M&EC’s lease term which has been extended to June 30, 2018 from January 21, 2018. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment,” during the third quarter of 2017,2020, we performed an updated financial valuation of M&EC’s remaining long-lived tangible assets (inclusive of the capitalized asset retirement costs) for further potential impairment. Based on our analysis using an undiscounted cash flow approach, we concluded that the carrying value of the remaining tangible assets for M&EC was not recoverable and exceeded its fair value. Consequently, we fully impaired the remaining tangible assets for M&EC resulting in $672,000 in tangible asset impairment loss (non-cash). During 2017, we also recorded an additional $1,400,000 in closure liabilities due to a change in estimated closure costs for our M&EC facility. M&EC revenues were approximately $6,312,000 and $4,419,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Upon closureof M&EC, we estimate that we will eliminate annual fixed costs estimated to be approximately $4,000,000 to $5,000,000.

We had a working capital deficit of approximately $2,268,000 at December 31, 2017,$3,672,000 as compared to working capital deficit of $2,131,000$26,000 at December 31, 20162019. Our working capital at December 31, 2020 included the classification of approximately $3,191,000 of the outstanding PPP Loan balance of $5,318,000 as “Current portion of long-term debt” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As previously discussed, we have applied for forgiveness on repayment of the entire PPP Loan balance which is subject to the review and approval of our lender and the SBA.

As previously reported, at the direction of Dr. Louis Centofanti, our former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President, and the Board of Directors (the “Board”), we instituted our succession plan effective during the third quarter of 2017, in which Dr. Louis Centofanti resigned his position as our CEO and President and the Board elected Mark Duff as the new CEO and President of the Company, effective September 8, 2017. Mark Duff previously held the position of Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer (“EVP/COO”). In order to have Dr. Louis Centofanti remain active in the operation of the Company, the Board then elected Dr. Louis Centofanti as EVP of Strategic Initiatives effective September 8, 2018. Dr. Louis Centofanti continues to serve as a member of the Board.

Business Environment and Outlook

Our Treatment and Services Segments’ business continues to be heavily dependent on services that we provide to governmental clients directly as the contractor or indirectly as a subcontractor. We believe demand for our services will continue to be subject to fluctuations due to a variety of factors beyond our control, including, without limitation, the current economic conditions, the large budget deficit that the government is facing, and the manner in which the applicable government will be required to spend funding to remediate federal sites.various sites, and/or the impact resulting from COVID-19 as discussed above. In addition, our governmental contracts and subcontracts relating to activities at governmental sites in the United States are generally subject to termination or renegotiation on 30 daysdays’ notice at the government’s option.option, and our governmental contracts/task orders with the Canadian government authorities allow the authorities to terminate the contract/task orders at any time for convenience. Significant reductions in the level of governmental funding or specifically mandated levels for different programs that are important to our business could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. As previously disclosed, during the latter part of 2016, our Medical Segment has substantially reduced its researchR&D costs and development (“R&D”) activities substantially due to the need for capital to fund such activities. Our Medical Segment continues to seek various sources in order to raise this capital. We anticipate that our Medical Segment will not resume full R&D activities will be limited until it obtains the necessary capital is obtainedfunding through obtaining its own credit facility or additional equity raise.raise or obtaining new partners willing to fund its R&D activities. If the Medical Segment is unable to raise the necessary capital, the Medical Segment could be required to further reduce, delay or eliminate its R&D program.

We are continually reviewing methods to raise additional capital to supplement our liquidity requirements, when needed, and reducing our operating costs and are committed to further reducing operating costs to bring them in line with revenue levels, when needed.

costs. We continue to focusaggressively bid on expansion into both commercial andvarious contracts, including potential contracts within the international markets to increase revenues in our Treatment and Services Segments to offset the uncertainties of government spending in the United States of America. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for further discussion of our liquidity.markets.

Results of Operations

The reporting of financial results and pertinent discussions are tailored to our three reportable segments: The Treatment Segment (“Treatment”), the Services Segment (“Services”), and the Medical Segment (“Medical”). Our Medical Segment has not generated any revenue and all costs incurred are included within R&D:&D.

Summary - Years Ended December 31, 20172020 and 20162019

Below are the results of continuing operations for years ended December 31, 20172020 and 20162019 (amounts in thousands):

Net Revenue

Revenue

Consolidated revenues decreased $1,450,000increased $31,967,000 for the year ended December 31, 20172020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016,2019, as follows:

¹⁾ Includes wastes generated by government clients of $1,976,000 and $2,422,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Treatment Segment revenue increased $5,497,000decreased $10,221,000 or 17.0%25.3 % for the yeartwelve months ended December 31, 20172020 over the same period in 2016.2019. The revenue increasedecrease was primarily due to higherlower revenue generated from government clientslower waste volume resulting from waste shipment delays since late March 2020 from certain of approximately $6,159,000 or 28.7% primarilyour customers due to higherthe impact of COVID-19 including generator shutdowns and limited sustained operations. The delays in waste shipments were also partly attributed to the transition of new prime contractors at certain DOE sites which resulted in delays in waste shipments to us as subcontractors under certain contracts. Additionally, lower averaged price waste resulting from wasterevenue mix and higher waste volume. Other nuclear waste revenue decreased by approximately $1,006,000 or 15.9% primarily duecontributed to both lower waste volume and lower averaged price waste.the decrease in revenue. Our Services Segment revenue decrease by $6,947,000increased $42,188,000 or 36.6% for the year ended December 31, 2017 over the same period in 2016 primarily127.1% due to the completionincrease in number of a nuclear services project in December 2016 which had generated revenuesprojects and the sizeable value of approximately $9,763,000 in 2016. The decreasecertain projects. Our Services Segment experienced this increase in revenue despite a number of our projects being shut down starting in the Services Segment was also partiallylate March 2020 due to delays in a large nuclear services project in May 2017 due to government funding uncertainties. This project commenced atCOVID-19. These projects did not restart until the endlatter part of August 2017 and is expected to continue until approximately June 2018.the second quarter of 2020. Our Services Segment revenues are project based; as such, the scope, duration and completion of each project vary. As a result, our Services Segment revenues are subject to differences relating to timing and project value.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold decreased $2,986,000increased $31,658,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017,2020, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016,2019, as follows:

Cost of goods sold for the Treatment Segment increased by $1,596,000decreased approximately $3,464,000 or approximately 5.7%12.3%. CostsTreatment Segment costs of goods sold for the Treatment Segment for 2017twelve months ended December 31, 2019 included approximately $550,000 and $850,000 in additional closure costs recorded in the thirdamount of $330,000 for our East Tennessee Materials and fourth quartersEnergy Corporation (“M&EC”) facility due to finalization of 2017, respectively,closure requirements in connection with the pending closure of our M&EC facility as discussed above. Also, cost of goods sold for the Treatment Segment for 2016 included a write-off of approximately $587,000 in prepaid fees recorded in the second quarter of 2016 resulting from the impairment of certain equipment at our M&EC facility due to the pending closure of the M&EC facility. Such fees were incurred for emission performance testing certification requirements as mandated by the state. Excluding the additional closure costs of $1,400,000 recorded in 2017 and the write-off of $587,000 recorded in 2016, total2019, Treatment Segment cost of goods sold increased $783,000decreased $3,134,000 or 2.8%.11.3% primarily due to the decrease in revenue. Excluding the closure costs recorded in 2019, Treatment Segment variable costs increaseddecreased by approximately $750,000$3,516,000 primarily indue to lower disposal, transportation, material and supplies and lab costs due to higher revenue. Treatment Segmentoutside services costs. Our overall fixed costs were slightly higher by approximately $33,000$382,000 resulting from the following: maintenance expense wasexpenses were higher by $257,000; general expense was$280,000; regulatory expenses were higher by approximately $222,000 in various categories; regulatory expense was$190,000; depreciation expenses were higher by $190,000; salaries and payroll relatedapproximately $219,000 primarily due to more financed leases; general expenses were lower by approximately $414,000 due to lower headcount from normal attrition and employees working on the pending closure of the M&EC facility (resulting$61,000 in various categories; salaries and payroll related expenses charged to closure accrual); and depreciation expense wascosts were lower by approximately $222,000 as we fully impaired the remaining tangible assets of our M&EC facility during the third quarter of 2017$175,000; and travel expenses were lower by approximately $71,000 due to restrictions implemented resulting from an updated financial valuation of the remaining tangible assets at M&EC due to the pending closure of the facility by the end of June 2018.COVID-19. Services Segment cost of goods sold decreased $4,582,000increased $35,122,000 or 28.8%118.0% primarily due to the decrease inincreased revenue as discussed above. The decreaseincrease in Services Segment’s cost of goods sold within our Services Segment was primarily indue to higher salaries and payroll related expenses,costs, travel, and outside services expenses totaling approximately $3,142,000 with the remaining decrease primarily in$31,068,000, higher material and supplies, regulatory and disposal costs.costs totaling approximately $3,312,000, and higher general expenses of $742,000 in various categories. Payroll costs within our Services Segment included higher expenses for project related incentives. Included within cost of goods sold is depreciation and amortization expense of $3,720,000$1,555,000 and $4,002,000$1,301,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017,2020, and 2016,2019, respectively.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 20172020 was $1,536,000$309,000 higher than 20162019 as follows:

Treatment Segment gross profit increased $3,901,000decreased $6,757,000 or 97.2%55.2% and gross margin decreased to 18.2% from 30.3%. Excluding the $1,400,000 in additional closure costs recorded in 2017 and the $587,000 write off in prepaid feesof $330,000 recorded in the second quarter of 2016twelve months ended December 31, 2019 in connection with the pending closure of our M&EC facility as discussed above, Treatmentgross profit decreased $7,087,000 or 56.3% and gross margin decreased to 18.2% from 31.2% primarily due to lower revenue from lower waste volume and lower averaged price waste from revenue mix. In the Services Segment, gross profit increased $4,714,000$7,066,000 or 102.4%211.8% and gross margin increased from 10.1% to 24.7% from 14.3% primarily due to increased revenue. In the Services Segment, the decreases in gross profit of $2,365,000 or 77.1% and gross margin from 16.2% to 5.9% was13.8% primarily due to the decreaseincrease in revenue as discussed above. Additionally, ourrevenue. Our overall Services Segment gross margin is impacted by our current projects which are competitively bid on and will therefore, have varying margin structures.

SG&A

SG&Aexpenses increased $377,000decreased $88,000 for the year ended December 31, 20172020 as compared to the corresponding period for 20162019 as follows:

The increase in totalAdministrative SG&A was primarily due to the following: general expenses were higher by approximately $84,000 in various categories; director stock option expenses were higher by approximately $75,000 due to options granted to new directors in addition to higher fair value of options granted to re-elected directors; outside services expenses were higher by approximately $16,000 resulting from more consulting/subcontract matters; depreciation expenses were higher by approximately $14,000; salaries and payroll costs were higher by approximately $13,000; and travel expenses were lower by approximately $60,000 due to restrictions implemented resulting from the impact of COVID-19. Treatment SG&A was lower primarily due to the following: travel expenses were lower by approximately $109,000 due to restrictions implemented resulting from the impact of COVID-19; general expenses were lower by $123,000 in various categories which included lower trade show expenses of $122,000 resulting from the cancellation of certain trade shows due to impact of COVID-19; and salaries and payroll costs in the Services Segment.were higher by approximately $96,000. Services Segment SG&A increased by $698,000was lower primarily due to higherthe following: travel expenses were lower by approximately $119,000 due to restrictions implemented resulting from the impact of COVID-19; bad debt expenses ofwere lower by approximately $757,000. During the fourth quarter of 2017,$432,000 as certain customer accounts which we recorded anhad previously reserved for were collected in 2020 and additional $364,000 in bad debt expenseexpenses were recorded in our Services Segment as2019 for a certain accountsaccount receivable werewhich was determined not to be collectible at December 31, 2017. The increase in bad debt expenses in 2017 as compared to 2016 was also impacted by a reduction in bad debt expense of approximately $364,000 we recorded during the second quarter of 2016 resulting from a reduction in allowance for doubtful accounts as a previously uncertain account receivable was determined to be collectible at June 30, 2016. In addition, Services Segment 2019; and salaries and payroll related expensescosts were higher by approximately $49,000 and general expenses were higher by approximately $15,000 in various categories. The overall higher costs in SG&A in the Services Segment were partially offset by lower outside services costs of approximately $71,000 resulting from fewer consulting/subcontract matters, lower depreciation expenses of $35,000 as certain fixed assets became fully depreciated at year end 2016, and lower travel expenses of $17,000. The decrease in Administrative SG&A was primarily the result of lower salaries and payroll related expenses of approximately $100,000 and lower amortization expense of approximately $44,000 as we recorded a patent write-off during the second quarter of 2016. In addition, Administrative SG&A expenses were lower by approximately $29,000 in outside service expenses resulting from fewer subcontract/consulting matters. The total decrease in Administrative SG&A costs was partially offset by higher travel expenses of approximately $27,000 made by our executives and higher general expenses of $15,000 in various categories. Treatment SG&A was lower primarily due to lower salaries and payroll related costs of approximately $341,000. The lower costs in Treatment SG&A were partially offset by higher general expenses of $101,000 mostly due to higher tradeshow/marketing expenses and higher outside services expenses of approximately $50,000 due to more consulting matters.$457,000. Included in SG&A expenses is depreciation and amortization expense of $83,000$41,000 and $163,000$41,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.

R&D

R&D expenses decreased $451,000increased $12,000 for the year ended December 31, 20172020 as compared to the corresponding period of 20162019 as follows:

Research and development costs consist primarily of employee salaries and benefits, laboratory costs, third party fees, and other related costs associated with the development of new technologies and technological enhancement of new potential waste treatment processes. The decrease in R&D costs

Interest Income

Interest income decreased by approximately $197,000 for 2017the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 as compared to 2016the corresponding period of 2019. The decrease was primarily due to reduced R&D performedlower interest earned on the finite risk sinking funds from lower interest rate. The decrease in interest income was also attributed to lower interest earned from lower finite risk sinking fund balance resulting from the release of $5,000,000 in finite risk sinking funds by AIG Specialty Insurance Company (“AIG”) to us at the end of July 2019 in connection with the closure of our PF Medical Segment.M&EC facility. The $5,000,000 in finite sinking funds represented a partial release of the total collateral held under our finite risk insurance policy.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by approximately $174,000$34,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 as compared to the corresponding period of 2016. Interest expense for 2016 included a $68,000 loss on debt extinguishment that we recorded in the first quarter of 2016 resulting from an amendment dated March 24, 2016 that we entered into with our lender which extended the due date of our credit facility, among other things, to March 24, 2021. Excluding this $68,000 loss on debt extinguishment, the decrease was2019 primarily due to lower interest expense from our declining term loan balance outstanding and lower average revolverinterest rate. Also, interest expense was lower from accelerated declining loan balance outstanding.outstanding resulting from payments of principal on the $2,500,000 loan that we entered into with Robert Ferguson on April 1, 2019. This loan was paid-in-full by us by the end December 2020. The overall decrease in interest expense was partially offset by higher interest expense from more finance leases and interest accrued for the PPP Loan (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities” and “The CARES Act – PPP Loan” for further information of these loans).

Interest Expense- Financing Fees

Interest expense-financing fees decreasedincreased approximately $73,000$86,000 for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 as compared to the corresponding period of 2016.2019. The decreaseincrease was primarily due to lower monthlydebt discount/debt issuance costs amortized financing fees resulting from our amended credit facility pursuant to the amendment dated March 24, 2016 as discussed above. The decrease was also the result of final amortization of debt discount as financing fees which occurred in August 2016 in connection with the issuance of our common stockCommon Stock and two warrants to certain lendersa purchase Warrant as consideration for us receiving the Company receiving a $3,000,000$2,500,000 loan from Robert Ferguson which was paid off early by us at the Company in August 2016.end of December 2020.

Income Taxes

We had income tax benefitsbenefit of $1,285,000$189,000 and $2,994,000income tax expense of $157,000 for continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rates were approximately 26.6%6.4% and 18.4%5.4% for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. Our tax benefit for 2017 included a tax benefit in the amount of approximately $1,695,000 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 resulting primarily from the required re-measurement of our deferred assets and liabilities and the reversal of valuation allowance and refunding of alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforward. This tax benefit was recorded as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”) enacted into law on December 22, 2017 (see “Critical Accounting Policies” in this section for a further discussion of the Tax Act and the tax benefit recorded). Our incomeThe tax benefit for the year ended 2016 wasDecember 31, 2020 resulted primarily the result offrom state tax true-ups related to our amended tax returns and a tax benefit recordedreduction in the amount of approximately $3,203,000naked credit deferred tax liabilities (“DTL”) resulting from the permit impairment loss recorded for the M&EC subsidiary during the second quarter of 2016.a reduction in estimated state apportionment percentage.

Discontinued Operations

Our discontinued operations consist of all our subsidiaries included in our Industrial Segment which wereencompasses subsidiaries divested in 2011 and prior and three previously closed locations, and our Perma-Fix of South Georgia, Inc. (“PFSG”) facility which is currently undergoing closure, subject to regulatory approval of necessary plans and permits.locations.

Our discontinued operations had no revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 and 2016.2019. We incurred net losses of $592,000$412,000 and $730,000$547,000 for our discontinued operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively (net of taxes of $0 for each period). LossesThe losses incurred for the periods discussed aboveeach period were primarily due to costs incurred in the administration and continued monitoring of our discontinued operations. Our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2019 also included an increase of approximately $50,000 in remediation reserve for our Perma-Fix of Memphis (“PFM”) subsidiary due to reassessment of the remediation reserve.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our cash flow requirements during 20172020 were primarily financed by our operations, credit facility availability, and the restricted finite risk sinking fundsPPP Loan that were released back to us in May 2017 fromwe received under the cancellation of a previous financial assurance policy issued by American International Group (“AIG”) for our Perma-Fix Northwest Richland, Inc. (“PFNWR”) subsidiaryCARES Act as discussed below (see “Investing Activities” below for further information of this finite sinking fund and the replacement closure mechanism acquired for the PFNWR subsidiary)“CARES Act – PPP Loan”). We anticipate thatgenerated approximately $7,867,000 of cash from our continuing operations. Subject to the impact of COVID-19 as discussed above, our cash flow requirements for the next twelve months will consist primarily of general working capital needs, scheduled principal payments on our debt obligations, remediation projects, and planned capital expenditures, and closure spending requirements in the amount of approximately $2,791,000 in connection with the pending closure of our M&EC facility (“M&EC closure”).expenditures. We plan to fund these requirements from our operations, credit facility availability, and our credit facility. Additionally, as a result of the M&EC closure, we expect to receive during 2018, a partial release ofcash on hand which was approximately $5,000,000 of the $15,676,000 restricted finite risk sinking funds held by AIG as collateral under the financial assurance policy dated June 2003 that we currently have with AIG. This partial release in finite risk sinking funds is subject to approval from AIG and the appropriate Tennessee state regulators and when released, will further enhance our liquidity.$7,924,000 at December 31, 2020. We continue to explore all sources of increasing revenue.our capital to supplement our liquidity requirements, when needed, and to improve our revenue and working capital. We are continually reviewing operating costs and are committed toreviewing the possibility of further reducing operating costs and non-essential expenditures to bring them in line with revenue levels, when necessary. Although there are no assurances,At this time, we believe that our cash flows from operations, and our available liquidity from our credit facility, areand our cash on hand should be sufficient to fund our operations for the next twelve months. Additionally,However, due to the partial releaseuncertainty of COVID-19, there are no assurances such will be the finite risk sinking fundscase in the events that we expectcertain of our customers continue to receive during 2018 as a result of the M&EC closure as discussed above will further provide additional funding for our operations as needed.delay waste shipments and/or elect to shut down projects again due to COVID-19. As previously disclosed, during the latter part of 2016, our Medical Segment substantially reduced its R&D costs and activities due to the need for capital to fund such activities. We continue to seek various sources of potential funding for our Medical Segment. We anticipate that our Medical Segment will not resume full R&D activities until it obtains the necessary funding through obtaining its own credit facility or additional equity raise. Our Medical Segment continuesraise or obtaining new partners willing to seek various sources in order to raise this funding.fund its R&D activities. If the Medical Segment is unable to raise the necessary capital, the Medical Segment could be required to further reduce, delay or eliminate its R&D program.

The following table reflects the cash flow activity for the year ended December 31, 20172020 and the corresponding period of 2016:2019:

At December 31, 2017,2020, we were in a positive cash position andwith no revolving credit balance. At December 31, 2017,2020, we had cash on hand of approximately $1,063,000$7,924,000, which includesincluded account balances forof our foreign subsidiaries totaling approximately $305,000.$377,000. At December 31, 2020, we had finite risk sinking funds (restricted cash) of approximately $11,446,000, which represents cash held as collateral under our financial assurance policy.

Operating Activities

Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts, totaled $7,940,000$9,659,000 at December 31, 2017,2020, a decrease of $977,000$3,519,000 from the December 31, 20162019 balance of $8,917,000 (including accounts receivable – non-current).$13,178,000. The decrease was primarily due to increasedtiming of invoicing which was reflective of the increase in our unbilled receivables and timing of our accounts receivable collections.collection. We provide a variety of payment terms to our customers; therefore, our accounts receivable are impacted by these terms and the related timing of accounts receivable collections. The amount of our accounts receivables and collection could be materially impacted the longer COVID-19 persists.

Accounts payable, totaled $3,537,000$15,382,000 at December 31, 2017, a decrease2020, an increase of $707,000$6,105,000 from the December 31, 20162019 balance of $4,244,000.$9,277,000. The decreaseincrease in accounts payable was primarily dueattributed to an increase in costs within our Services Segment resulting from the significant increase in revenue. Additionally, our accounts payable are impacted by the timing of the payment of our accounts payable. Also,payments as we continue to manageare continually managing payment terms with our vendors to maximize our cash position throughout all segments.

Disposal/transportation accrual at December 31, 2017, totaled $2,071,000, an increase of $681,000 over the December 31, 2016 balance of $1,390,000. Our disposal accrual can vary based on revenue mix and the timing of waste shipments for final disposal. During 2017, we shipped less waste for disposal.

We had a working capital deficit of $2,268,000$3,672,000 (which included working capital of our discontinued operations) at December 31, 2017,2020, as compared to a working capital deficit of $2,131,000$26,000 at December 31, 2016. Our2019. The improvement in our working capital was negatively impacted byprimarily due to the reclassification of approximately $881,000 in accrued closure costs from long-term to current in the first quarter of 2017 and the additional current closure costs accrual recorded in the amount of approximately $1,400,000 during the second half of 2017 in connection with the pending M&EC closure. We used the finite risk sinking fundsproceeds that we received from the cancellationPPP Loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (see “PPP Loan” under “CARES Act” below for a discussion of this loan) and the increase in our unbilled receivables from the significant increase in revenues within our Services Segment. The improvement in our working capital was partially offset by the increase in our accounts payable. Additionally, at December 31, 2020, we classified approximately $3,191,000 of the outstanding PPP Loan balance of $5,318,000 as “Current portion of long-term debt” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We have applied for forgiveness on repayment of the entire PPP Loan balance which is subject to the review and approval of our PFNWR financial assurance policy to pay down our payableslender and to pay off our revolving credit which is included in long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.SBA.

Investing Activities

During 2017,2020, our purchases of capital equipment totaled approximately $439,000. These expenditures were primarily for improvements in our Treatment Segment. These capital expenditures were$2,598,000, of which $883,000 was subject to financing, with the remaining funded byfrom cash from operations.operations and our credit facility. We have budgeted approximately $1,000,000$2,000,000 for 20182021 capital expenditures primarily for our Treatment and Services Segments to maintain operations and regulatory compliance requirements. On March 7, 2018, our Board approved an additional $1,000,000 in capital spending for footprint expansion for one of our Treatment Segment facilities.requirements and support revenue growth. Certain of these budgeted projects may either be delayed until later years or deferred altogether. We have traditionally incurred actual capital spending totals for a given year at less than the initial budgeted amount. We plan to fund our capital expenditures from cash from operations and/or financing. The initiation and timing of projects are also determined by financing alternatives or funds available for such capital projects.

We had a closure policy dated August 2007 for our PFNWR facility with AIG (“PFNWR policy”) which provided financial assurance to the State of Washington in the event of closure of the PFNWR facility. In April 2017, we received final releases from state and federal regulators for the PFNWR policy which enabled us to cancel the PFNWR policy resulting in the release of approximately $5,951,000 on May 1, 2017 in finite sinking funds previously held by AIG as collateral for the PFNWR policy. We used the released finite sinking funds to pay off our revolving credit with the remaining funds used for general working capital needs. We have acquired new bonds in the required amount of approximately $7,000,000 (“new bonds”) to replace the PFNWR policy in providing financial assurance for the PFNWR facility. Upon receipt of the $5,951,000 in finite sinking funds from AIG, we and our lender executed a standby letter of credit in the amount of $2,500,000 as collateral for the new bonds for the PFNWR facility.

Financing Activities

We entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated October 31, 2011 (“Amended Loan Agreement”), with PNC National Association (“PNC”), acting as agent and lender. The Amended Loan Agreement had been amended from time to time since the execution of the Amended Loan Agreement. The Amended Loan Agreement, as subsequently amended (“Revised Loan Agreement”), providesprovided us with the following credit facility with a maturity date of March 24, 2021: (a) up to $12,000,000 revolving credit (“revolving credit”) and (b) a term loan (“term loan”) of approximately $6,100,000, which requires monthly installments of approximately $101,600 (based on a seven-year amortization).$6,100,000. The maximum that we can borrow under the revolving credit iswas based on a percentage of eligible receivables (as defined) at any one time reduced by outstanding standby letters of credit and borrowing reductions that our lender may impose from time to time.

Under the Revised Loan Agreement, we have the optionPayment of paying an annual rate of interest due on the revolving credit under the Revised Loan Agreement was at prime (3.25% at December 31, 2020) plus 2% or London Inter Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 3% and the term loan at prime plus 2.5%.

On May 8, 2020, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “New Loan Agreement”) with PNC, replacing our previous Revised Loan Agreement with PNC. The New Loan Agreement provides us with the following credit facility:

The New Loan Agreement terminates as of May 15, 2024, unless sooner terminated.

Similar to our Revised Loan Agreement, the New Loan Agreement requires us to meet certain customary financial covenants, including, among other things, a minimum Tangible Adjusted Net Worth requirement of $27,000,000 at all times; maximum capital spending of $6,000,000 annually; and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (“FCCR”) requirement of 1.15:1.

Under the New Loan Agreement, payment of annual rate of interest due on the credit facility is as follows:

Under the LIBOR plus 3.5%.option of interest payment noted above, a LIBOR floor of 0.75% shall apply in the event that LIBOR falls below 0.75% at any point in time.

Pursuant to the RevisedNew Loan Agreement, we may terminate the RevisedNew Loan Agreement upon 90 days’ prior written notice upon payment in full of our obligations under the RevisedNew Loan Agreement. We have agreed to pay PNC 1.0% of the total financing in the event we had paidpay off our obligations on or before March 23, 2017, .50%May 7, 2021 and 0.5% of the total financing if we paypays off our obligations after March 23, 2017May 7, 2021 but prior to or on March 23, 2018, and .25% of the total financing if we pay off our obligations after March 23, 2018 but prior to or on March 23, 2019.May 7, 2022. No early termination fee shall apply if we pay off our obligations under the New Loan Agreement after March 23, 2019.May 7, 2022.

At December 31, 2017,2020, the borrowing availability under our revolving credit was $3,687,000,approximately $14,220,000, based on our eligible receivables and includes an indefinitea reduction ofin borrowing availability of $2,000,000 that our lender has imposed, which includes $750,000 that was imposed immediately upon the receipt of the $5,951,000 in finite sinking funds by us in connection with cancellation of our PFNWR policy, pursuant to a “Condition Subsequent” clause in the November 17, 2016 amendment that we entered into with our lender (see “Investing Activities” above for further discussion of the receipt of the finite risk sinking funds in connection with our PFNWR facility). Our borrowing availability under our revolving credit was also reduced byapproximately $3,026,000 from outstanding standby letters of credit totaling approximately $2,675,000.credit.

We have had discussions with our lender as to the removal of the $2,000,000 reduction in borrowing availability discussed above. Our lender has advised us that they will be reducing the $2,000,000 reduction in borrowing availability to $1,000,000 during the first half of 2018, subject to receipt of appropriate approvals by the lender and execution of documentation, and would consider removal of the remaining $1,000,000 reduction in borrowing availability depending on our results during 2018.

Our credit facility under our Revised and New Loan Agreement with PNC contains certain financial covenants,covenant requirements, along with customary representations and warranties. A breach of any of these financial covenants,covenant requirements, unless waived by PNC, could result in a default under our credit facility allowing our lender to immediately require the repayment of all outstanding debt under our credit facility and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. The following table details the quarterlyWe met our financial covenant requirements under our credit facility at December 31, 2017.

We metin 2020, including our quarterly financial covenants in each of the quarters of 2017 and weFCCR requirements. We expect to meet these quarterlyour financial covenant requirements in the next twelve months. Ifmonths; however, if we fail to meet any of these quarterlyour financial covenant requirements as noted above and our lender does not waive the non-compliance or revise our covenant so that we are in compliance, our lender could accelerate the repayment of borrowings under our credit facility and terminate our credit facility. In the event that our lender accelerates the payment of our borrowings and terminate our credit facility, we may not have sufficient liquidity to repay our debt under our credit facility and other indebtedness.

As previously disclosed, on April 1, 2019, we completed a lending transaction with Robert Ferguson (the “Lender”), whereby we borrowed from the Lender the sum of $2,500,000 pursuant to the terms of a Loan and Security Purchase Agreement and promissory note (the “Loan”). The Lender is a shareholder of ours and also serves as a consultant to us in connection with our Test Bed Initiative (“TBI”) at our Perma-Fix Northwest Richland, Inc. (“PFNWR”) subsidiary. The proceeds from the Loan were used for general working capital purposes. The Loan is unsecured, with a term of two years with interest payable at a fixed interest rate of 4.00% per annum. The Loan provides for monthly payments of accrued interest only during the first year of the Loan, with the first interest payment due May 1, 2019 and monthly payments of approximately $208,333 in principal plus accrued interest starting in the second year of the Loan. The Loan also allows for prepayment of principal payments over the term of the Loan without penalty with such prepayment of principal payments to be applied to the second year of the loan payments at our discretion. In December 2020, the Loan was paid-in-full. In connection with this capital raise transaction described above and consideration for us receiving the Loan, we issued a Warrant (the “Warrant”) to the Lender to purchase up to 60,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.51 per share, which was the closing bid price for a share of our Common Stock on NASDAQ.com immediately preceding the execution of the Loan and Warrant. The Warrant expires on April 1, 2024 and remains outstanding at December 31, 2020. As further consideration for this capital raise transaction relating to the Loan, we also issued 75,000 shares of its Common Stock to the Lender. The fair value of the Warrant and Common Stock and the related closing fees incurred from the transaction totaled approximately $398,000 and was recorded as debt discount/debt issuance costs which has been fully amortized as interest expense – financing fees. The 75,000 shares of Common Stock, the Warrant and the 60,000 shares of Common Stock that may be purchased under the Warrant were and will be issued in a private placement that was and will be exempt from registration under Rule 506 and/or Sections 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(5) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) and bear a restrictive legend against resale except in a transaction registered under the Act or in a transaction exempt from registration thereunder.

The CARES Act

PPP Loan

On April 14, 2020, we entered into a promissory note with PNC, our credit facility lender, in the amount of approximately $5,666,000 under the PPP (the “PPP Loan”). The PPP was established under the CARES Act and is administered by the SBA. On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (“Flexibility Act”) was signed into law which amended the CARES Act. The note evidencing the PPP Loan contains events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and provisions of the promissory note. During the third quarter of 2020, we repaid approximately $348,000 of the PPP Loan to PNC resulting from clarification in the loan calculation at the time of the loan origination.

Under the terms of the Flexibility Act, we can apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of the PPP Loan. Such forgiveness will be determined, subject to limitations, based on the use of loan proceeds by us for eligible payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent and utility costs and the maintenance of employee and compensation levels for the covered period (which is defined as a 24 week period, beginning April 14, 2020, the date in which proceeds from the PPP Loan was disbursed to us by PNC). At least 60% of such forgiven amount must be used for eligible payroll costs. On October 5, 2020, we applied for forgiveness on repayment of the loan balance as permitted under the program, which is subject to the review and approval of our lender and the SBA. If all or a portion of the PPP Loan is not forgiven, all or the remaining portion of the loan will be for a term of two years but can be prepaid at any time prior to maturity without any prepayment penalties. The annual interest rate on the PPP Loan is 1.0% and no payments of principal or interest are due until the date that the SBA remits the loan forgiveness amount to our lender. While our PPP Loan currently has a two year maturity, the Flexibility Act permits us to request a five year maturity with our lender. At December 31, 2020, we have not received a determination on potential forgiveness on any portion of the PPP Loan balance; therefore, we have classified approximately $3,191,000 of the PPP Loan balance as “Current portion of long-term debt,” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, which was based on payment of the PPP Loan starting in July 2021 (10 months from end of our covered period) in accordance with the terms of our PPP Loan agreement.

Deferral of Employment Tax Deposits

The CARES Act, as amended by the Flexibility Act, provides employers the option to defer the payment of an employer’s share of social security taxes beginning on March 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020, with 50% of the amount of social security taxes deferred to become due on December 31, 2021 with the remaining 50% due on December 31, 2022. We elected to defer such taxes starting in mid-April 2020. At December 31, 2020, we deferred payment of approximately $1,252,000 in our share of social security taxes, of which approximately $626,000 is included in “Other long-term liabilities,” with the remaining balance included in “Accrued expenses” within current liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have a number of routine operating leases, primarily related to office space rental, office equipment rental and equipment rental for contract projects at December 31, 2017, which total approximately $645,000, payable as follows: $366,000 in 2018; $141,000 in 2019; $118,000 in 2020; with the remaining $20,000 in 2021.

From time to time, we are required to post standby letters of credit and various bonds to support contractual obligations to customers and other obligations, including facility closures. At December 31, 2017,2020, the total amount of outstanding standby letters of credit outstanding totaled approximately $2,675,000$3,026,000 and the total amount of bonds outstanding totaled approximately $8,305,000. The Company$46,388,000. We also providesprovide closure and post-closure requirements through a financial assurance policy for certain of our Treatment Segment facilities through AIG. At December 31, 2017,2020, the closure and post-closure requirements for these facilities were approximately $29,473,000.$19,651,000.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In preparing theOur consolidated financial statements in conformity withare prepared based upon the selection and application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), management makeswhich may require us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect theamounts reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of thein our financial statements as well as, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We believe the following criticalaccompanying notes. The accounting policies below are those we believe affect the more significant estimates and judgments used in preparation of our financial statements. Our other accounting policies are described in the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements:

Revenue Recognition Estimates.We utilize a performance based methodology for purposesstatements of revenue recognition in our Treatment Segment. As we accept more complex waste streams in this segment, the treatmentForm 10-K (see “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” – “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” – “Note 2 – Summary of those waste streams becomes more complicated and time consuming. We have continued to enhance our waste tracking capabilities and systems, which has enabled us to better match the revenue earned to the processing phases achieved using a proportional performance method. The major processing phases are receipt, treatment/processing and shipment/final disposition. Upon receiving various wastes we recognize a certain percentage (generally ranging from 9.0% to 33%Significant Accounting Policies”) of revenue as we incur costs for transportation, analyses and labor associated with the receipt of mixed waste. As the waste is processed, shipped and disposed of, we recognize the remaining revenue and the associated costs of transportation and burial where applicable. We review and evaluate our revenue recognition estimates and policies on an annual basis.

For our Services Segment, revenues on services are performed under fixed price, time and material, and cost-reimbursement contracts. Revenues and costs associated with fixed price contracts are recognized using the percentage of completion (efforts expended) method. We estimate our percentage of completion based on attainment of project milestones. Revenues and costs associated with time and material contracts are recognized as revenue when earned and costs are incurred.

Under cost-reimbursement contracts, we are reimbursed for costs incurred plus a certain percentage markup for indirect costs, in accordance with contract provisions. Costs incurred in excess of contract funding may be renegotiated for reimbursement. We also earn a fee based on the approved costs to complete the contract. We recognize this fee using the proportion of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs. Contract costs include all direct labor, material and other non-labor costs and those indirect costs related to contract support, such as depreciation, fringe benefits, overhead labor, supplies, tools, repairs and equipment rental. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is a valuation allowance that reflects management’s best estimate of the amounts that are uncollectible. We regularly review all accounts receivable balances that exceed 60 days from the invoice date and, based on an assessment of current credit worthiness, estimate the portion, if any, of the balances that are uncollectible. Specific accounts that are deemed to be uncollectible are reserved at 100% of their outstanding balance. The remaining balances aged over 60 days have a percentage applied by aging category (5% for balances 61-90 days, 20% for balances 91-120 days and 40% for balances over 120 days aged), based on a historical collections patterns, that allows us to calculate the total allowance required. This analysis excludes government related receivables due to our past successful experience in their collectability. Our allowance was approximately 1.4% of revenue for 2017 and 8.3% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2017. Additionally, this allowance was approximately 0.5% of revenue for 2016 and 3.0% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2016.:

Intangible Assets. Intangible assets consist primarily of the recognized value of the permits required to operate our business. We continually monitor the propriety of the carrying amount of our permits to determine whether current events and circumstances warrant adjustments to the carrying value.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment annually as of October 1, or when events or changes in the business environment indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. If the fair value of the asset is less than the carrying amount, we perform a quantitative test to determine the fair value. The impairment loss, if any, is measured as the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value. Significant judgments are inherent in these analyses and include assumptions for, among other factors, forecasted revenue, gross margin, growth rate, operating income, timing of expected future cash flows, and the determination of appropriate long termlong-term discount rates.

Impairment testing of our permits related to our Treatment reporting unit as of October 1, 20172020 and 2019 resulted in no impairment charges. In 2016, based on our analysis, we fully impaired the permit value of approximately $8,288,000 for our M&EC subsidiary as a result of our decision to close the M&EC facility. We performed impairment testing of the remaining permits related to our Treatment reporting unit as of October 1, 2016 and determined there was no impairment.

Intangible assets that have definite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives (with the exception of customer relationships which are amortized using an accelerated method) and are excluded from our annual intangible asset valuation review as of October 1. We have one definite-lived permit which was excluded from our annual impairment review as noted above. The net carrying value of this one definite-lived permit at December 31, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $62,000 and $117,000, respectively. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are also tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable.

Accrued Closure Costs and Asset Retirement Obligations (“ARO”). Accrued closure costs represent our estimated environmental liability to clean up our facilities as required by our permits, in the event of closure. ASCAccounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 410, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations” requires that the discounted fair value of a liability for an ARO be recognized in the period in which it is incurred with the associated ARO capitalized as part of the carrying cost of the asset. The recognition of an ARO requires that management make numerous estimates, assumptions and judgments regarding such factors as estimated probabilities, timing of settlements, material and service costs, current technology, laws and regulations, and credit adjusted risk-free rate to be used. This estimate is inflated, using an inflation rate, to the expected time at which the closure will occur, and then discounted back, using a credit adjusted risk free rate, to the present value. ARO’s are included within buildings as part of property and equipment and are depreciated over the estimated useful life of the property. In periods subsequent to initial measurement of the ARO, the Companywe must recognize period-to-period changes in the liability resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flow. Increases in the ARO liability due to passage of time impact net income as accretion expense and are included in cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Changes in the estimated future cash flows costs underlying the obligations (resulting from changes or expansion at the facilities) require adjustment to the ARO liability calculated and are capitalized and charged as depreciation expense, in accordance with our depreciation policy.

Accrued Environmental Liabilities. We have three remediation projects in progress (all within discontinued operations). The current and long-term accrual amounts for the projects are our best estimates based on proposed or approved processes for clean-up. The circumstances that could affect the outcome range from new technologies that are being developed every day to reduce our overall costs, to increased contamination levels that could arise as we complete remediation which could increase our costs, neither of which we anticipate at this time. In addition, significant changes in regulations could adversely or favorably affect our costs to remediate existing sites or potential future sites, which cannot be reasonably quantified (See “Environmental Contingencies” below for further information of these liabilities).Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Disposal/Transportation Costs. We accrue for waste disposal based upon a physical countSee “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” – “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” – “Note 2 – Summary of the waste at each facility at the end of each accounting period. Current market prices for transportation and disposal costs are applied to the end of period waste inventories to calculate the disposal accrual. Costs are calculated using current costs for disposal, but economic trends could materially affect our actual costs for disposal. As there are limited disposal sites available to us, a change in the number of available sites or an increase or decrease in demandSignificant Accounting Policies” for the existing disposal areas could significantly affectrecent accounting pronouncements that have been adopted during the actual disposal costs either positivelyyear ended December 31, 2020, or negatively.

Stock-Based Compensation.We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, including grant of options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. We account for stock-based compensation issued to consultants in accordance with the provisions of ASC 505-50, “Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees.” Measurement of stock-based payment transactions with consultants, including options, is based on the fair value of whichever is more reliably measurable: (a) the goods or services received; or (b) the equity instrument issued. The measurement date for the fair value of the stock-based payment transaction is determined at the earlier of performance commitment date or performance completion date. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair-value of stock-based awards which requires subjective assumptions. Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock-based awards include the exercise price of the award, the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock over the stock-based award’s expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the award’s expected term, and the expected annual dividend yield. We account for forfeitures when they occur.

Income Taxes.The provision for income tax is determined in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” We are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We record this amount as a provision or benefit for taxes. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure, including assessing the risks associated with tax audits, and assessing temporary differences resulting from different treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered fromadopted in future taxable income and, to the extent that we believe recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes include, but are not limited to, a federal corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the transition of U.S international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a territorial system, the elimination of AMT for corporations and a one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign earnings. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has estimated its provision for income taxes in accordance with the Tax Act and guidance available resulting in the recognition of approximately $1,695,000 of income tax benefits in the fourth quarter of 2017, the period in which the legislation was enacted. The tax benefits of $1,695,000 consist of $916,000 related to the required re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities, based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future and $779,000 related to the reversal of valuation allowance and refunding of AMT credit carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2017, we had net deferred tax assets of approximately $10,259,000 (which excludes a deferred tax liability relating to goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets) which were primarily related to federal and state net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, impairment charges, and closure costs. As of December 31, 2017, we concluded that it was more likely than not that $10,259,000 of our deferred income tax assets would not be realized, and as such, a full valuation allowance was applied against those deferred income tax assets. Our net operating losses are subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Services, and, as a result, the amounts could be reduced.periods.

Known Trends and Uncertainties

Economic Conditions.Our business continues to be heavily dependent on services that we provide to governmental clients, (includingprimarily as subcontractors for others who are prime contractors to government authorities (particularly the U.S.U.S Department of Energy (“DOE”) and U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”))Defense) or directly as the prime contractor or indirectly for others as a subcontractor.contractor. We believe demand for our services will continue to be subject to fluctuations due to a variety of factors beyond our control, including the current economic conditions the large budget deficit that the government is facing, and the manner in which the government entity will be required to spend funding to remediate federalvarious sites. In addition, our U.S. governmental contracts and subcontracts relating to activities at governmental sites are generally subject to termination or renegotiation on 30 days notice at the government’s option. The TOAs with the Canadian government generally provide that the government may terminate a TOA at any time for convenience. Significant reductions in the level of governmental funding or specifically mandated levels for different programs that are important to our business could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Significant Customers. Our Treatment and Services Segments have significant relationships with the federal government,U.S and continue to enterCanadian governmental authorities through contracts entered into contracts,indirectly as subcontractors for others who are prime contractors or directly as the prime contractor or indirectly for others as a subcontractor, with the federal government. The contracts that we are a party to with the federal government or with others as a subcontractor to the federal government generally provide that the government may terminate or renegotiate the contracts on 30 days notice, at the government’s election.authorities. Our inability to continue under existing contracts that we have with the federalU.S government and Canadian government authorities (directly or indirectly as a subcontractor) or significant reductions in the level of governmental funding in any given year could have a material adverse effectimpact on our operations and financial condition.

We performed services relating to waste generated by the federal government clients (domestic and foreign (primarily Canadian)), either directly as a prime contractor or indirectly for others as a subcontractor to government entities, representing approximately $36,654,000$96,582,000, or 73.6%91.6%, of our total revenue during 2017,2020, as compared to $27,354,000$59,985,000, or 53.4%81.7%, of our total revenue during 2016.2019.

Revenue generated by one of the customers (PSC Metal, Inc.us as a subcontractor to a customer for a remediation project performed for a government entity (the “DOE”) (non-government related and excluded from above) in thewithin our Services Segment in 2020 and 2019 accounted for approximately $9,763,000$41,011,000 or 19.1%38.9% and $8,529,000 or 11.6% (included in revenue generated relating to government clients above) of our total revenue for 2020 and 2019, respectively. This remediation project included among other things, decontamination support of a building. As work progressed throughout stages of this project in 2020, additional contaminations were regularly discovered which resulted in approval for additional work to be performed under this project. This project is expected to be completed by the total revenues generated for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. Project work for this customer commenced in March 2016 and was completed in December 2016.first half of 2021.

As our revenues are event/projectproject/event based where the completion of one contract with a specific customer may be replaced by another contract with a different customer from year to year, we do not believe the loss of one specific customer from one year to the next will generally have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

COVID-19 Impact. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business is uncertain and difficult to predict, as the responses to the pandemic continue to evolve rapidly. Since the latter part of the second quarter of 2020, all of the projects within our Services Segment that were previously shutdown have restarted as stay-at-home orders and certain other restrictions resulting from the pandemic were lifted. Within our Treatment Segment, we continue to experience delays in waste shipment from certain customers directly related to the impact of COVID-19 including generator shutdowns and limited sustained operations, along with other factors. However, we expect to see a gradual return in waste receipts from these customers starting in the first half of 2021 as they accelerate operations. COVID-19 disruption could have a material adverse effect on our business as our customers could curtail and reduce capital and overall spending.

The severity of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic on our business will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic, the extent and severity of the impact on our customers, the impact on governmental programs and budgets, distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the rate at which people are inoculated with the vaccines, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions resume, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted with any accuracy or confidence at this time. Our future results of operations and liquidity could be adversely impacted by continued delays in waste shipments and/or the recurrence of project work shut downs as well as potential partial/full shutdown of any of our facilities due to COVID-19.

Environmental Contingencies

We are engaged in the waste management services segment of the pollution control industry. As a participant in the on-site treatment, storage and disposal market and the off-site treatment and services market, we are subject to rigorous federal, state and local regulations. These regulations mandate strict compliance and therefore are a cost and concern to us. Because of their integral role in providing quality environmental services, we make every reasonable attempt to maintain complete compliance with these regulations; however, even with a diligent commitment, we, along with many of our competitors, may be required to pay fines for violations or investigate and potentially remediate our waste management facilities.

We routinely use third party disposal companies, who ultimately destroy or secure landfill residual materials generated at our facilities or at a client’s site. In the past, numerous third partythird-party disposal sites have improperly managed waste and consequently require remedial action; consequently, any party utilizing these sites may be liable for some or all of the remedial costs. Despite our aggressive compliance and auditing procedures for disposal of wastes, we could further be notified, in the future, that we are a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) at a remedial action site, which could have a material adverse effect.

We have three remediation projects, which are currently in progress atrelating to our Perma-Fix of Dayton, Inc. (“PFD”), PFM and Perma-Fix of Memphis,South Georgia, Inc. (“PFM” – closed location), and PFSG (in closure status) subsidiaries. The Company divested PFD in 2008; however, the environmental liability of PFD was retained by the Company upon the divestiture of PFD.PFSG”) subsidiaries, all within our discontinued operations. These remediation projects principally entail the removal/remediation of contaminated soil and, in most cases, the remediation of surrounding ground water. The remediation activities are closely reviewed and monitored by the applicable state regulators. While no assurances can be made that we will be able to do so, we expect to fund the expenses to remediate these sites from funds generated internally.

At December 31, 2017,2020, we had total accrued environmental remediation liabilities of $871,000, of which $632,000 are recorded as a current liability,$854,000, a decrease of $54,000$73,000 from the December 31, 20162019 balance of $925,000.$927,000. The net decrease of $54,000 represents payments made on remediation projects atfor our PFSG and PFD totaling approximately of $79,000 and an increase to the reserve of approximately $25,000 at PFD due to reassessmentsubsidiaries. At December 31, 2020, $744,000 of the remediation reserve.total accrued environmental liabilities was recorded as current.

Related Party Transactions

David Centofanti

David Centofanti serves as our Vice President of Information Systems. For such position, he received annual compensation of $168,000$181,000 and $177,000 for each of the years 20172020 and 2016.2019, respectively. David Centofanti is the son of Dr. Louis Centofanti, our EVPExecutive Vice President (“EVP”) of Strategic Initiatives and a member of our Board member. Dr. Louis Centofanti previously held the position of President and CEO until September 8, 2017.Directors (“Board”). We believe the compensation received by David Centofanti for his technical expertise which he provides to us is competitive and comparable to compensation we would have to pay to an unaffiliated third party with the same technical expertise.

Robert L. Ferguson

Robert L. Ferguson serves as an advisor to our Board and is also a member of the Supervisory Board of PF Medical, our majority-owned Polish subsidiary. Robert Ferguson previously served as our Board member from June 2007 to February 2010 and again from August 2011 to September 2012. We previously completed a lending transaction with Robert Ferguson and William Lampson in August 2013 (collectively, the “Lenders”) whereby we borrowed from the Lenders $3,000,000 which was paid in full by us in August 2016. Robert Ferguson is also a consultant to us in connection with our Test Bed Initiative (“TBI”) at our PFNWR facility. As an advisor to our Board, Robert Ferguson is paid $4,000 monthly plus reasonable expenses. For such services, Robert Ferguson received compensation of approximately $51,000 and $59,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For Robert Ferguson’s consulting work in connection with the Company’s TBI, on July 27, 2017 (“grant date”), we granted Robert Ferguson a stock option from the Company’s 2017 Plan for the purchase of up to 100,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.65 a share, which was the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant (“Ferguson Stock Option”). The vesting of the Ferguson Stock Option is subject to the achievement of the following milestones (“waste” as noted below is defined as liquid LAW (“low activity waste”) and/or liquid TRU (“transuranic waste”)):

The term of the Ferguson Stock Option is seven (7) years from the grant date. Each of the milestones is exclusive of each other; therefore, achievement of any of the milestones above by Robert Ferguson by the designated date will provide Robert Ferguson the right to exercise the number of options in accordance with the milestone attained. The 10,000 options as noted above become vested by Robert Ferguson on December 19, 2017. The fair value of the 10,000 options was determined to be approximately $20,000.

John Climaco

John Climaco, who had been a Board member since October 2013, did not stand for reelection at the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on July 27, 2017. In addition to his previous service as a Board member, John Climaco also served as EVP of PF Medical, a majority-owned Polish subsidiary of the Company, from June 2, 2015 to June 30, 2017. As EVP of PF Medical, John Climaco received an annual salary of $150,000 and was not eligible to receive compensation for serving on the Company’s Board. PF Medical had entered into a multi-year supplier agreement and stock subscription agreement in July 2015 with Digirad Corporation, where John Climaco serves as a board member.

Employment Agreements

We entered into an employment agreementsagreement with each of Mark Duff, (PresidentPresident and CEO)Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Dr. Louis Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives, Ben Naccarato, (ChiefChief Financial Officer (“CFO”)), Andrew Lombardo, EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services, and Richard Grondin, EVP of Waste Treatment Operations, with each employment agreement dated July 22, 2020 (each employment agreement referred to as the “New Employment Agreement”). We had entered into an employment agreement with each of Mark Duff, Dr. Louis Centofanti (EVP of Strategic Initiatives), with each employment datedand Ben Naccarato on September 8, 2017. Each2017 which each of the employment agreementsagreement was terminated effective July, 22, 2020 upon the execution of the New Employment Agreement with Mark Duff, Dr. Louis Centofanti and Ben Naccarato.

Each New Employment Agreement is effective for three years from September 8, 2017July 22, 2020 (the “Initial Term”) unless earlier terminated by usthe Company or by the executive officer. At the end of the Initial Term of each employment agreement,New Employment Agreement, each employment agreementNew Employment Agreement will automatically be extended for one additional year, unless at least six months prior to the expiration of the Initial Term, we or the executive officer provides written notice not to extend the terms of the employment agreement.New Employment Agreement. Each employment agreementNew Employment Agreement provides for annual base salaries,salary, performance bonuses (as provided in the Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) as approved by our Board,Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) and Board) and other benefits commonly found in such agreements. In addition,agreement.

Pursuant to each New Employment Agreement, if the executive officer’s employment agreement provides thatis terminated due to death/disability or for cause (as defined in the eventagreements), we will pay to the executive officer or to his estate an amount equal to the sum of any unpaid base salary and accrued unused vacation time through the date of termination and any benefits due to the executive officer under any employee benefit plan (the “Accrued Amounts”) plus any performance compensation payable pursuant to the MIP with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination.

If the executive officer terminates his employment for “good reason” (as defined in the agreements) or is terminated by us without cause (including the executive officer terminating his employmentany such termination for “good reason” or is terminated by us without cause within 24 months after a Change in Control (as defined in the agreement)), we will pay the executive officer the following: (a) a sum equal to any unpaid base salary; (b) accrued unused vacation time and any employee benefits accrued as of termination but not yet been paid (“Accrued Amounts”); (c)Amounts, two years of full base salary; (d)salary, and two times the performance compensation under(under the MIPMIP) earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination; and (e)termination provided the performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination has not been paid. If performance compensation earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination has been made to the executive officer, the executive officer will be paid an additional year of the performance compensation as provided under the MIP earned if not already paid, with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination. If the executive terminates his employment for a reason other than for good reason, we will pay to the executive thean amount equal to the Accrued Amounts plus any performance compensation payable pursuant to the MIP.MIP with respect to the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination.

If there is a Change in Control (as defined in the agreements), all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the executive officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of termination through the original term of the options. In the event of the death of an executive officer, all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the executive officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of death, with such options exercisable for the lesser of the original option term or twelve months from the date of the executive officer’s death. In the event of an executive officer terminatingterminates his employment for “good reason” or is terminated by usthe Company without cause, all outstanding stock options to purchase common stock held by the executive officer will immediately become exercisable in full commencing on the date of termination, with such options exercisable for the lesser of the original option term or within 60 days from the date of the executive’s date of termination. Severance benefits payable with respect to a termination (other than Accrued Amounts) shall not be payable until the termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)).

We had previously entered into an employment agreement with each of Dr. Louis Centofanti and Ben Naccarato on July 10, 2014 which both employment agreements are due to expire on July 10, 2018, as amended (the “July 10, 2014 Employment Agreements”). We also had previously entered into an employment agreement dated January 19, 2017 (which was effective June 11, 2016) with Mark Duff which is due to expire on June 11, 2019 (the “January 19, 2017 Employment Agreement”). The July 10, 2014 Employment Agreements and the January 19, 2017 Employment Agreement were terminated effective September 8, 2017.

MIPs

On January 19, 2017,16, 2020, our Board and the Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) approved individual MIP for each Mark Duff, CEO and President, Ben Naccarato, EVP and CFO, Dr. Louis Centofanti.Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives and Andy Lombardo, who was appointed by our Board to the position of EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services and an executive officer of the Company on January 16, 2020. Mr. Lombardo previously held the position of Senior Vice President (“SVP”) of Nuclear and Technical Services. Additionally, on July 22, 2020, our Board and our Compensation Committee approved a MIP for Richard Grondin who was appointed by our Board to the position of EVP of Waste Treatment Operations and an executive officer of the Company. Mr. Grondin previously held the position of Vice President of Western Operations within our Treatment Segment. Each of the MIPs is effective January 1, 20172020 and applicable for year the year ended December 31, 2017.2020. Each MIP provides guidelines for the calculation of annual cash incentive basedincentive-based compensation, subject to Compensation Committee oversight and modification. Each MIP awards cash compensation based on achievement of performance thresholds, with the amount of such compensation established as a percentage of the executive’s 20172020 annual base salary on the approval date of the MIP.salary. The potential target performance compensation ranges approved was from 5% to 100% ($13,962 to $279,248)150% of the base salary for Dr. Louis Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives effective September 8, 2017 and previously the CEO and President;($17,220 to $516,600), 5% to 100% ($13,350 to $267,000) of the base salary for Mark Duff, CEOthe CFO ($14,000 to $280,000), 5% to 100% of the base salary for the EVP of Strategic Initiatives ($11,667 to $233,336), 5% to 100% of the base salary for the EVP of Nuclear and President effective September 8, 2017 and previously the EVP/COO;Technical Services ($14,000 to $280,000) and 5% to 100% ($11,03312,000 to $220,667)$240,000) of the base salary for Ben Naccarato, CFO. Pursuantthe EVP of Waste Treatment Operations. The total incentive compensation earned under the 2020 MIPs for the executive officers was approximately $419,000 and is payable on or about 90 days after year-end, or sooner, based on finalization of our audited financial statements for 2020 in accordance to the MIPs, the Compensation Committee had the right to modify, change or terminate the MIPs at any time and for any reason. No performance compensation was earned or payable under each of the 2017 MIPs as discussed above.MIPs.

On January 18, 2018,21, 2021, our Board and the Board andCompany Compensation Committee approved individual MIP for the calendar year 2021 for each Mark Duff, CEO, EVP and President, Ben Naccarato, CFO, and Dr. Louis Centofanti, EVP of Strategic Initiatives. TheInitiatives, EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services and EVP of Waste Treatment Operations. Each of the MIPs areis effective January 1, 20182021 and applicable for year ended December 31, 2018.2021. Each MIP provides guidelines for the calculation of annual cash incentive basedincentive-based compensation, subject to Compensation Committee oversight and modification. Each MIP awards cash compensation based on achievement of performance thresholds, with the amount of such compensation established as a percentage of the executive’s 20182021 annual base salary onat the time of the approval date of the MIP. The potential target performance compensation ranges from 5% to 100% ($13,350 to $267,000)150% of the base salary for the CEO and President;($17,220 to $516,600), 5% to 100% ($11,475 to $229,494) of the base salary for the CFO; andCFO ($14,000 to $280,000), 5% to 100% ($11,170 to $223,400) of the base salary for the EVP of Strategic Initiatives. PursuantInitiatives ($11,667 to $233,336), 5% to 100% of the MIPs,base salary for the EVP of Nuclear and Technical Services ($14,000 to $280,000) and 5% to 100% ($12,000 to $240,000) of the base salary for the EVP of Waste Treatment Operations.

Salary

On January 16, 2020, the Board, with the approval of the Compensation Committee hasapproved the rightfollowing salary increase for the Company’s executive officers effective January 1, 2020:

Additionally, as a result of Richard Grondin’s appointment by the Board to modify, change or terminate the MIPs at any timeposition of EVP of Waste Treatment and for any reason.an executive officer on July 22, 2020, his annual salary was increased from $208,000 as Vice President of Western Operations within our Treatment Segment to $240,000, effective July 22, 2020.

In February 2021, the Compensation Committee approved an annual salary cost of living adjustment of approximately 2.3% to take into effect April 1, 2021 for each of our executive officers.

Not required under Regulation S-K for smaller reporting companies.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained within this report may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively, the “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995”). All statements in this report other than a statement of historical fact are forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results and performance of the Company to differ materially from such statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein relate to, among other things,

While the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove to have beenbe correct. There are a variety of factors, which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those described in this report, including, but not limited to:

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Financial Statement Schedules

In accordance with the rules of Regulation S-X, schedules are not submitted because they are not applicable to or required by the Company.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

Opinion on the financial statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss,income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the periodthen ended, December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the periodthen ended, December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supportingregarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLPCritical audit matters

Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.determined that there are no critical audit matters.

Atlanta, Georgia

March 16, 2018

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As of December 31,

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, CONTINUED

As of December 31,