| Significant Accounting Policies | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A summary of the significant accounting policies is included below. These, together with the other notes to the consolidated financial statements, are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements. Basis of Consolidation and Presentation: On September 30, 2016, the Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiary, CONSOL Thermal Holdings, entered into a Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) with CNX, CPCC and Conrhein and together with CPCC, (the “Contributing Parties”), under which CONSOL Thermal Holdings acquired an undivided 6.25% of the Contributing Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Pennsylvania Mining Complex (which represents an aggregate 5% undivided interest in and to the Pennsylvania Mining Complex)(“PA Mining Acquisition”). The PA Mining Acquisition was a transaction between entities under common control; therefore, the partnership recorded the assets and liabilities of the acquired 5% of Pennsylvania Mining Complex at their carrying amounts to CNX on the date of the transaction. The difference between CNX’s net carrying amount and the total consideration paid to CNX was recorded as a capital transaction with CNX, which resulted in a reduction in partners’ capital. Because this transaction is between entities under common control, the Partnership recast its historical consolidated financial statements to retrospectively reflect the additional 5% interest in Pennsylvania Mining Complex as if the business was owned for all periods presented; however, the consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if the Partnership had owned it during the periods reported. For the years ended December 31, 2017 2016 , and 2015 the Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of CONSOL Operating and CONSOL Thermal Holdings, wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. On November 28, 2017, CONSOL Energy was separated from CNX into an independent, publicly traded coal company via a pro rata distribution of all of CONSOL Energy’s common stock to CNX’s stockholders. CONSOL Energy was originally formed as CONSOL Mining Corporation in Delaware on June 21, 2017 to hold CNX’s coal business including its interest in the Pennsylvania Mining Complex and certain related coal assets, including CNX’s ownership interest in the Partnership and our general partner, CNX’s terminal operations at the Port of Baltimore and undeveloped coal reserves located in the Northern Appalachian, Central Appalachian and Illinois basins and certain related coal assets and liabilities. As part of the separation, CONSOL Mining Corporation changed its name to CONSOL Energy Inc. and its ticker to “CEIX”, CNX changed its name to CNX Resources Corporation and its ticker to “CNX”, the Partnership changed its name to CONSOL Coal Resources LP and its ticker to “CCR” and the general partner changed its name to CONSOL Coal Resources GP LLC. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”): Under the JOBS Act, for as long as the Partnership remains an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from the SEC’s reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to provide an auditor’s attestation report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its system of internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and seeking unitholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. The Partnership will remain an emerging growth company for up to five years, although we will lose that status sooner if: • we have more than $1.07 billion of revenues in a fiscal year; • limited partner interests held by non-affiliates have a market value of more than $700 million (large accelerated filer); or • we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Partnership has irrevocably elected to “opt out” of this exemption and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as various disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates included in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are related to coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, workers’ compensation, asset retirement obligations, contingencies and coal reserve values. Cash: Cash includes cash on hand and on deposit with banking institutions. Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. We reserve for specific accounts receivable when it is probable that all or a part of an outstanding balance will not be collected, such as customer bankruptcies. Collectability is determined based on terms of sale, credit status of customers and various other circumstances. We regularly review collectability and establish or adjust the allowance as necessary using the specific identification method. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. There were no reserves for uncollectible trade amounts in the periods presented. Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of coal inventories is determined by the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Coal inventory costs include labor, supplies, equipment costs, depreciation, depletion and amortization, operating overhead and other related costs. The cost of supplies inventory is determined by the average cost method and includes operating and maintenance supplies to be used in our coal operations. Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost upon acquisition. Expenditures which extend the useful lives of existing plant and equipment are capitalized. Interest costs applicable to major asset additions are capitalized during the construction period. Costs of additional mine facilities required to maintain production after a mine reaches the production stage, generally referred to as “receding face costs,” are expensed as incurred; however, the costs of additional airshafts and new portals are capitalized. Planned major maintenance costs which do not extend the useful lives of existing plant and equipment are expensed as incurred. Coal exploration costs are expensed as incurred. Coal exploration costs include those incurred to ascertain existence, location, extent or quality of ore or minerals before beginning the development stage of the mine. Costs of developing new underground mines and certain underground expansion projects are capitalized. Underground development costs, which are costs incurred to make the mineral physically accessible, include costs to prepare property for shafts, driving main entries for ventilation, haulage, personnel, construction of airshafts, roof protection and other facilities. Airshafts and capitalized mine development associated with a coal reserve are amortized on a units-of production basis as the coal is produced so that each ton of coal is assigned a portion of the unamortized costs. We employ this method to match costs with the related revenues realized in a particular period. Rates are updated when revisions to coal reserve estimates are made. Coal reserve estimates are reviewed when information becomes available that indicates a reserve change is needed, or at a minimum once a year. Any material effect from changes in estimates is disclosed in the period the change occurs. Amortization of development cost begins when the development phase is complete and the production phase begins. At an underground mine, the end of the development phase and the beginning of the production phase takes place when construction of the mine for economic extraction is substantially complete. Coal extracted during the development phase is incidental to the mine’s production capacity and is not considered to shift the mine into the production phase. Coal reserves are either owned in fee or controlled by lease. The duration of the leases vary; however, the lease terms generally are extended automatically to the exhaustion of economically recoverable reserves, as long as active mining continues. Coal interests held by lease provide the same rights as fee ownership for mineral extraction and are legally considered real property interests. Advance mining royalties are advance payments made to lessors under terms of mineral lease agreements that are recoupable against future production using the units-of-production method. Depletion of leased coal interests is computed using the units-of-production method over proven and probable coal reserves. Advance mining royalties and leased coal interests are evaluated periodically, or at a minimum once a year, for impairment issues or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Any revisions are accounted for prospectively as changes in accounting estimates. When properties are retired or otherwise disposed, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and any profit or loss on disposition is recognized in Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Depreciation of plant and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or lease terms generally as follows: Years Buildings and improvements 10 to 45 Machinery and equipment 3 to 25 Leasehold improvements Life of Lease Costs to obtain coal lands are capitalized based on the cost at acquisition and are amortized using the units-of-production method over all estimated proven and probable reserve tons assigned and accessible to the mine. Proven and probable coal reserves are calculated on a clean coal ton equivalent, which excludes non-recoverable coal reserves and anticipated preparation plant processing refuse. Rates are updated when revisions to coal reserve estimates are made. Coal reserve estimates are reviewed when events and circumstances indicate a reserve change is needed, or at a minimum once a year. Amortization of coal interests begins when the coal reserve is produced. At an underground mine, a ton is considered produced once it reaches the surface area of the mine. Any material effect from changes in estimates is disclosed in the period the change occurs. Impairment of Long-lived Assets: Impairment of long-lived assets is recorded when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying value. The carrying value of the assets is then reduced to its estimated fair value which is usually measured based on an estimate of future discounted cash flows. There were no impairment losses recognized during the years ended December 31, 2017 , 2016 and 2015 . Pension: The personnel who operate CPCC and Conrhein’s assets were employees of CPCC and participated in certain defined benefit retirement plans administered by CNX through December 31, 2015. In connection with the separation, the sponsorship of the CONSOL Energy Inc. Employee Retirement Plan (the “Pension Plan”) was transferred to CONSOL Energy. Effective December 31, 2015, the qualified defined benefit retirement plan was frozen for all remaining participants in the plan. CONSOL Energy directly charges the Partnership for its portion of the service costs associated with these employees that participate in the salary retirement pension plans. The Partnership’s share of those costs is reflected in Operating and Other Costs in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Pneumoconiosis Benefits and Workers’ Compensation: The Partnership is required by federal and state statutes to provide our portion of benefits to certain current and former totally disabled employees or their dependents for awards related to coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (“CWP”). The Partnership is also required by various state statutes to provide our portion of workers’ compensation benefits for employees who sustain employment related physical injuries or some types of occupational disease. Workers’ compensation benefits include compensation for their disability, medical costs and on some occasions, the cost of rehabilitation. The provisions for our portion of estimated benefits are determined on an actuarial basis for the Partnership’s dedicated contract labor provided under a service agreement with CONSOL Energy. Asset Retirement Obligations: Mine closing reclamation costs, perpetual water care costs and other costs associated with dismantling and removing facilities are accrued using the accounting treatment prescribed by the Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. This topic requires the fair value of an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The present value of the estimated asset retirement costs is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. Depreciation of the capitalized asset retirement cost is generally determined on a units-of-production basis. Accretion of the asset retirement obligation is recognized over time and generally will escalate over the life of the producing asset, typically as production declines. Accretion is included in Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Asset retirement obligations primarily relate to the closure of mines which includes treatment of water and the reclamation of land upon exhaustion of coal reserves. Accrued mine closing costs, perpetual care costs and reclamation costs and other costs of dismantling and removing facilities are regularly reviewed by management and are revised for changes in future estimated costs and regulatory requirements. Subsidence: Subsidence occurs when there is damage of the ground surface due to the removal of underlying coal. Areas affected may include, although not be limited to, streams, property, roads, pipelines and other land and surface structures. Total estimated subsidence claims are recognized in the period when the related coal has been extracted and are included in Operating and Other Costs on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. On occasion we prepay the estimated damages prior to undermining the property, in return for release of liability. Prepayments are included as assets and either recognized as Prepaid Expenses or in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, if the payment is made less than or greater than one year, respectively, prior to undermining the property. Income Taxes: The Partnership’s assets and liabilities are comprised of a 25% undivided interest in the Pennsylvania Mining Complex which assets and liabilities are held by CPCC and Conrhein. The Partnership does not share in the separate income tax consequences attributable to the owners of CPCC and Conrhein. Accordingly, no provision for federal or state income taxes has been recorded. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016 , the Partnership had no liability reported for unrecognized tax benefits and had not incurred interest and penalties related to income taxes. The Partnership’s operations are treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes, with each partner being separately taxed on its share of taxable income. Therefore, the Partnership has excluded income taxes from these financial statements. Revenue Recognition: Revenues are recognized when title passes to the customers. For domestic coal sales, this generally occurs when coal is loaded at the mine preparation facility. For export coal sales, revenue recognition generally occurs when coal is loaded onto marine vessels at terminal locations. Freight Revenue and Expense: Shipping and handling costs invoiced to coal customers and paid to third-party carriers are recorded as Freight Revenue and Freight Expense, respectively. Royalty Recognition: Royalty expenses for coal rights are included in Royalties and Production Taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Operations when the related revenue for the coal sale is recognized. Contingencies: The Partnership, from time to time, is subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to such matters as personal injury, wrongful death, damage to property, exposure to hazardous substances, governmental regulations (including environmental remediation), employment and contract disputes, and other claims and actions, arising out of the normal course of business. Liabilities are recorded when it is probable that obligations have been incurred and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. Estimates are developed through consultation with legal counsel involved in the defense and are based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies. Legal fees associated with defending these various lawsuits and claims are expensed when incurred. Reclassifications: The PA Mining Acquisition was accounted for as a transaction under common control, which resulted in the prior periods being recast to reflect as if the Partnership owned 25% of Pennsylvania Mining Complex for all periods presented. Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current reporting classifications with no effect on previously reported recast net income or partners’ capital. Recent Accounting Pronouncements: In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Update 2017-07 - Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The Update requires entities to (1) disaggregate the current-service-cost component from the other components of net benefit cost (the “other components”) and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement and (2) present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. Because the Partnership does not present an income from operations subtotal, that requirement is not applicable. Additionally, the Partnership’s service cost component is deemed immaterial, and therefore, the other components of net benefit cost will not be presented separately. For public entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year for which financial statements have not been issued. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Partnership’s financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued Update 2017-01 - Business Combinations (Topic 805). This update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on the Partnership’s financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. The objective of the amendments in this update is to improve financial reporting by creating common revenue recognition guidance for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services and should disclose sufficient information, both qualitative and quantitative, to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The following updates to Topic 606 were made during 2016: • In March 2016, the FASB updated Topic 606 by issuing ASU 2016-08 “Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net),” which clarifies how an entity determines whether it is a principal or an agent for goods or services promised to a customer as well as the nature of the goods or services promised to their customers. • In April 2016, the FASB issued Update 2016-10 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which seeks to address implementation issues in the areas of identifying performance obligations and licensing. • In May 2016, the FASB issued Update 2016-12 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. The update, which was issued in response to feedback received by the FASB-IASB joint revenue recognition transition resource group (TRG), seeks to address implementation issues in the areas of collectibility, presentation of sales taxes, noncash consideration, and completed contracts and contract modifications at transition. • In December 2016, the FASB issued Updated 2016-20 - Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This update applies technical corrections or improvements specific to Update 2014-09. The technical corrections seek to address implementation issues in the areas of loan guarantee fees, contract costs - impairment testing, contract costs - interaction of impairment testing with guidance in other topics, provisions for losses on construction-type and production-type contracts, the scope of Topic 606, disclosure of remaining performance obligations, disclosure of prior-period performance obligations, contract modifications example, contract asset versus receivable, refund liability, advertising costs, fixed-odds wagering contracts in the casino industry, and cost capitalization for advisors to private and public funds. The new standards are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with the option to adopt as early as annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Management has evaluated all contracts with particular attention to the impact from contracts that contain favorable electric power price related adjustments and contracts that span multiple years that have annual fixed pricing. We adopted the new standard in 2018 using the modified retrospective approach on all contracts which were not completed as of the date of initial application and there was no material impact on the Partnership’s financial statements. Further, we expect the impact of the adoption of the new standard to be immaterial to our net income on an ongoing basis, as the majority of our revenue will still be recognized when the product is shipped from our loading facility. The following factors outline management’s position: • Most of our long-term contracts are for a stated range of coal at a stated rate per year, with any material price change from year-to-year being market-driven or inflationary, where no additional value is exchanged. • Contracts which contain favorable electric power price related adjustments also represent market-driven price adjustments wherein there is no additional value being exchanged. • Pricing on contracts which are variable based on contractual quality-related adjustments are industry standard practices, could be favorable or unfavorable to the Partnership, are indeterminable, and represent an immaterial portion of our overall revenue stream. • While we do expect to experience costs of obtaining contracts with amortization periods greater than one year, those costs would be immaterial to our net income. In August 2016, the FASB issued Update 2016-15 - Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This update seeks to reduce the existing diversity in practice of the presentation and classification of specific cash flow issues. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Partnership’s financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued Update 2016-02 - Leases (Topic 842). This update is intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions. This update will require lessees to recognize all leases with terms greater than 12 months on their balance sheet as lease liabilities with a corresponding right-of-use asset. This update maintains the dual model for lease accounting, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance, with lease classification determined in a manner similar to existing lease guidance. The basic principle is that leases of all types convey the right to direct the use and obtain substantially all the economic benefits of an identified asset, meaning they create an asset and liability for lessees. Lessees will classify leases as either finance leases (comparable to current capital leases) or operating leases (comparable to current operating leases). Costs for a finance lease will be split between amortization and interest expense, with a single lease expense reported for operating leases. This update also will require both qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of the amendments in this update is permitted for all entities. Management is currently evaluating the impact this guidance may have on the Partnership’s financial statements. |
