| 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: We are a master limited partnership formed in 2015 to manage and further develop all of our sponsor's active coal operations in Pennsylvania. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 , the Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of CONSOL Operating and CONSOL Thermal Holdings, wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. 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 our 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; 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. Additionally, under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, the Partnership qualifies as a “smaller reporting company” because the value of its limited partner interests held by non-affiliates as of the end of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter was less than $250 million. For as long as the Partnership remains a smaller reporting company, it may take advantage of certain exemptions from the SEC’s reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies that are not smaller reporting 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 recoverable coal reserve values. Cash: Cash includes cash on hand and on deposit with banking institutions. Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: Trade receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Trade credit is extended based upon evaluations of each customer's ability to perform its obligations, which is assessed regularly. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based upon an aging of customer accounts and a review for collectibility of specific accounts. Amounts are written off against the allowance in the period in which the receivable is deemed uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $525 as of December 31, 2019 . No allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded as of December 31, 2018 . In addition, there were no material financing receivables with a contractual maturity greater than one year at December 31, 2019 or 2018 . Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. 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 in which 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 coal 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 recoverable coal reserves. Advance mining royalties and leased coal interests are evaluated for impairment issues 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 Other Income 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 recoverable coal reserve tons assigned and accessible to the mine. Recoverable 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 indicators of impairment and therefore, no impairment losses were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 . 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 to 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 obligations is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. Depreciation of the capitalized asset retirement obligation 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. 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, 2019 and 2018 , 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 generally recognized when title passes to the customers and the price is fixed and determinable. Generally, title passes when coal is loaded at the central preparation facility and, on occasion, at terminal locations or other customer destinations. Our coal contract revenue per ton is fixed and determinable and adjusted for nominal quality adjustments. Some coal contracts also contain positive electric power price-related adjustments in addition to a fixed base-price per ton. None of the Partnership's coal contracts allow for retroactive adjustments to pricing after title to the coal has passed. See Note 2 - Revenue for more information. 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. 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. Recent Accounting Pronouncements: In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15 - Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) to help entities evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement (hosting arrangement) by providing guidance for determining when the arrangement includes a software license. The amendments in update 2018-15 align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements of capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. These changes will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Management does not expect this update to have a material impact on the Partnership's financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14 - Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20) to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to the financial statements by facilitating clear communication of the information required by GAAP. The amendments modify the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. These changes will be effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently evaluating the impact this guidance may have on the Partnership's financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 - Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to the financial statements by facilitating clear communication of the information required by GAAP. The amendments modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements, including the consideration of costs and benefits. These changes will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Management does not expect this update to have a material impact on the Partnership's financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. To achieve this, the amendments in this ASU replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The measurement of expected credit losses will be based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectibility of the reported amount. In May 2019, the FASB updated Topic 326 by issuing ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief, which provides entities that have certain instruments within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses - Measured at Amortized Cost, with an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option in Subtopic 825-10, Financial Instruments-Overall, applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis for eligible instruments, upon adoption of Topic 326. The amendments in these updates will be applied using a modified-retrospective approach and, for public entities, are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted under this guidance. Management is currently evaluating the overall impact the implementation of this guidance will have on the Partnership's financial statements. The Partnership's exposure to credit losses is concentrated on trade and other receivables arising from contractual agreements. Additional disclosures will be required to describe the nature and amount of the Partnership's credit losses, including the significant assumptions and judgments required to value the losses, and the accounting policy elections taken. The Partnership is implementing processes and controls to review the credit losses for appropriate accounting treatment in the context of the standards and to generate disclosures required under the standards, which the Partnership expects to disclose in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2020. As of the filing date of this Form 10-K, based on the Partnership's historical collection efforts, current industry trends in the markets the Partnership serves and the financial health of the Partnership's counterparties, the expected credit losses recognized upon adoption of this guidance are not expected to have a material impact on the Partnership's financial statements. Reclassifications: Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the report classifications of the current period, including the reclassification of the Current Portion of Long-Term Debt, previously included in Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported Total Current Liabilities and are not material to the prior year presentation. |
