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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | NOTE 22—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES: CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries are 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. CONSOL Energy accrues the estimated loss for these lawsuits and claims when the loss is probable and can be estimated. The Company's current estimated accruals related to these pending claims, individually and in the aggregate, are immaterial to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy. It is possible that the aggregate loss in the future with respect to these lawsuits and claims could ultimately be material to the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of CONSOL Energy; however, such amounts cannot be reasonably estimated. The amount claimed against CONSOL Energy is disclosed below when an amount is expressly stated in the lawsuit or claim, which is not often the case. The maximum aggregate amount claimed in those lawsuits and claims, regardless of probability, where a claim is expressly stated or can be estimated, exceeds the aggregate amounts accrued for all lawsuits and claims by approximately $937,421. The following lawsuits and claims include those for which a loss is probable and an accrual has been recognized. Hale Litigation: This class action lawsuit was filed on September 23, 2010 in the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. The putative class consists of force-pooled unleased gas owners whose ownership of the coalbed methane (CBM) gas was declared to be in conflict with rights of others. The lawsuit seeks a judicial declaration of ownership of the CBM and damages based on allegations CNX Gas Company failed to either pay royalties due to conflicting claimants or deemed lessors or paid them less than required because of the alleged practice of improper below market sales and/or taking alleged improper post-production deductions. On September 30, 2013, the District Judge entered an Order certifying the class, and CNX Gas Company appealed the Order to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. On August 19, 2014, the Fourth Circuit agreed with CNX Gas Company, reversed the Order certifying the class and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with the decision. On April 23, 2015, Plaintiffs filed a Renewed Motion for Class Certification, and on June 23, 2015, CNX Gas Company filed its Opposition to same. The Court held a hearing on the Motion on September 18, 2015 and has not yet ruled. CONSOL Energy continues to believe this action cannot properly proceed as a class action in any form, believes the case has meritorious defenses, and intends to defend it vigorously. The Company has established an accrual to cover its estimated liability for this case. This accrual is immaterial to the overall financial position of CONSOL Energy and is included in Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Addison Litigation: This class action lawsuit was filed on April 28, 2010 in the U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Virginia. The putative class consists of gas lessors whose gas ownership is in conflict. The lawsuit seeks a judicial declaration of ownership of the CBM and damages based on the allegations that CNX Gas Company failed to either pay royalties due to these conflicting claimant lessors or paid them less than required because of the alleged practice of improper below market sales and/or taking alleged improper post-production deductions. On September 30, 2013, the District Judge entered an Order certifying the class, and CNX Gas Company appealed the Order to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. On August 19, 2014, the Fourth Circuit agreed with CNX Gas Company, reversed the Order certifying the class and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with the decision. On April 23, 2015, Plaintiffs filed a Renewed Motion for Class Certification, and on June 23, 2015, CNX Gas Company filed its Opposition to same. The Court held a hearing on the Motion on September 18, 2015 and has not yet ruled. CONSOL Energy continues to believe this action cannot properly proceed as a class action in any form, believes the case has meritorious defenses, and intends to defend it vigorously. The Company has established an accrual to cover its estimated liability for this case. This accrual is immaterial to the overall financial position of CONSOL Energy and is included in Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following royalty, land rights and other lawsuits and claims include those for which a loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, and accordingly, an accrual may not have been recognized. These claims are influenced by many factors which prevent the estimation of a range of potential loss. These factors include, but are not limited to, generalized allegations of unspecified damages (such as improper deductions), discovery having not commenced or not having been completed, unavailability of expert reports on damages and non-monetary issues being tried. For example, in instances where a gas lease termination is sought, damages would depend on speculation as to if and when the gas production would otherwise have occurred, how many wells would have been drilled on the lease premises, what their production would be, what the cost of production would be, and what the price of gas would be during the production period. An estimate is calculated, if applicable, when sufficient information becomes available. Fitzwater Litigation: Two nonunion retired coal miners have sued CONSOL Energy Inc., Fola Coal Company and Consolidation Coal Company in West Virginia Federal Court alleging ERISA violations in the termination of retiree health care benefits. The Plaintiffs contend they relied to their detriment on oral statements and promises of "lifetime health benefits" allegedly made by various members of management during Plaintiffs' employment and that they were allegedly denied access to Summary Plan Documents that clearly reserved to the Company the right to modify or terminate the CONSOL Energy Inc. Retiree Health and Welfare Plan. Plaintiffs request that retiree health benefits be reinstated and seek to represent a class of all nonunion retirees of CONSOL Energy and its subsidiaries. The Company believes it has meritorious defense and intends to vigorously defend this suit. Virginia Mine Void Litigation: The Company is currently defending three lawsuits naming Consolidation Coal Company (CCC), Island Creek Coal Company (ICCC), CNX Gas Company, and/or CONSOL Energy. The lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. On October 26, 2015, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants in two of the actions upon its finding that plaintiffs' claims are barred by the applicable statutes of limitation. Plaintiffs have appealed both cases to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Oral argument was held on December 8, 2016. The third case remains pending in the trial court. On January 26, 2016, six mine void lawsuits that have twice before been filed and voluntarily dismissed, were refiled for a third time in state court but have not been served. The Complaints seek damages and injunctive relief in connection with the transfer of water from mining activities at Buchanan Mine into void spaces in inactive ICCC mines adjacent to the Buchanan operations, voids ostensibly underlying plaintiffs’ properties. While some of the plaintiffs have an ownership interest in the coal, others have some interest in one or more of the fee, surface, oil/gas or other mineral estates. The suits allege the water storage precludes access to and has damaged coal, impeded coalbed methane gas production and was made without compensation to the property owners. Plaintiffs seek recovery in tort, contract and trespass assumpsit (quasi-contract). The suits each seek damages between $50,000 and in excess of $100,000 plus punitive damages. The Company intends to vigorously defend these suits. At December 31, 2016, CONSOL Energy has provided the following financial guarantees, unconditional purchase obligations and letters of credit to certain third parties, as described by major category in the following table. These amounts represent the maximum potential of total future payments that the Company could be required to make under these instruments. These amounts have not been reduced for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. Generally, recoveries under reclamation bonds would be limited to the extent of the work performed at the time of the default. No amounts related to these financial guarantees and letters of credit are recorded as liabilities in the financial statements. CONSOL Energy management believes that these guarantees will expire without being funded, and therefore the commitments will not have a material adverse effect on financial condition.
| Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
| Total Amounts Committed |  | Less Than 1 Year |  | 1-3 Years |  | 3-5 Years |  | Beyond 5 Years
Letters of Credit: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee-Related | $ | 82,273 |  |  | $ | 67,871 |  |  | $ | 14,402 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Environmental | 998 |  |  | 600 |  |  | 398 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other | 242,405 |  |  | 228,313 |  |  | 14,092 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Letters of Credit | 325,676 |  |  | 296,784 |  |  | 28,892 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Surety Bonds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee-Related | 112,810 |  |  | 111,510 |  |  | 1,300 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Environmental | 514,851 |  |  | 483,604 |  |  | 31,247 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other | 22,417 |  |  | 21,591 |  |  | 824 |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |
Total Surety Bonds | 650,078 |  |  | 616,705 |  |  | 33,371 |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |
Guarantees: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other | 74,203 |  |  | 41,285 |  |  | 17,767 |  |  | 13,401 |  |  | 1,750 |
Total Guarantees | 74,203 |  |  | 41,285 |  |  | 17,767 |  |  | 13,401 |  |  | 1,750 |
Total Commitments | $ | 1,049,957 |  |  | $ | 954,774 |  |  | $ | 80,030 |  |  | $ | 13,403 |  |  | $ | 1,750 |
Included in the above table are commitments and guarantees entered into in conjunction with the sale of Consolidation Coal Company and certain of its subsidiaries, which contain all five of its longwall coal mines in West Virginia, and its river operations to a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corporation (Murray Energy). As part of the sales agreement, CONSOL Energy has guaranteed certain equipment lease obligations and coal sales agreements that were assumed by Murray Energy. In the event that Murray Energy would default on the obligations defined in the agreements, CONSOL Energy would be required to perform under the guarantees. If CONSOL Energy would be required to perform, the stock purchase agreement provides various recourse actions. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair value of these guarantees was $1,362 and $1,228, respectively, and are included in Other Accrued Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of certain of the guarantees was determined using CONSOL Energy’s risk-adjusted interest rate. Significant increases or decreases in the risk-adjusted interest rates may result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. Coal sales agreement guarantees were valued based on an evaluation of coal market pricing compared to contracted sales price and includes an adjustment for nonperformance risk. No other amounts related to financial guarantees and letters of credit are recorded as liabilities in the financial statements. Significant judgment is required in determining the fair value of these guarantees. The guarantees of the leases and sales agreements are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. As part of the sale of Buchanan Mine (See Note 2 - Discontinued Operations), CONSOL Energy has guaranteed certain equipment lease obligations that were assumed by Coronado. In the event that Coronado would default on the obligations defined in the agreements, CONSOL Energy would be required to perform under the guarantees. CONSOL Energy regularly evaluates the likelihood of default for all guarantees based on an expected loss analysis and records the fair value, if any, of its guarantees as an obligation in the consolidated financial statements. CONSOL Energy and CNX Gas Company enter into long-term unconditional purchase obligations to procure major equipment purchases, natural gas firm transportation, gas drilling services and other operating goods and services. These purchase obligations are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2016, the purchase obligations for each of the next five years and beyond were as follows:
Obligations Due | Amount
Less than 1 year | $ | 209,797 |
1 - 3 years | 285,224 |
3 - 5 years | 243,534 |
More than 5 years | 622,509 |
Total Purchase Obligations | $ | 1,361,064 |

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