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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES: CNX and its subsidiaries are subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to such matters as personal injury, royalty accounting, damage to property, climate change, governmental regulations including environmental violations and remediation, employment and contract disputes and other claims and actions arising out of the normal course of business. CNX 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 CNX. 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 CNX; however, such amounts cannot be reasonably estimated. The 1992 Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act ("Coal Act"), in Section 9711, requires coal companies that were providing health benefits to United Mine Workers of America ("UMWA") retirees as of February 1993 to continue providing health benefits to such individuals, in substantially the same coverages, for as long as the last signatory operator remains in business. Section 9711 also requires any "related person" to be joint and severally liable for the provision of these health benefits. On May 1, 2020, the court in the Murray Energy Corporation ("Murray") bankruptcy proceedings approved a settlement agreement between Murray and the UMWA that transferred to the UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan the Coal Act liabilities for retirees in Murray’s Section 9711 plan. The retirees transferred by Murray to the 1992 Benefit Plan include approximately 2,159 retirees allegedly traced to the December 2013 sale by CONSOL Energy Inc. to Murray Energy of the following possible last signatory operators: Consolidation Coal Company, McElroy Coal Company, Southern Ohio Coal Company, Central Ohio Coal Company, Keystone Coal Mining Corp., and Eighty-Four Mining Company (the "Sold Subsidiaries"). On May 2, 2020, the Trustees of the UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan sued CNX and CONSOL Energy Inc. ("CONSOL'") in federal court contending that the Sold Subsidiaries were last signatory operators and that CNX and CONSOL are related persons to the Sold Subsidiaries and, as such, CNX and CONSOL are jointly and severally liable for the Coal Act health benefits allegedly owed to the eligible retirees traced to the Sold Subsidiaries. The 1992 Benefit Plan seeks, among other relief, a declaration that CNX and CONSOL are obligated to enroll the eligible retirees attributed to the Sold Subsidiaries in a Section 9711 plan; that CNX and CONSOL are liable to post the security required by Section 9712; and, that CNX and CONSOL are liable to pay per beneficiary premiums until the eligible retirees are enrolled in a Section 9711 plan, and other fees, costs and disbursements under the Coal Act. On March 29, 2022, the Court denied the Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss and we are now defending this action on the merits. Further, under the Separation and Distribution Agreement that was entered into at the time we spun-out our coal business in 2017, CONSOL agreed to indemnify CNX for all coal-related liabilities, including this lawsuit. With respect to this matter, although a loss is possible, it is not probable, and accordingly no accrual has been recognized. On July 22, 2021, CNX received a letter from the UMWA 1974 Pension Plan ("1974 Plan") requesting information related to the facts and circumstances surrounding the 2013 sale of certain of its coal subsidiaries to Murray Energy. The letter indicated that litigation related to potential withdrawal liabilities from the plan created by the 2019 bankruptcy of Murray Energy was reasonably foreseeable and at that time, no liability had been assessed. The 1974 Plan never issued an assessment to CNX. Following a period of discovery, CNX and the 1974 Plan mediated the claim in February 2024. By Agreement dated March 4, 2024, CNX settled the 1974 Plan claim for $75,000 which is payable over five-years. Under the Separation and Distribution Agreement (“SDA”) that was entered into at the time we spun-out our coal business in 2017, CONSOL Energy (“CONSOL”) became successor-in-interest to the “Coal Business” and accepted and agreed to assume and be responsible for all “Coal Liabilities.” The assumed “Coal Liabilities” are defined broadly in the SDA and specifically include claims, like the 1974 Plan claim, arising under ERISA; involving contributions or other obligations pursuant to any Benefits Plan; and any withdraw liabilities. CONSOL also unequivocally agreed to defend and indemnify CNX for all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any “Coal Liabilities.” CNX timely tendered the 1974 Plan claim to CONSOL for defense and indemnity in July 2021, which it denied. CNX continued to demand indemnity from CONSOL including prior to, during and after the March 2024 mediation. After CONSOL repudiated its contractual obligations to CNX, and after having timely fulfilled all SDA prerequisites for bringing the action, on March 7, 2024, CNX sued CONSOL for breach of contract seeking an order requiring CONSOL to indemnify CNX for the 1974 Plan claim settlement. CNX has determined that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. CNX also concluded that it is probable under the terms of the SDA and under the relevant law as it currently exists, it is fully entitled to be indemnified and seek recovery from CONSOL. As a result, the present value of the $75,000 settlement was recognized in Other Liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024, with the current portion recognized in Other Accrued Liabilities. A corresponding receivable was recognized in Other Non-Current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024, with the current portion recognized in Other Receivables. These balances may be adjusted from time to time, as appropriate, to reflect changes in circumstances. At March 31, 2024, CNX 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 tables. 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 unconditional purchase obligations and letters of credit are recorded as liabilities in the financial statements. CNX management believes that the commitments in the following table will expire without being funded, and therefore will not have a material adverse effect on CNX's 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: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Firm Transportation | $ | 40,331 |  |  | $ | 40,331 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Other | 3,272 |  |  | 3,272 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Letters of Credit | 43,603 |  |  | 43,603 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Surety Bonds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee-Related | 2,250 |  |  | 2,250 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Environmental | 11,449 |  |  | 11,349 |  |  | 100 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Firm Transportation | 126,336 |  |  | 126,336 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Financial Guarantees | 72,720 |  |  | 72,720 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Other | 8,818 |  |  | 8,314 |  |  | 504 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Surety Bonds | 221,573 |  |  | 220,969 |  |  | 604 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Commitments | $ | 265,176 |  |  | $ | 264,572 |  |  | $ | 604 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Excluded from the above table are commitments and guarantees entered into in conjunction with the spin-off of the Company's coal business in November 2017. Although CONSOL has agreed to indemnify CNX to the extent that CNX would be called upon to pay any of these liabilities, there is no assurance that CONSOL will satisfy its obligations to indemnify CNX in the event that CNX is so called upon (See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in CNX's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on February 8, 2024 ("2023 Form 10-K") for additional information). CNX enters 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 in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2024, the purchase obligations for each of the next five years and beyond are as follows:
Obligations Due | Amount
Less than 1 year | $ | 239,479 |
1 - 3 years | 434,905 |
3 - 5 years | 351,324 |
More than 5 years | 551,023 |
Total Purchase Obligations | $ | 1,576,731 |

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