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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental Matters
The Company is subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations concerning the protection of the environment, both with respect to the construction and operation of its plants, mines and other facilities and with respect to remediating environmental conditions that may exist at its own and other properties.
The Company believes it is in compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. The Company accrues for environmental expenses resulting from existing conditions that relate to past operations when the costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no accruals for environmental matters other than asset retirement obligations for mine reclamation.
Miscellaneous Litigation
From time to time, the Company is party to lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of its businesses. The Company records costs relating to these matters when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The effect of the outcome of these matters on the Company’s future results of operations cannot be predicted with certainty as any such effect
depends on future results of operations and the amount and timing of the resolution of such matters. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no items accrued for miscellaneous litigation.
On July 15, 2015, Walter Energy and certain of its wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries, including Jim Walter Resources, Inc. (“JWR”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) in the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division. On December 7, 2015, Walter Energy Canada Holdings, Inc., Walter Canadian Coal Partnership and their Canadian affiliates (collectively “Walter Canada”) applied for and were granted protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (the “CCAA”) pursuant to an Initial Order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. As a result of the Company’s acquisition of certain core operating assets of Walter Energy during the Chapter 11 Cases, in the first quarter of 2022 the Company received $0.7 million, from the Chapter 11 Cases which is reflected as other income (expense) in the Condensed Statement of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The Company received no payments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 from the Chapter 11 Cases.
Other Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is party to various transportation and throughput agreements with rail and barge transportation providers and the Alabama State Port Authority. These agreements contain annual minimum tonnage guarantees with respect to coal transported from the mine sites to the Port of Mobile, Alabama, the unloading of rail cars or barges, and the loading of vessels. If the Company does not meet its minimum throughput obligations, which are based on annual minimum amounts, it is required to pay the transportation providers or the Alabama State Port Authority a contractually specified amount per metric ton for the difference between the actual throughput and the minimum throughput requirement. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no liability recorded for minimum throughput requirements.
Royalty Obligations
A substantial amount of the coal that the Company mines is produced from mineral reserves leased from third-party landowners. These leases convey mining rights to the Company in exchange for royalties to be paid to the landowner as either a fixed amount per ton or as a percentage of the sales price. Although coal leases have varying renewal terms and conditions, they generally last for the economic life of the reserves. Coal royalty expense was $48.7 million and $73.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and $15.7 million and $28.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.