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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

21.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

We lease buildings and equipment under operating lease agreements that provide for the payment of both minimum and contingent rentals. We also have noncancelable coal mineral reserve and resource leases as discussed in Note 20 – Related-Party Transactions.

Contractual Commitments

In connection with planned capital projects, we have contractual commitments of approximately $201.9 million at December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, we had $22.3 million in commitments to purchase coal from external production sources in 2024 and thereafter.

General Litigation

Certain of our subsidiaries are party to litigation in which the plaintiffs allege violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and state law due to alleged failure to compensate for time "donning" and "doffing" equipment and to account for certain bonuses in the calculation of overtime rates and pay. The plaintiffs seek class and collective action certification, which we oppose, and the courts have not yet made definitive final rulings on those issues. We believe our ultimate exposure, if any, will not be material to our results of operations or financial position; however, if our current belief as to the merit of the claims is not upheld, it is reasonably possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters could result in a potential loss that may be material to our results of operations.

We also have various other lawsuits, claims and regulatory proceedings incidental to our business that are pending against the ARLP Partnership. We record an accrual for a potential loss related to these matters when, in management's opinion, such loss is probable and reasonably estimable. Based on known facts and circumstances, we believe the ultimate outcome of these outstanding lawsuits, claims and regulatory proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, if the results of these matters are different from management's current expectations, such matters could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

Other

Effective October 1, 2023, we renewed our property and casualty insurance program through September 30, 2024. Our property insurance was procured from our wholly owned captive insurance company, Wildcat Insurance, LLC ("Wildcat Insurance"). Wildcat Insurance charged certain of our subsidiaries for the premiums on this program and in return purchased reinsurance for the program in the standard market. The maximum limit in the commercial property program is $100.0 million per occurrence, excluding a $1.5 million deductible for property damage, a 75 or 90 day waiting period for underground business interruption depending on the mining complex and an additional $25.0 million overall aggregate deductible. We retained a 7.25% participating interest in our current commercial property insurance program. We can make no assurances that we will not experience significant insurance claims in the future that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to purchase property insurance in the future. Also, exposures exist for which no insurance may be available and for which we have not reserved. In addition, the insurance industry has been subject to efforts by environmental activists to restrict coverages available for fossil-fuel companies.