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ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTED CASH
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations and Restricted Cash ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS AND RESTRICTED CASH
Asset Retirement Obligations
The following table summarizes the Company’s asset retirement obligations:
December 31,
 20232022
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of period$9,595 $13,687 
 Revision of estimate214 (238)
 Accretion of liabilities1,192 1,556 
 Held for sale(1)
— (5,410)
 Disposal of Alta Mesa asset retirement obligations(1)
(79)— 
Asset retirement obligations, end of period$10,922 $9,595 
(1)Asset retirement obligations held for sale as of December 31, 2022 were related to Alta Mesa and are included as Asset retirement obligation and other liabilities held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Disposal of Alta Mesa retirement obligations is related to the accretion expense incurred on these obligations through the closing date and is included within Gain on sale of assets on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). See Note 7 – Property, Plant and Equipment and Mineral Properties for more information.
The Company’s asset retirement obligations are subject to legal and regulatory requirements. Estimates of the costs of reclamation are reviewed periodically by the Company and the applicable regulatory authorities. The above provision represents the Company’s estimate of the present value of future reclamation costs, discounted using credit adjusted risk-free interest rates ranging from 11.62% to 12.88% and inflation rates ranging from 2.25% to 3.97%. The total undiscounted decommissioning liability as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 is $33.38 million and $42.91 million, respectively.
The upward revision of estimate of $0.21 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes net changes in estimated costs of future reclamation activities. These revisions were recognized in Property, plant and equipment, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and will be depreciated over the useful life of the related asset.
The downward revision of estimate of $0.24 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 includes net changes in estimated costs of future reclamation activities. These revisions were recognized in Exploration, development, permitting, and land holding and Standby costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Restricted Cash
The Company has cash, cash equivalents and fixed income securities as collateral for various bonds posted in favor of the applicable state regulatory agencies in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service for estimated reclamation costs associated with the White Mesa Mill, Nichols Ranch, Alta Mesa and other mining properties. The restricted cash will be released when the Company has reclaimed a mineral property, sold a mineral property to a party having assumed the applicable bond requirements or restructured the surety and collateral arrangements. See Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies for more information.
The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted cash:
December 31,
 20232022
Restricted cash, beginning of period$17,449 $20,305 
Additional collateral posted130 734 
Held for sale— (3,590)
Restricted cash, end of period$17,579 $17,449