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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Reclamation Deposits and Surety Bonds—As of December 31, 2018, and 2017, we had $19.0 million and $18.8 million, respectively, of security placed principally with the State of Utah and the Bureau of Land Management for eventual reclamation of its various facilities. Of this total requirement, as of December 31, 2018, and 2017, $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, consisted of long-term restricted cash deposits reflected in "Other" long-term assets on the balance sheet, and $18.5 million and $18.3 million, respectively, was secured by surety bonds issued by an insurer. The surety bonds are held in place by an annual fee paid to the issuer. We may be required to post additional security to fund future reclamation obligations as reclamation plans are updated or as governmental entities change requirements. Legal—In February 2015, Mosaic Potash Carlsbad Inc. (“Mosaic”) filed a complaint and application for preliminary injunction and permanent injunction against Steve Gamble and us in the Fifth Judicial District Court for the County of Eddy in the State of New Mexico. Mr. Gamble is a former employee of Intrepid and Mosaic. In August 2015, the court denied Mosaic’s application for preliminary injunction. In July 2016, Mosaic filed a second complaint against Mr. Gamble and us in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. In January 2018, the two lawsuits were consolidated into one lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. Mosaic alleges against us violations of the New Mexico Uniform Trade Secrets Act, tortious interference with contract relating to Mr. Gamble’s separation of employment from Mosaic, violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, conversion, and civil conspiracy relating to the alleged misappropriation of Mosaic’s confidential information and related actions. Mosaic seeks monetary relief, including damages for actual loss and unjust enrichment, exemplary damages, attorneys' fees, and injunctive relief and has alleged damages of at least $22 million to $28 million plus other uncalculated damages. The lawsuit is progressing through discovery. A trial date has been set for September 2019. We are vigorously defending against the lawsuit. We have recorded no loss contingency in our statements of operations related to this legal matter. We are subject to other claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business. Legal costs are expensed as incurred. While there are uncertainties in predicting the outcome of any claim or legal action, we believe that the ultimate resolution of these other claims or actions is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Future Operating Lease Commitments—We have certain operating leases for land, mining and other operating equipment, offices, and railcars, with original terms ranging up to 20 years. The annual minimum lease payments for the next five years and thereafter are presented below (in thousands):
Years Ending December 31, |  |
2019 |  | $ | 2,266 |
2020 |  | 1,874 |
2021 |  | 1,602 |
2022 |  | 1,083 |
2023 |  | 172 |
Thereafter |  | 1,343 |
Total |  | $ | 8,340 |
Rental and lease expenses follow for the indicated periods (in thousands):
For the year ended December 31, 2018 |  | $ | 3,850 |
For the year ended December 31, 2017 |  | $ | 5,693 |
For the year ended December 31, 2016 |  | $ | 6,591 |

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