INCOME TAX (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of income (loss) before income tax

The Company’s income (loss) before income taxes is as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
	(In thousands)
United States	$	(254,252	)	$	(157,043	)	$	(12,909	)
Foreign	25,718			(15,905		)	—
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	(228,534	)	$	(172,948	)	$	(12,909	)

Schedule of components of income tax expense (benefit)

Income tax expense (benefit) reflected in the consolidated statement of operations consisted of:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Current:
Federal	$	—		$	—		$	(2	)
State	12			120			112
Foreign	1,441			545			—
	1,453			665			110
Deferred:
Federal	(3,295		)	—			(4,189		)
State	(330		)	—			(703		)
Foreign	(17,595		)	(433		)	—
	(21,220		)	(433		)	(4,892		)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	(19,767	)	$	232		$	(4,782	)

Schedule of effective income tax rate reconciliation

The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2015			2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Computed income tax expense (benefit) at statutory rate	$	(82,022	)	$	(58,066	)	$	(4,390	)
Tax depletion in excess of basis	(5,317		)	(9,273		)	(6,187		)
Non-deductible acquisition costs	—			2,979			—
Intercompany interest	(6,488		)	(4,174		)	1,167
State and foreign income taxes, net	(6,184		)	(9,706		)	3,696
Change in valuation allowance for net deferred tax assets	132,338			77,771			15
Release of valuation allowance arising from amalgamation	(32,635		)	—			—
Indian coal tax credits (“ICTC”)	(13,756		)	(15,205		)	92
Change in Canadian rate	(3,081		)	—			—
Kemmerer deferred tax asset removal	(13,238		)	—			—
Uncertain tax positions	3,994			—			—
Other, net	6,622			15,906			825
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	(19,767	)	$	232		$	(4,782	)

Schedule of components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented below:

	December 31,
	2015			2014
	(In thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses	$	198,216		$	166,489
Credit carryforwards	62,219			47,872
Investment in WMLP	3,112			1,185
Accrued compensation and benefits	5,847			2,592
Asset retirement obligations	92,889			101,514
Postretirement medical benefit and pension obligations	123,595			124,854
Deferred revenue	13,591			15,841
Black lung accrual	7,405			4,244
Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivatives	14,377			11,078
Canadian resource pool	4,088			6,435
Lease obligations	13,341			23,401
Depreciable capital assets	—			6,779
Other	5,896			13,514
Total deferred tax assets	544,576			525,798
Valuation allowance	(497,796		)	(406,143		)
Net deferred tax assets	46,780			119,655
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment, differences due to depreciation and amortization	$	(26,061	)	$	(113,430	)
Investment in joint venture	(6,284		)	(7,324		)
Finance lease receivable	(9,446		)	(15,232		)
Deferred reclamation revenue	(1,492		)	(1,688		)
Other	(3,497		)	(3,750		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(46,780		)	(141,424		)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	—		$	(21,769	)