Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Update 2013-04 - Liabilities (Topic 405): Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation is Fixed at the Reporting Date. The objective of the amendments in this update is to provide guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing guidance in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The guidance in this update requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of the following: (a.) The amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement amount with its co-obligors, and (b.) Any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. The guidance in this update also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented for those obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements within the update's scope that exist at the beginning of an entity's fiscal year of adoption. We believe adoption of this new guidance will not have a material impact on CONSOL Energy's financial statements.