CORRESP 1 filename1.htm corresp
 

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
601 JEFFERSON STREET, SUITE 3600
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(713) 751-7507
October 11, 2005
Via EDGAR
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
100 F Street, NE
Washington D.C. 20549-7010
     
Attn:
  H. Roger Schwall
 
    
Re:
  Natural Resource Partners L.P.
 
  Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2005
 
  File No. 001-31465
Dear Mr. Schwall:
     On October 3, 2005, Natural Resource Partners L.P. responded to the comments of the staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission in its comment letter dated September 28, 2005. We indicated in our response letter that we would make certain changes to the disclosure in our 2005 Form 10-K. Per our subsequent discussion with Ken Schuler of the Staff, we have included as Exhibit A to this letter the form of the proposed revised language as it will appear in our 2005 Form 10-K.
     The revisions include expanded tabular disclosure with information related to the sub-regions of Appalachia, including average royalty revenue per ton calculated on a regional basis. We have also included statements that all of the reserves presented in the tables are “recoverable” reserves determined in accordance with Industry Guide 7 and that a specified percentage of the reserves are leased to third parties. In addition to the attached disclosure, we will also include maps in our 2005 Form 10-K that are substantially similar to those maps currently on our website at www.nrplp.com.
     If you have any questions with respect to the foregoing, please call the undersigned at 713-751-7516 or Kevin Wall, our Vice President and Chief Engineer, at 304-522-5757.
         
  Very truly yours,
 		  
  /s/ Wyatt L. Hogan    
  Wyatt L. Hogan   
  Vice President and General Counsel   
 
cc: Ken Schuler

 

 

EXHIBIT A
Coal Royalty Revenues, Reserves and Production
     The following table sets forth coal royalty revenues and average coal royalty revenue per ton from the properties that we own or control for the years ending December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. Coal royalty revenues were generated from the properties in each of the areas as follows:
                                                 
                            Average Coal Royalty  
    Coal Royalty Revenues     Revenue Per Ton  
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2005     2004     2003     2005     2004     2003  
    (In thousands)     ($ per ton)  
Area
                                                
Appalachia
                                                
Northern
                                                
Central
                                                
Southern
                                                
Total Appalachia
                                                
Illinois Basin
                                                
Northern Powder River Basin
                                                
Total
                                                
     The following table sets forth production data and reserve information for the properties that we own or control for the years ending December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003. All of the reserves reported below are recoverable reserves as determined by Industry Guide 7. As of December 31, 2005, in excess of      % of the reserves listed below were leased to third parties. Coal production data and reserve information for the properties in each of the areas is as follows:
                                                 
                            Proven and Probable  
    Production and Reserves     Reserves at  
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2005     2004     2003     2005     2004     2003  
    (Tons in thousands)  
Area
                                                
Appalachia
                                                
Northern
                                                
Central
                                                
Southern
                                                
Total Appalachia
                                                
Illinois Basin
                                                
Northern Powder River Basin
                                                
Total
                                                
     We classify low sulfur coal as coal with a sulfur content of less than 1.0%, medium sulfur coal as coal with a sulfur content between 1.0% and 1.5% and high sulfur coal as coal with a sulfur content of greater than 1.5%. Compliance coal is coal which meets the standards of Phase II of the Clean Air Act and is that portion of low sulfur coal that, when burned, emits less than 1.2 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu. As of December 31, 2005, approximately      % of our reserves were compliance coal. Unless otherwise indicated, we present the quality of the coal throughout this Form 10-K on an as-received basis, which assumes 6% moisture for Appalachian reserves, 12%

 

 

moisture for Illinois Basin reserves and 25% moisture for Northern Powder River Basin reserves. We own both steam and metallurgical coal reserves in Central and Southern Appalachia, and we own steam coal reserves in Northern Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Northern Powder River Basin. In 2005, approximately      % of the coal royalty revenues from our properties was from metallurgical coal.
     The following table sets forth our estimate of the sulfur content, the typical quality of our coal reserves and the type of coal in each area as of December 31, 2005.
Sulfur Content, Typical Quality and Type of Coal
                                                                         
            Sulfur Content     Typical Quality     Type of Coal  
            Low     Medium     High                                  
    Compliance     (less than     (1.0% to     (greater             Heat Content     Sulfur              
Area   Coal(1)     1.0%)     1.5%)     than 1.5%)     Total     (Btu per pound)     (%)     Steam     Metallurgical(2)  
            (Tons in thousands)                             (Tons in thousands)          
Appalachia
                                                                        
Northern
                                                                        
Central
                                                                        
Southern
                                                                        
Total Appalachia
                                                                        
 
                                                                        
Illinois Basin
                                                                        
 
                                                                        
Northern Powder River Basin
                                                                        
 
                                                                        
Total
                                                                        
 
(1)   Compliance coal meets the sulfur dioxide emission standards imposed by Phase II of the Clean Air Act without blending with other coals or using sulfur dioxide reduction technologies. Compliance coal is a subset of low sulfur coal and is, therefore, also reported within the amounts for low sulfur coal.
 
(2)   For purposes of this table, we have defined metallurgical coal reserves as reserves located in those seams that historically have been of sufficient quality and characteristics to be able to be used in the steel making process. Some of the reserves in the metallurgical category can also be used as steam coal.
     Forecasts of our future performance are based on, among other things, estimates of our recoverable coal reserves. We base our estimates of reserve information on engineering, economic and geological data assembled and analyzed by our internal geologists and engineers and which is periodically reviewed by third party consultants. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating the quantities and qualities of recoverable reserves, including many factors beyond our control. Estimates of economically recoverable coal reserves depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, any one of which may, if incorrect, result in an estimate that varies considerably from actual results. These factors and assumptions include:
  •   future coal prices, mining economics, capital expenditures, severance and excise taxes, and development and reclamation costs;
 
  •   future mining technology improvements;
 
  •   the effects of regulation by governmental agencies; and
 
  •   geologic and mining conditions, which may not be fully identified by available exploration data and may differ from our experiences in other areas of our reserves.
     As a result, actual coal tonnage recovered from identified reserve areas or properties may vary from estimates or may cause our estimates to change from time to time. Any inaccuracy in the estimates related to our reserves could result in decreased royalties from lower than expected production by our lessees.