CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	$ 454,818	$ 491,960
Property, plant and equipment:
Capital expenditures	(105,455)	(70,267)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	4,182	(7,965)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	1,488	756
Contributions to equity investments in affiliates	(16,487)	(65,367)
Purchase of cost investment	(100,000)
Distributions received from investments in excess of cumulative earnings	10,880	2,167
Payment for acquisition of business		(1,011)
Payment for acquisition of customer contracts		(23,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(205,392)	(164,687)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under securitization facility	100,000	44,600
Payments under securitization facility	(100,000)	(27,700)
Payments on term loan	(50,000)	(106,250)
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities	165,000	140,000
Payments under revolving credit facilities	(420,000)	(215,000)
Borrowings under long-term debt	400,000
Payments on long-term debt	(145,000)
Proceeds on capital lease transactions		33,881
Payments on capital lease obligations	(20,186)	(17,769)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(16,221)
Payment for debt extinguishment	(8,148)
Contributions to consolidated company from affiliate noncontrolling interest	251	2,557
Net settlement of employee withholding taxes on vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan	(2,988)	(1,336)
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate	800
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interests	(62,143)	(69,680)
Distributions paid to Partners	(109,548)	(123,318)
Other	(3,197)	(60)
Net cash used in financing activities	(271,380)	(340,075)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(21,954)	(12,802)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	44,525	38,678
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	22,571	25,876
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest	13,679	20,194
Cash paid for income taxes	10	7
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITY:
Accounts payable for purchase of property, plant and equipment	12,414	4,669
Assets acquired by capital lease		37,089
Market value of ARLP common units issued under ARLP's Long-Term Incentive and Directors Deferred Compensation Plans before tax withholding requirements	$ 8,149	3,642
Acquisition of businesses:
Cash paid, net of cash acquired		$ (1,011)