Asset Retirement Obligations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS:

The Company accrues for mine closing costs, perpetual water treatment costs, and costs associated with the plugging of degasification wells using the accounting treatment prescribed by the Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The Company recognizes capitalized asset retirement obligations by increasing the carrying amount of related long-lived assets.

The reconciliation of changes in the Company's asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:


	As of December 31,
	2024		2023
Balance at Beginning of Period	$	241,192	$	251,502
Accretion Expense	19,727		19,843
Payments	(30,089)		(22,771)
Revisions in Estimated Cash Flows	16,902		4,533
Other	—		(11,915)
Balance at End of Period	$	247,732	$	241,192

For the year ended December 31, 2023, Other consists of ($11,915) attributed to conveyances of several gas wells to third parties.

On October 2, 2024, three Company subsidiaries voluntarily entered into a Post-Mining Discharge Treatment Trust Consent Order and Agreement (“CO&A”) with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”). The CO&A serves as an approved alternative financial assurance mechanism associated with the Company's perpetual water treatment obligations located in Pennsylvania and establishes a Global Water Treatment Trust Fund (“WTTF”). The WTTF is a long-term funding mechanism for 22 legacy mine water treatment systems (“treatment systems”) in Pennsylvania. The Company intends to make annual contributions of $2,000 until the cash balance of the fund equals 100% of the present value of future operation, maintenance and recapitalization costs for the treatment systems, currently estimated to be $74,211. As the cash balance of the fund grows, surety bonds associated with the treatment systems will be adjusted or released by the PADEP, thereby reducing the Company's exposure to surety bonds and related collateral requirements. Through December 2024, the Company has contributed $12,066 to the fund, and the PADEP has approved bond reductions totaling $52,696.

During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company's contributions into the WTTF were managed and invested, at the direction of the trustee in accordance with the trust agreement, into various debt and equity securities. These investments are held in the custody of the WTTF trustee. These investments are classified as available-for-sale securities.

The Company’s investments in available-for-sale securities are as follows:


	December 31, 2024
					Gross Unrealized
	Amortized Cost		Allowance for Credit Losses		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
Global WTTF Securities	$	12,112	$	—	$	87	$	(145)	$	12,054

Available-for-sale investments are reported at fair value in the accompanying balance sheet and any unrealized gains or losses are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. Any unrealized gains or losses in the Company's portfolio are a result of normal market fluctuations. Interest, dividends and realized gains or losses are included in net income when earned.