COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Matters

From time to time, the Company may be involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in such matters may arise and harm the Company's business. The Company is currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that it believes will have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, or operating results.

Environmental Liabilities

The Company has a coal combustion residual ("CCR") liability associated with the closure of a coal ash pond located on the Company's property in the Town of Torrey, New York. In accordance with ASC 410-30, the Company has a liability of $17.3 million and $17.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. CCRs are subject to federal and state requirements. In October 2023, the Company completed the necessary steps to officially cease use of the coal ash pond. Following this occurring, the Company is required to complete the remediation of the coal ash pond CCR by November 2028 and will perform the work in stages over the next five years. Estimates are based on various assumptions including, but not limited to, closure and post-closure cost estimates, timing of expenditures, escalation factors, and requirements of granted permits. Additional adjustments to the environment liability may occur periodically due to potential changes in remediation requirements regarding coal combustion residuals which may lead to material changes in estimates and assumptions.

The Company owns and operates a fully permitted landfill that also acts as a leachate treatment facility. In accordance with ASC 410-30, Environmental Obligations ("ASC 410-30"), the Company has recorded an environmental liability of $12.9 million and $10.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which includes a charge of $2.4 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to a remeasurement increase. As required by NYSDEC, companies with landfills are required to fund a trust to cover closure costs and expenses after the landfill has stopped operating or, in lieu of a trust, may negotiate to maintain a letter of credit guaranteeing the payment of the liability. Estimates are based on various assumptions including, but not limited to, closure and post-closure cost estimates, timing of expenditures, escalation factors, and requirements of granted permits. Additional adjustments to the environment liability may occur periodically due to potential changes in estimates and assumptions. The liability has been determined based on estimated costs to remediate as well as post-closure costs which are assumed over an approximate 30-year period and assumes an annual inflation rate of 2.4%.

Commitments

The Company entered into a contract with Empire Pipeline Incorporated in September 2020 which provides for the transportation to its pipeline of 15,000 dekatherms of natural gas per day, approximately $0.2 million per month. The contract ends in September 2030 and may be terminated by either party with 12 months' notice after the initial 10-year period.