Item 1. Business.

We were originally organized in Delaware on March 22, 1999, with the name Webmarketing, Inc. (“Webmarketing”). On July 7, 2004, we revived our charter and changed our name from Webmarketing to World Marketing, Inc. In December 2007, we changed our name to Royal Energy Resources, Inc.

Prior to March 2015, we pursued gold, silver, copper and rare earth metals mining concessions in Romania and mining leases in the United States. We engaged in these activities through two subsidiaries, Development Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and S.C. Golden Carpathian Resources S.R.L., a Romanian subsidiary (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”). Effective January 31, 2015, we entered into a Subsidiaries Option Agreement with Jacob Roth, our chairman and chief executive officer at that time. Under the Subsidiaries Option Agreement, we conveyed all of our assets to the Subsidiaries, to the extent any assets were not already owned by the Subsidiaries. The Subsidiaries Option Agreement also granted Mr. Roth an option to acquire the Subsidiaries for 49,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned by Mr. Roth. The Subsidiaries Option Agreement also granted us a put option to acquire 49,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock owned by Mr. Roth in consideration for the Subsidiaries. Both options could be exercised at any time within 45 days after closing of the stock purchase agreement among Mr. Roth, E-Starts Money Co. and William Tuorto.

On March 6, 2015, E-Starts Money Co. (“E-Starts”) acquired an aggregate of 7,188,560 shares of common stock from two holders. At the same time, William Tuorto acquired 810,316 shares of common stock from Mr. Roth, and 51,000 shares of Mr. Roth’s Series A Preferred Stock. Mr. Tuorto controls E-Starts. As a result, Mr. Tuorto became the beneficial owner of 7,998,876 shares of common stock (representing 92.3% of the outstanding common stock at that time) and 51% of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock. In connection with these transactions: (i) Frimet Taub resigned as a director and from all positions as an officer, employee, or independent contractor of us; (ii) Mr. Tuorto was appointed to the board seat vacated by Ms. Taub; (iii) Mr. Roth resigned as chairman of the board and Mr. Tuorto was appointed chairman of the board; (iv) Mr. Roth resigned as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of us, and any other position as an officer, employee or independent contractor of us, and Mr. Tuorto was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer; and (v) Mr. Roth resigned as a director of us, provided that his resignation was not effective until the close of business on the 10th day after we distributed an information statement to its shareholders in accordance with SEC Rule 14f-1.

Since acquiring control of us, Mr. Tuorto has repositioned us to focus on the acquisition of natural resources assets, including coal, oil, gas and renewable energy. To that effect, we have entered into the following initial transactions:

Acquisition of Rhino GP, LLC and Rhino Resource Partners, LLC (“the Partnership”)

On January 21, 2016, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Wexford Capital, LP, and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Wexford”), under which we agreed to purchase, and Wexford agreed to sell, a controlling interest in the Partnership in two separate transactions. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, in an initial closing, we purchased 676,912 common units of the Partnership from three holders for total consideration of $3,500,000. The common units purchased by us represented approximately 40.0% of the issued and outstanding common units of the Partnership and 23.1% of the total outstanding common units and subordinated units. The subordinated units are convertible into common units on a one for one basis upon the occurrence of certain conditions.

At a second closing held on March 17, 2016, we purchased all of the membership interest of Rhino GP, LLC (“Rhino GP”), and 945,526 subordinated units of the Partnership from two holders thereof, for aggregate consideration of $1,000,000. The subordinated units purchased by us represented approximately 76.5% of the issued and outstanding subordinated units of the Partnership, and when combined with the common units already owned by us, resulted in us owning approximately 55.4% of the outstanding Units of the Partnership. Rhino GP is the general partner of the Partnership, and in that capacity controls the Partnership.

On March 21, 2016, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with the Partnership, under which we purchased 6,000,000 newly issued common units of the Partnership for $1.50 per common unit, for a total investment in the Partnership of $9,000,000. Closing under the SPA occurred on March 22, 2016. We paid a cash payment of $2,000,000 and issued a promissory note in the amount of $7,000,000 to the Partnership, which was payable without interest on the following schedule: $3,000,000 on or before July 31, 2016; $2,000,000 on or before September 30, 2016; and $2,000,000 on or before December 31, 2016. On May 13, 2016 and September 30, 2016, we paid the Partnership $3.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, for the promissory note installments that were due July 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, respectively. On December 30, 2016, we and the Partnership agreed to extend the maturity date of the final installment of the note to December 31, 2018, and agreed that the note may be converted, at our option, at any time prior to December 31, 2018, into unregistered shares of our common stock at a price per share equal to seventy five percent (75%) of the volume weighted average closing price for the ninety (90) trading days preceding the date of conversion, provided that the average closing price shall be no less than $3.50 per share and no more than $7.50 per share. On September 1, 2017, we elected to convert the $2.0 million promissory note and an additional $2.1 million note (including accrued interest) assigned from Weston, discussed further below, into shares of Royal common stock. Royal issued 914,797 shares of its common stock to the Partnership at a conversion price of $4.51 per share.

Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, on March 21, 2016, the Partnership and Royal entered into a registration rights agreement. The registration rights agreement grants Royal piggyback registration rights under certain circumstances with respect to the common units issued to Royal pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.

Yorktown Transactions

On September 30, 2016, we entered into an Equity Exchange Agreement with the Partnership, Yorktown Partners LLC (“Yorktown”), Resources Partners Holdings, LLC (“Rhino Holdings”), an entity wholly-owned by Yorktown, and Rhino GP. The Equity Exchange Agreement provided that Yorktown would cause investment partnerships it controls to contribute their shares of common stock of Armstrong Energy, Inc. (“Armstrong”) to Rhino Holdings and Rhino Holdings would contribute those shares to the Partnership in exchange for 10 million newly issued common units of the Partnership. The Agreement also contemplated that Rhino GP would issue a 50% ownership of Rhino GP to Rhino Holdings.

On December 30, 2016, we entered into an Option Agreement with the Partnership, Rhino Holdings, Yorktown, and Rhino GP. Upon execution of the Option Agreement, the Partnership received an option (the “Call Option”) from Rhino Holdings to acquire all of the shares of common stock of Armstrong Energy that are currently owned by investment partnerships managed by Yorktown (the “Armstrong Shares”), which at the time represented approximately 97% of the outstanding common stock of Armstrong Energy. Armstrong Energy is a coal producing company with approximately 445 million tons of proven and probable reserves and six mines located in western Kentucky as of September 30, 2017. The Option Agreement stipulated that the Partnership could exercise the Call Option no earlier than January 1, 2018 and no later than December 31, 2019. In exchange for Rhino Holdings granting the Partnership the Call Option, the Partnership issued 5.0 million common units (the “Call Option Premium Units”) to Rhino Holdings upon the execution of the Option Agreement. The Option Agreement stipulated the Partnership could exercise the Call Option and purchase the Armstrong Shares in exchange for a number of common units to be issued to Rhino Holdings, which when added with the Call Option Premium Units, would result in Rhino Holdings owning 51% of the fully diluted common units of the Partnership (determined without considering any common units issuable upon conversion of subordinated units or Series A Preferred Units of the Partnership). The purchase of the Armstrong Shares through the exercise of the Call Option would also require us to transfer a 51% ownership interest in Rhino GP to Rhino Holdings. The Partnership’s ability to exercise the Call Option was conditioned upon (i) sixty (60) days having passed since the entry by Armstrong Energy into an agreement with its bondholders to restructure its bonds and (ii) the amendment of the Partnership’s revolving credit facility to permit the acquisition of Armstrong Energy.

The Option Agreement also contained an option (the “Put Option”) granted by the Partnership to Rhino Holdings whereby Rhino Holdings had the right, but not the obligation, to cause the Partnership to purchase the Armstrong Shares from Rhino Holdings under the same terms and conditions discussed above for the Call Option. The exercise of the Put Option was dependent upon (i) the entry by Armstrong into an agreement with its bondholders to restructure its bonds and (ii) the termination and repayment of any outstanding balance under the Partnership’s revolving credit facility, which occurred on December 27, 2017 (refer to Financing Agreement discussed previously) .

The Option Agreement contained customary covenants, representations and warranties and indemnification obligations for losses arising from the inaccuracy of representations or warranties or breaches of covenants contained in the Option Agreement and the GP Amendment (defined below). The Partnership had entered into a non-disclosure agreement with Armstrong Energy under which it had inspection rights with regard to the books, records and operations of Armstrong Energy, and the Option Agreement provided that those rights shall continue until the Call Option or Put Option were exercised or expired. Upon the request by Rhino Holdings, the Partnership will also enter into a registration rights agreement that provides Rhino Holdings with the right to demand two shelf registration statements and registration statements on Form S-1, as well as piggyback registration rights for as long as Rhino Holdings owns at least 10% of the outstanding common units.

Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Rhino GP amended its Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (“GP Amendment”). Pursuant to the GP Amendment, Mr. Bryan H. Lawrence was appointed to the board of directors of Rhino GP as a designee of Rhino Holdings and Rhino Holdings has the right to appoint an additional independent director. Rhino Holdings has the right to appoint two members to the Rhino GP board of directors for as long as it continues to own 20% of the common units on an undiluted basis. The GP Amendment also provided Rhino Holdings with the authority to consent to any delegation of authority to any committee of Rhino GP’s board. Upon the exercise of the Call Option or the Put Option, the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Rhino GP, as amended, will be further amended to provide that Royal and Rhino Holdings will each have the ability to appoint three directors, and that the remaining director will be the chief executive officer of Rhino GP unless agreed otherwise.

The Option Agreement superseded and terminated the equity exchange agreement entered into on September 30, 2016 by and among Royal, Rhino Holdings and the Partnership’s General Partner.

On October 31, 2017, Armstrong Energy filed Chapter 11 petitions in the Eastern District of Missouri’s United States Bankruptcy Court. Per the Chapter 11 petitions, Armstrong Energy filed a detailed restructuring plan as part of the Chapter 11 proceedings. On February 9, 2018, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court confirmed Armstrong Energy’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan, which in part provided for the cancellation of all shares of common stock of Armstrong Energy, and as such the Option Agreement was deemed to have no carrying value. An impairment charge of $21.8 million related to the Option Agreement has been recorded on the Asset impairment and related charges line of the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Please read “Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial condition and Results of Operations—Asset Impairments 2017.”

Transactions with Weston Energy, LLC

First Weston Loan

On September 30, 2016, we entered into a Secured Promissory Note and a Pledge and Security Agreement with Weston Energy, LLC (“Weston”), under which we borrowed $2,000,000 from Weston (the “Loan”). Weston is an affiliate of Yorktown. The Loan bears interest at 8% per annum. All principal and accrued interest was originally due and payable on December 31, 2016. The Loan was payable, at our option of the Company, either in cash or in common units of the Partnership (“Rhino Units”). In the event we elected to pay the Loan in Rhino Units, the number of Rhino Units that will be conveyed to satisfy the Loan will be equal to Loan balance divided by 80% of the average of the high and low price of the Partnership’s common units for the twenty trading days prior to the date of payment. The proceeds of the Loan were used to make an installment payment of $2,000,000 due to the Partnership on September 30, 2016.

On December 30, 2016, Weston contributed the Loan to the Partnership in payment for 200,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued by the Partnership at $10 per unit. We simultaneously entered into a letter agreement with the Partnership which extended the maturity date of the Loan to December 31, 2018, and provided that the Loan may be converted, at our option, at any time prior to December 31, 2018, into unregistered shares of our common stock at a price per share equal to seventy five percent (75%) of the volume weighted average closing price for the ninety (90) trading days preceding the date of conversion, provided that the such average closing price shall be no less than $3.50 per share and no more than $7.50 per share. As discussed above, this note was converted to Royal common stock on September 1, 2017.

Second Weston Loan

On December 30, 2016, we entered into a second Secured Promissory Note and a Pledge and Security Agreement with Weston, under which we borrowed $2.0 million from Weston (the “Second Loan”). The Second Loan bore interest at 8% per annum. All principal and accrued interest was due and payable on January 15, 2017. The Loan was payable, at the option of Royal, either in cash or Rhino Units. In the event Royal elected to pay the Second Loan in Rhino Units, the number of Rhino Units that would be conveyed to satisfy the Second Loan would be equal to Second Loan balance divided by 80% of the average of the high and low price of the Partnership’s common units for the twenty trading days prior to the date of payment. The proceeds of the Second Loan were used to make an investment of $2.0 million to purchase 200,000 Series A Preferred Units of the Partnership on December 30, 2016.

On January 27, 2017, we sold the 200,000 in Series A Preferred Units for their purchase price, and used the proceeds to repay the Second Loan in full.

Cedarview Loan

On June 12, 2017, we entered into a Secured Promissory Note dated May 31, 2017 with Cedarview Opportunities Master Fund, L.P. (the “Cedarview”), under which we borrowed $2,500,000 from Cedarview. The loan bears non-default interest at the rate of 14%, and default interest at the rate of 17% per annum. We and Cedarview simultaneously entered into a Pledge and Security Agreement dated May 31, 2017, under which we pledged 5,000,000 common units in Rhino as collateral for the loan. The loan is payable through quarterly payments of interest only until May 31, 2019, when the loan matures, at which time all principal and interest is due and payable. We deposited $350,000 of the loan proceeds into an escrow account, from which interest payments for the first year will be paid. After the first year, we are obligated to maintain at least one quarter of interest on the loan in the escrow account at all times. In consideration for Cedarview’s agreement to make the loan, we transferred 25,000 common units of Rhino to Cedarview as a fee. We intended to use the proceeds to repay in full all loans made to us by E-Starts Money Co. in the principal amount of $578,593, and the balance for general corporate overhead, as well as costs associated with potential acquisitions of mineral resource companies, including legal and engineering due diligence, deposits, and down payments.

About Rhino

History

The Partnership’s predecessor was formed in April 2003 by Wexford Capital. The Partnership was formed in April 2010 to own and control the coal properties and related assets owned by Rhino Energy LLC. On October 5, 2010, the Partnership completed its IPO. The Partnership’s common units were originally listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RNO”. Please read “—Recent Developments—Delisting of Common Units from NYSE.” In connection with the IPO, Wexford contributed their membership interests in Rhino Energy LLC to the Partnership, and in exchange it issued subordinated units representing limited partner interests in it and common units to Wexford and issued incentive distribution rights to the Partnership’s general partner. In March 2016, Royal acquired the Partnership’s general partner and a majority limited partner interest in the Partnership from Wexford. Please read “—Recent Developments— Royal Energy Resources, Inc. Acquisition.”

Since the formation of the Partnership’s predecessor in April 2003, it has completed numerous coal asset acquisitions with a total purchase price of approximately $357.5 million. Through these acquisitions and coal lease transactions, the Partnership has substantially increased their proven and probable coal reserves and non-reserve coal deposits. In addition, the Partnership has successfully grown their production through internal development projects.

The Partnership is managed by the board of directors and executive officers of its general partner. The Partnership’s operations are conducted through, and its operating assets are owned by, the Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiary, Rhino Energy LLC, and its subsidiaries.

Current Operations

The Partnership is a diversified coal producing limited partnership formed in Delaware that is focused on coal and energy related assets and activities. The Partnership produces, processes and sells high quality coal of various steam and metallurgical grades from multiple coal producing basins in the United States. The Partnership markets its steam coal primarily to electric utility companies as fuel for their steam powered generators. Customers for its metallurgical coal are primarily steel and coke producers who use its coal to produce coke, which is used as a raw material in the steel manufacturing process. Its investments have included joint ventures that provide for the transportation of hydrocarbons and drilling support services in the Utica Shale region. The Partnership has also invested in joint ventures that provide sand for fracking operations to drillers in the Utica Shale region and other oil and natural gas basins in the United States.

As of December 31, 2017, it controlled an estimated 252.7 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves, consisting of an estimated 200.1 million tons of steam coal and an estimated 52.6 million tons of metallurgical coal. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, it controlled an estimated 185.2 million tons of non-reserve coal deposits. Both its estimated proven and probable coal reserves and non-reserve coal deposits as of December 31, 2017 decreased when compared to the estimated tons and deposits reported as of December 31, 2016 due to the sale of its Sands Hill Mining operation in November 2017. Periodically, the Partnership retains outside experts to independently verify their coal reserve and their non-reserve coal deposit estimates. The most recent audit by an independent engineering firm of the Partnership’s coal reserve and non-reserve coal deposit estimates was completed by Marshall Miller & Associates, Inc. as of November 30, 2016, and covered a majority of the coal reserves and non-reserve coal deposits that the Partnership controlled as of such date. The coal reserve estimates were updated through December 31, 2017 by the Partnership’s internal staff of engineers based upon production data. The Partnership intends to continue to periodically retain outside experts to assist management with the verification of their estimates of their coal reserves and non-reserve coal deposits going forward.

The Partnership operates underground and surface mines located in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Utah. The number of mines that it operates will vary from time to time depending on a number of factors, including the existing demand for and price of coal, depletion of economically recoverable reserves and availability of experienced labor.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Partnership produced approximately 4.2 million tons of coal from continuing operations and sold approximately 4.1 million tons of coal from continuing operations.

The Partnership’s principal business strategy is to safely, efficiently and profitably produce and sell both steam and metallurgical coal from its diverse asset base in order to resume, and, over time, increase its quarterly cash distributions. In addition, it continues to seek opportunities to expand and diversify its operations through strategic acquisitions, including the acquisition of long-term, cash generating natural resource assets. The Partnership believes that such assets will allow the Partnership to grow its cash available for distribution and enhance stability of its cash flow.

The Partnership’s common units currently trade on the OTCQB Marketplace under the symbol “RHNO.” The Partnership is exploring the possibility of listing its common units on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), pending its capability to meet the NASDAQ initial listing standards.

Current Liquidity and Outlook of Rhino

As of December 31, 2017, the Partnership’s available liquidity was $8.8 million. The Partnership also has a delayed draw term loan commitment in the amount of $40 million contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent specified in the financing agreement discussed below.

On December 27, 2017, the Partnership entered into a Financing Agreement (“Financing Agreement”) with Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as Collateral Agent and Administrative agent, CB Agent Services LLC, as Origination Agent and the parties identified as Lenders therein (the “Lenders”), which provides it with a multi-draw loan in the aggregate principal amount of $80 million. The total principal amount is divided into a $40 million commitment, the conditions for which were satisfied at the execution of the Financing Agreement and an additional $40 million commitment that is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent specified in the Financing Agreement. The Partnership used approximately $17.3 million of the net proceeds thereof to repay all amounts outstanding and terminate the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. The Financing Agreement terminates on December 27, 2020. For more information about the Partnership’s new Financing Agreement, please read “— Recent Developments—Financing Agreement.”

The Partnership continues to take measures, including the suspension of cash distributions on their common and subordinated units and cost and productivity improvements, to enhance and preserve their liquidity so that the Partnership can fund their ongoing operations and necessary capital expenditures and meet their financial commitments and debt service obligations.

Recent Developments – Rhino

Financing Agreement

On December 27, 2017, the Partnership entered into the Financing Agreement, pursuant to which Lenders have agreed to provide the Partnership with a multi-draw term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $80 million, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Financing Agreement. The total principal amount is divided into a $40 million commitment, the conditions for which were satisfied at the execution of the Financing Agreement (the “Effective Date Term Loan Commitment”) and an additional $40 million commitment that is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent specified in the Financing Agreement (“Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment”). Loans made pursuant to the Financing Agreement will be secured by substantially all of the Partnership’s assets.

Loans made pursuant to the Financing Agreement will, at the Partnership’s option, either be “Reference Rate Loans” or “LIBOR Rate Loans.” Reference Rate Loans bear interest at the greatest of (a) 4.25% per annum, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% per annum, (c) the LIBOR Rate (calculated on a one-month basis) plus 1.00% per annum or (d) the Prime Rate (as published in the Wall Street Journal) or if no such rate is published, the interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board as the “bank prime loan” rate or similar rate quoted therein, in each case, plus an applicable margin of 9.00% per annum (or 12.00% per annum if the Partnership has elected to capitalize an interest payment pursuant to the PIK Option, as described below). LIBOR Rate Loans bear interest at the greater of (x) the LIBOR for such interest period divided by 100% minus the maximum percentage prescribed by the Federal Reserve for determining the reserve requirements in effect with respect to eurocurrency liabilities for any Lender, if any, and (y) 1.00%, in each case, plus 10.00% per annum (or 13.00% per annum if the Partnership has elected to capitalize an interest payment pursuant to the PIK Option). Interest payments are due on a monthly basis for Reference Rate Loans and one-, two- or three-month periods, at the Partnership’s option, for LIBOR Rate Loans. If there is no event of default occurring or continuing, the Partnership may elect to defer payment on interest accruing at 6.00% per annum by capitalizing and adding such interest payment to the principal amount of the applicable term loan (the “PIK Option”).

Commencing December 31, 2018, the principal for each loan made under the Financing Agreement will be payable on a quarterly basis in an amount equal to $375,000 per quarter, with all remaining unpaid principal and accrued and unpaid interest due on December 27, 2020. In addition, the Partnership must make certain prepayments over the term of any loans outstanding, including: (i) the payment of 25% of Excess Cash Flow (as that term is defined in the Financing Agreement) for each fiscal year, commencing with respect to the year ending December 31, 2019, (ii) subject to certain exceptions, the payment of 100% of the net cash proceeds from the dispositions of certain assets, the incurrence of certain indebtedness or receipts of cash outside of the ordinary course of business, and (iii) the payment of the excess of the outstanding principal amount of term loans outstanding over the amount of the Collateral Coverage Amount (as that term is defined in the Financing Agreement). In addition, the Lenders are entitled to certain fees, including 1.50% per annum of the unused Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment for as long as such commitment exists, (ii) for the 12-month period following the execution of the Financing Agreement, a make-whole amount equal to the interest and unused Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitment fees that would have been payable but for the occurrence of certain events, including among others, bankruptcy proceedings or the termination of the Financing Agreement by us, and (iii) audit and collateral monitoring fees and origination and exit fees.

The Financing Agreement requires the Partnership to comply with several affirmative covenants at any time loans are outstanding, including, among others: (i) the requirement to deliver monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements, (ii) the requirement to periodically deliver certificates indicating, among other things, (a) compliance with terms of Financing Agreement and ancillary loan documents, (b) inventory, accounts payable, sales and production numbers, (c) the calculation of the Collateral Coverage Amount (as that term is defined in the Financing Agreement), (d) projections for the business and (e) coal reserve amounts; (ii) the requirement to notify the Administrative Agent of certain events, including events of default under the Financing Agreement, dispositions, entry into material contracts, (iii) the requirement to maintain insurance, obtain permits, and comply with environmental and reclamation laws (iv) the requirement to sell up to $5.0 million of shares in Mammoth Energy Securities, Inc. and use the net proceeds therefrom to prepay outstanding term loans and (v) establish and maintain cash management services and establish a cash management account and deliver a control agreement with respect to such account to the Collateral Agent. The Financing Agreement also contains negative covenants that restrict the Partnership’s ability to, among other things: (i) incur liens or additional indebtedness or make investments or restricted payments, (ii) liquidate or merge with another entity, or dispose of assets, (iii) change the nature of the Partnership’s respective businesses; (iii) make capital expenditures in excess, or, with respect to maintenance capital expenditures, lower than, specified amounts, (iv) incur restrictions on the payment of dividends, (v) prepay or modify the terms of other indebtedness, (vi) permit the Collateral Coverage Amount to be less than the outstanding principal amount of the loans outstanding under the Financing Agreement or (vii) permit the trailing six month Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.20 to 1.00 commencing with the six-month period ending June 30, 2018.

The Financing Agreement contains customary events of default, following which the Collateral Agent may, at the request of lenders, terminate or reduce all commitments and accelerate the maturity of all outstanding loans to be become due and payable immediately together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and exercise any such other rights as specified under the Financing Agreement and ancillary loan documents.

On April 17, 2018, Rhino amended its financing agreement to allow for certain activities including a sales leaseback of certain pieces of equipment, the due date for the lease consents was extended to June 30, 2018 and confirmation of the preferred distribution payment of $6 million (accrued in the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2017). Additionally, Rhino can sell more of the TUSK stock and retain 50% of the proceeds with the other 50% going to reduce debt.

Common Unit Warrants

Effective as of December 27, 2017, the Partnership entered into a warrant agreement with certain parties that are also parties to the Financing Agreement discussed above. The warrant agreement provided for the issuance of warrants to purchase a total of 683,888 of the Partnership’s common units (“Common Unit Warrants”) at an exercise price of $1.95 per unit, which was the closing price of the Partnership’s common units on the OTC market as of December 27, 2017. The Common Unit Warrants have a five year expiration date. The Common Unit Warrants and the common units issued upon exercise thereof are both transferable, subject to applicable US securities laws. The Common Unit Warrant exercise price is $1.95 per unit, but the price per unit will be reduced by future common unit distributions in excess of $0.30 per annum as well as other transactions described in the warrant agreement which are dilutive to the amount of Rhino’s common units outstanding. The warrant agreement includes a provision for a cashless exercise where the warrant holders can receive a net number of common units. Per the warrant agreement, the warrants are detached from the Financing Agreement and fully transferable.

Letter of Credit Facility – PNC Bank

On December 27, 2017, the Partnership entered into a master letter of credit facility, security agreement and reimbursement agreement (the “LoC Facility Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), pursuant to which PNC has agreed to provide the Partnership with a facility for the issuance of standby letters of credit used in the ordinary course of the Partnership’s business (the “LoC Facility”). The LoC Facility Agreement provides that the Partnership will pay a quarterly fee at a rate equal to 5% per annum calculated based on the daily average of letters of credit outstanding under the LoC Facility, as well as administrative costs incurred by PNC and a $100,000 closing fee. The LoC Facility Agreement provides that the Partnership will reimburse PNC for any drawing under a letter of credit by a specified beneficiary as soon as possible after payment is made. The Partnership’s obligations under the LoC Facility Agreement will be secured by a first lien security interest on a cash collateral account that is required to contain no less than 105% of the face value of the outstanding letters of credit. In the event the amount in such cash collateral account is insufficient to satisfy the Partnership’s reimbursement obligations, the amount outstanding will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate (as that term is defined in the LoC Facility Agreement) plus 2.0%. The Partnership will indemnify PNC for any losses which PNC may incur as a result of the issuance of a letter of credit or PNC’s failure to honor any drawing under a letter of credit, subject in each case to certain exceptions. The LoC Facility Agreement expires on December 31, 2018. The Partnership had $11.2 million of letters of credit at December 31, 2017 under the LoC Facility with cash collateral in the amount of $12.3 million. The Partnership anticipates providing collateral with the Partnership’s counterparties prior to the expiration of the LoC Facility on December 31, 2018.

Sands Hill Mining LLC Disposition

On November 7, 2017, the Partnership closed an agreement with a third party to transfer 100% of the membership interests and related assets and liabilities in its Sands Hill Mining entity to the third party in exchange for a future override royalty for any mineral sold, excluding coal, from Sands Hill Mining LLC after the closing date. The Company recognized a gain of $1.8 million from the sale of Sands Hill Mining LLC since the third party assumed the reclamation obligations associated with this operation. The previous operating results of Sands Hill Mining LLC have been reclassified and reported on the (Gain)/loss from discontinued operations line on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. The current and non-current assets and liabilities previously related to Sands Hill Mining LLC have been reclassified to the appropriate held for sale categories on their consolidated statement of financial position at December 31, 2016.

Elk Horn Coal Leasing Disposition

In August 2016, the Partnership entered into an agreement to sell its Elk Horn coal leasing company to a third party for total cash consideration of $12.0 million. The Partnership received $10.5 million in cash consideration upon the closing of the Elk Horn transaction and the remaining $1.5 million of consideration was paid in ten equal monthly installments of $150,000 on the 20th of each calendar month beginning on September 20, 2016. The Company recorded no gain or loss from the Elk Horn disposal during the year ended December 31, 2016. The previous operating results of Elk Horn have been reclassified and reported on the (Gain)/loss from discontinued operations line on the company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement

On December 30, 2016, the Partnership entered into a Series A Preferred Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Preferred Unit Agreement”) with Weston, an entity wholly owned by certain investment partnerships managed by Yorktown, and Royal. Under the Preferred Unit Agreement, Weston and Royal agreed to purchase 1,300,000 and 200,000, respectively, of Series A preferred units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership at a price of $10.00 per Series A preferred unit. The Series A preferred units have the preferences, rights and obligations set forth in the Partnership’s Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, which is described below. In exchange for the Series A preferred units, Weston and Royal paid cash of $11.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, to the Partnership, and Weston assigned to the Partnership a $2.0 million note receivable from Royal originally dated September 30, 2016 (the “Weston Promissory Note”).

The Preferred Unit Agreement contains customary representations, warrants and covenants, which include among other things, that, for as long as the Series A preferred units are outstanding, the Partnership will cause CAM Mining, LLC, one of its subsidiaries, (“CAM Mining”) to conduct its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact its current organization, business and franchise and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with CAM Mining.

The Preferred Unit Agreement stipulates that upon the request of the holder of the majority of the Partnership’s common units following their conversion from Series A preferred units, the Partnership will enter into a registration rights agreement with such holder. Such majority holder has the right to demand two shelf registration statements and registration statements on Form S-1, as well as piggyback registration rights.

On January 27, 2017, Royal sold 100,000 of the Partnership’s Series A preferred units to Weston and the other 100,000 Series A preferred units to another third party.

Letter Agreement Regarding Rhino Promissory Note and Weston Promissory Note

On December 30, 2016, the Partnership entered into a letter agreement with Royal whereby the maturity dates of the Weston Promissory Note and the final installment payment of the Rhino Promissory Note were extended to December 31, 2018. The letter agreement further provides that the aggregate $4.0 million balance of the Weston Promissory Note and Rhino Promissory Note may be converted at Royal’s option into a number of shares of Royal’s common stock equal to the outstanding balance multiplied by seventy-five percent (75%) of the volume-weighted average closing price of Royal’s common stock for the 90 days preceding the date of conversion (“Royal VWAP”), subject to a minimum Royal VWAP of $3.50 and a maximum Royal VWAP of $7.50. On September 1, 2017, Royal elected to convert the Rhino Promissory Note and the Weston Promissory Note into shares of Royal common stock. Royal issued 914,797 shares of its common stock to us at a conversion price of $4.51 as calculated per the method stipulated above. (See Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report for further information on the conversion of the Weston Promissory Note and the Rhino Promissory Note to Royal common stock.)

Fourth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of Limited Partnership of Rhino Resource Partners LP

On December 30, 2016, Rhino GP amended the Partnership’s partnership agreement to create, authorize and issue the Series A preferred units.

The Series A preferred units are a new class of equity security that rank senior to all classes or series of its equity securities with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation. The holders of the Series A preferred units shall be entitled to receive annual distributions equal to the greater of (i) 50% of the CAM Mining free cash flow (as defined below) and (ii) an amount equal to the number of outstanding Series A preferred units multiplied by $0.80. “CAM Mining free cash flow” is defined in its partnership agreement as (i) the total revenue of its Central Appalachia area, minus (ii) the cost of operations (exclusive of depreciation, depletion and amortization) for its Central Appalachia area, minus (iii) an amount equal to $6.50, multiplied by the aggregate number of met coal and steam coal tons sold by the Partnership from the Central Appalachia area. If the Partnership fails to pay any or all of the distributions in respect of the Series A preferred units, such deficiency will accrue until paid in full and it will not be permitted to pay any distributions on its partnership interests that rank junior to the Series A preferred units, including its common units. The Series A preferred units will be liquidated in accordance with their capital accounts and upon liquidation will be entitled to distributions of property and cash in accordance with the balances of their capital accounts prior to such distributions to equity securities that rank junior to the Series A preferred units.

The Series A preferred units vote on an as-converted basis with the common units, and the Partnership is restricted from taking certain actions without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Series A preferred units, including: (i) the issuance of additional Series A preferred units, or securities that rank senior or equal to the Series A preferred units; (ii) the sale or transfer of CAM Mining or a material portion of its assets; (iii) the repurchase of common units, or the issuance of rights or warrants to holders of common units entitling them to purchase common units at less than fair market value; (iv) consummation of a spin off; (v) the incurrence, assumption or guaranty of indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $50.0 million except indebtedness relating to entities or assets that are acquired by the Partnership or its affiliates that is in existence at the time of such acquisition or (vi) the modification of CAM Mining’s accounting principles or the financial or operational reporting principles of its Central Appalachia area, subject to certain exceptions.

The Partnership will have the option to convert the outstanding Series A preferred units at any time on or after the time at which the amount of aggregate distributions paid in respect of each Series A preferred unit exceeds $10.00 per unit. Each Series A preferred unit will convert into a number of common units equal to the quotient (the “Series A Conversion Ratio”) of (i) the sum of $10.00 and any unpaid distributions in respect of such Series A Preferred Unit divided by (ii) 75% of the volume-weighted average closing price of the common units for the preceding 90 trading days (the “VWAP”); provided however, that the VWAP will be capped at a minimum of $2.00 and a maximum of $10.00. On December 31, 2021, all outstanding Series A preferred units will convert into common units at the then applicable Series A Conversion Ratio.

Distribution Suspension

Beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2015 and continuing through the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Partnership has suspended the cash distribution on its common units. For each of the quarters ended September 30, 2014, December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, the Partnership announced cash distributions per common unit at levels lower than the minimum quarterly distribution. The Partnership has not paid any distribution on its subordinated units for any quarter after the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The distribution suspension and prior reductions were the result of prolonged weakness in the coal markets, which has continued to adversely affect the Partnership’s cash flow.

Pursuant to its partnership agreement, the Partnership’s common units accrue arrearages every quarter when the distribution level is below the minimum level of $4.45 per unit. For each of the quarters ended September 30, 2014, December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, the Partnership announced cash distributions per common unit at levels lower than the minimum quarterly distribution. Beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2015 and continuing through the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Partnership has accumulated arrearages at December 31, 2017 related to the common unit distribution of approximately $439.3 million.

Coal Operations

Mining and Leasing Operations

As of December 31, 2017, the Partnership operates four underground and three surface mining complexes located in Kentucky, Utah, Ohio, and West Virginia. In August 2016, the Partnership completed the sale of its Elk Horn coal leasing operation in Kentucky. The Partnership’s Sands Hill Mining operation in Ohio was sold to a third-party in November 2017.

The Partnership defines a mining complex as a central location for processing raw coal and loading coal into railroad cars or trucks for shipment to customers. These mining complexes include five active preparation plants and/or loadouts, each of which receive, blend, process and ship coal that is produced from one or more of its active surface and underground mines. All of the preparation plants are modern plants that have both coarse and fine coal cleaning circuits.

The Partnership’s surface mines include area mining and contour mining. These operations use truck and wheel loader equipment fleets along with large production tractors and shovels. The Partnership’s underground mines utilize the room and pillar mining method. These operations generally consist of one or more single or dual continuous miner sections which are made up of the continuous miner, shuttle cars, roof bolters, feeder and other support equipment. The Partnership currently owns most of the equipment utilized in its mining operations. The Partnership employs preventive maintenance and rebuild programs to ensure that its equipment is modern and well-maintained. The rebuild programs are performed either by an on-site shop or by third-party manufacturers.

Other Natural Resource Assets - Rhino

Oil and Natural Gas

In addition to its coal operations, the Partnership has invested in oil and natural gas assets and operations.

In December 2012, the Partnership made an initial investment in a new joint venture, Muskie Proppant LLC (“Muskie”), with affiliates of Wexford Capital. In November 2014, the Partnership contributed its investment interest in Muskie to Mammoth Energy Partners LP (“Mammoth”) in return for a limited partner interest in Mammoth. In October 2016, the Partnership contributed its limited partner interests in Mammoth to Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: TUSK) (“Mammoth Inc.”) in exchange for 234,300 shares of common stock of Mammoth, Inc.

In September 2014, the Partnership made an initial investment of $5.0 million in a new joint venture, Sturgeon Acquisitions LLC (“Sturgeon”), with affiliates of Wexford Capital and Gulfport Energy (“Gulfport”). Sturgeon subsequently acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of certain limited liability companies located in Wisconsin that provide frac sand for oil and natural gas drillers in the United States. The Partnership accounts for the investment in this joint venture and results of operations under the equity method. The Partnership recorded its proportionate portion of the operating (losses)/gains for this investment for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 of approximately $36,000 and ($0.2) million, respectively. In June 2017, the Partnership contributed its limited partner interests in Sturgeon to Mammoth Inc. in exchange for 336,447 shares of common stock of Mammoth Inc. As of December 31, 2017, the Partnership owned 568,794 shares of Mammoth Inc.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded a fair market value adjustment of $1.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively, for its available-for-sale investment in Mammoth Inc. based on the market value of the shares at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which was recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Partnership has recorded its investment in Mammoth Inc. as a short-term asset, which the Partnership has classified as available-for-sale.

Coal Customers - Rhino

General

The Partnership’s primary customers for its steam coal are electric utilities and industrial consumers, and the metallurgical coal the Partnership produces is sold primarily to domestic and international steel producers. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 82.0% of its coal sales tons consisted of steam coal and approximately 18.0% consisted of metallurgical coal. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 57.0% of its coal sales tons that the Partnership produced were sold to electric utilities. The majority of its electric utility customers purchase coal for terms of one to three years, but it also supplies coal on a spot basis for some of its customers. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Partnership derived approximately 86.9% of its total coal revenues from sales to its ten largest customers, with affiliates of its top three customers accounting for approximately 39.4% of its coal revenues for that period: LG&E (18.3%); Integrity Coal (11.0%); and Dominion Energy (10.1%).

Coal Supply Contracts

For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately 59% and 90%, respectively, of the Partnership’s aggregate coal tons sold were sold through supply contracts. The Partnership expects to continue selling a significant portion of its coal under supply contracts. As of December 31, 2017, the Partnership had commitments under supply contracts to deliver annually scheduled base quantities as follows:

Some of the contracts have sales price adjustment provisions, subject to certain limitations and adjustments, based on a variety of factors and indices.

Quality and volumes for the coal are stipulated in coal supply contracts, and in some instances buyers have the option to vary annual or monthly volumes. Most of the Partnership’s coal supply contracts contain provisions requiring it to deliver coal within certain ranges for specific coal characteristics such as heat content, sulfur, ash, hardness and ash fusion temperature. Failure to meet these specifications can result in economic penalties, suspension or cancellation of shipments or termination of the contracts. Some of its contracts specify approved locations from which coal may be sourced. Some of its contracts set out mechanisms for temporary reductions or delays in coal volumes in the event of a force majeure, including events such as strikes, adverse mining conditions, mine closures, or serious transportation problems that affect it or unanticipated plant outages that may affect the buyers.

The terms of its coal supply contracts result from competitive bidding procedures and extensive negotiations with customers. As a result, the terms of these contracts, including price adjustment features, price re-opener terms, coal quality requirements, quantity parameters, permitted sources of supply, future regulatory changes, extension options, force majeure, termination and assignment provisions, vary significantly by customer.

Transportation

The Partnership ships coal to its customers by rail, truck or barge. The majority of its coal is transported to customers by either the CSX Railroad or the Norfolk Southern Railroad in eastern Kentucky and by the Ohio Central Railroad or the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad in Ohio. The Partnership uses third-party trucking to transport coal to its customers in Utah. For its Pennyrile complex in western Kentucky, coal is transported to its customers via barge from its river loadout on the Green River located on its Pennyrile mining complex. In addition, coal from certain mines is within economical trucking distance to the Big Sandy River and/or the Ohio River and can be transported by barge. It is customary for customers to pay the transportation costs to their location.

The Partnership believes that it has good relationships with rail carriers and truck companies due, in part, to its modern coal-loading facilities at its loadouts and the working relationships and experience of its transportation and distribution employees.

Suppliers - Rhino

Principal supplies used in the Partnership’s business include diesel fuel, explosives, maintenance and repair parts and services, roof control and support items, tires, conveyance structures, ventilation supplies and lubricants. The Partnership uses third-party suppliers for a significant portion of its equipment rebuilds and repairs, and construction.

The Partnership has a centralized sourcing group for major supplier contract negotiation and administration, for the negotiation and purchase of major capital goods and to support the mining and coal preparation plants. The Partnership is not dependent on any one supplier in any region. The Partnership promotes competition between suppliers and seek to develop relationships with those suppliers whose focus is on lowering its costs. The Partnership seeks suppliers who identify and concentrate on implementing continuous improvement opportunities within their area of expertise.

Competition - Rhino

The coal industry is highly competitive. There are numerous large and small producers in all coal producing regions of the United States and the Partnership competes with many of these producers. The Partnership’s main competitors include Alliance Resource Partners LP, Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., Arch Coal, Inc., Booth Energy Group, Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Murray Energy Corporation, Foresight Energy LP, Westmoreland Resource Partners, LP and Bowie Resource Partners LLC.

The most important factors on which the Partnership competes are coal price, coal quality and characteristics, transportation costs and the reliability of supply. Demand for coal and the prices that the Partnership will be able to obtain for its coal are closely linked to coal consumption patterns of the domestic electric generation industry and international consumers. These coal consumption patterns are influenced by factors beyond its control, including demand for electricity, which is significantly dependent upon economic activity and summer and winter temperatures in the United States, government regulation, technological developments and the location, availability, quality and price of competing sources of fuel such as natural gas, oil and nuclear, and alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric power and wind power.

Segments

We operate as a single primary reportable segment relating to our coal investments. We have oil and natural gas investments that we have a passive interest in along with some general corporate assets that we break out separately as unallocated corporate assets in the segment disclosure. All of our revenues relate to the coal segment. During the fourth quarter of 2017, our chief operating decision maker, our CEO, began reviewing sales and operating income at the consolidated coal group level; therefore, we removed the historic segment disclosures which were in previous filings and simplified our segment disclosure to isolate the coal assets and unallocated corporate assets. We determined there was no need to restate previous filings due to the change having no material impact to the overall financial statements. See Part II. “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for our segment disclosure.

Regulation and Laws

The Partnership’s current operations are, and future coal mining operations that we acquire will be, subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities on matters such as:

In addition, many of the Partnership’s customers are subject to extensive regulation regarding the environmental impacts associated with the combustion or other use of coal, which could affect demand for their coal. The possibility exists that new laws or regulations, or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, may be adopted that may have a significant impact on the Partnership’s mining operations or their customers’ ability to use coal. Moreover, environmental citizen groups frequently challenge coal mining, terminal construction, and other related projects.

The Partnership is committed to conducting mining operations in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. However, because of extensive and comprehensive regulatory requirements, violations during mining operations occur from time to time. Violations, including violations of any permit or approval, can result in substantial civil and in severe cases, criminal fines and penalties, including revocation or suspension of mining permits. None of the violations to date have had a material impact on their operations or financial condition.

While it is not possible to quantify the costs of compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, those costs have been and are expected to continue to be significant. Nonetheless, capital expenditures for environmental matters have not been material in recent years. The Partnership has accrued for the present value of estimated cost of reclamation and mine closings, including the cost of treating mine water discharge when necessary. The accruals for reclamation and mine closing costs are based upon permit requirements and the costs and timing of reclamation and mine closing procedures. Although management believes it has made adequate provisions for all expected reclamation and other costs associated with mine closures, future operating results would be adversely affected if the Partnership later determined these accruals to be insufficient. Compliance with these laws and regulations has substantially increased the cost of coal mining for all domestic coal producers

Mining Permits and Approvals

Numerous governmental permits or approvals are required for coal mining operations. When the Partnership applies for these permits and approvals, they are often required to assess the effect or impact that any proposed production of coal may have upon the environment. Final guidance released by the CEQ regarding climate change considerations in the NEPA analyses may increase the likelihood of future challenges to the NEPA documents prepared for actions requiring federal approval. The permit application requirements may be costly and time consuming, and may delay or prevent commencement or continuation of mining operations in certain locations. In addition, these permits and approvals can result in the imposition of numerous restrictions on the time, place and manner in which coal mining operations are conducted. Future laws and regulations may emphasize more heavily the protection of the environment and, as a consequence, the Partnership’s activities may be more closely regulated. Laws and regulations, as well as future interpretations or enforcement of existing laws and regulations, may require substantial increases in equipment and operating costs, or delays, interruptions or terminations of operations, the extent of any of which cannot be predicted. In addition, the permitting process for certain mining operations can extend over several years, and can be subject to judicial challenge, including by the public. Some required mining permits are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain in a timely manner, or at all. The Partnership may experience difficulty and/or delay in obtaining mining permits in the future.

Regulations provide that a mining permit can be refused or revoked if the permit applicant or permittee owns or controls, directly or indirectly through other entities, mining operations which have outstanding environmental violations. Although, like other coal companies, The Partnership have been cited for violations in the ordinary course of business, the Partnership has never had a permit suspended or revoked because of any violation, and the penalties assessed for these violations have not been material.

Before commencing mining on a particular property, the Partnership must obtain mining permits and approvals by state regulatory authorities of a reclamation plan for restoring, upon the completion of mining, the mined property to its approximate prior condition, productive use or other permitted condition.

Mine Health and Safety Laws

Stringent safety and health standards have been in effect since the adoption of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”), and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, significantly expanded the enforcement of health and safety standards and imposed comprehensive safety and health standards on numerous aspects of mining operations, including training of mine personnel, mining procedures, blasting, the equipment used in mining operations and other matters. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) monitors compliance with these laws and regulations. In addition, the states where the Partnership operates also have state programs for mine safety and health regulation and enforcement. Federal and state safety and health regulations affecting the coal industry are complex, rigorous and comprehensive, and have a significant effect on the Partnership’s operating costs.

The Mine Act is a strict liability statute that requires mandatory inspections of surface and underground coal mines and requires the issuance of enforcement action when it is believed that a standard has been violated. A penalty is required to be imposed for each cited violation. Negligence and gravity assessments result in a cumulative enforcement scheme that may result in the issuance of an order requiring the immediate withdrawal of miners from the mine or shutting down a mine or any section of a mine or any piece of mine equipment. The Mine Act contains criminal liability provisions. For example, criminal liability may be imposed for corporate operators who knowingly or willfully authorize, order or carry out violations. The Mine Act also provides that civil and criminal penalties may be assessed against individual agents, officers and directors who knowingly authorize, order or carry out violations.

The Partnership has developed a health and safety management system that, among other things, includes training regarding worker health and safety requirements including those arising under federal and state laws that apply to their mines. In addition, the Partnership’s health and safety management system tracks the performance of each operational facility in meeting the requirements of safety laws and company safety policies. As an example of the resources they allocate to health and safety matters, their safety management system includes a company-wide safety director and local safety directors who oversee safety and compliance at operations on a day-to-day basis. The Partnership continually monitors the performance of their safety management system and from time-to-time modify that system to address findings or reflect new requirements or for other reasons. The Partnership has even integrated safety matters into their compensation and retention decisions. For instance, their bonus program includes a meaningful evaluation of each eligible employee’s role in complying with, fostering and furthering their safety policies.

The Partnership evaluates a variety of safety-related metrics to assess the adequacy and performance of their safety management system. For example, the Partnership monitors and tracks performance in areas such as “accidents, reportable accidents, lost time accidents and the lost-time accident frequency rate” and a number of others. Each of these metrics provides insights and perspectives into various aspects of the Partnership’s safety systems and performance at particular locations or mines generally and, among other things, can indicate where improvements are needed or further evaluation is warranted with regard to the system or its implementation. An important part of this evaluation is to assess their performance relative to certain national benchmarks.

For the year ended December 31, 2017 the Partnership’s average MSHA violations per inspection day was 0.29 as compared to the most recent national average of 0.67 violations per inspection day for coal mining activity as reported by MSHA, or 57% below this national average.

Mining accidents in the last several years in West Virginia, Kentucky and Utah have received national attention and instigated responses at the state and national levels that have resulted in increased scrutiny of current safety practices and procedures at all mining operations, particularly underground mining operations. For example, in 2014, MSHA adopted a final rule to lower miners’ exposure to respirable coal mine dust. The rule had a phased implementation schedule. The second phase of the rule went into effect in February 2016, and requires increased sampling frequency and the use of continuous personal dust monitors. In August 2016, the third and final phase of the rule became effective, reducing the overall respirable dust standard in coal mines from 2.0 to 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Additionally, in September 2015, MSHA issued a proposed rule requiring the installation of proximity detection systems on coal hauling machines and scoops. The rulemaking record for this proposed rule was closed on December 15, 2016, but on January 9, 2017, MSHA published a notice reopening the record and extending the comment period for this proposed rule for 30 days. Proximity detection is a technology that uses electronic sensors to detect motion and the distance between a miner and a machine. These systems provide audible and visual warnings, and automatically stop moving machines when miners are in the machines’ path. These and other new safety rules could result in increased compliance costs on their operations.

In addition, more stringent mine safety laws and regulations promulgated by these states and the federal government have included increased sanctions for non-compliance. For example, in 2006, the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, or MINER Act, was enacted. The MINER Act significantly amended the Mine Act, requiring improvements in mine safety practices, increasing criminal penalties and establishing a maximum civil penalty for non-compliance, and expanding the scope of federal oversight, inspection and enforcement activities. Since passage of the MINER Act in 2006, enforcement scrutiny has increased, including more inspection hours at mine sites, increased numbers of inspections and increased issuance of the number and the severity of enforcement actions and related penalties. For example, in July 2014, MSHA proposed a rule that revises its civil penalty assessment provisions and how regulators should approach calculating penalties, which, in some instances, could result in increased civil penalty assessments for medium and larger mine operators and contractors by 300 to 1,000 percent. MSHA proposed some revisions to the original proposed rule in February 2015, but, to date, has not taken any further action. Other states have proposed or passed similar bills, resolutions or regulations addressing enhanced mine safety practices and increased fines and penalties. Moreover, workplace accidents, such as the April 5, 2010, Upper Big Branch Mine incident, have resulted in more inspection hours at mine sites, increased number of inspections and increased issuance of the number and severity of enforcement actions and the passage of new laws and regulations. These trends are likely to continue.

In 2013, MSHA began implementing its recently released Pattern of Violation (“POV”) regulations under the Mine Act. Under this regulation, MSHA eliminated the ninety (90) day window to take corrective action and engage in mitigation efforts for mine operators who met certain initial POV screening criteria. Additionally, MSHA will make POV determinations based upon enforcement actions as issued, rather than enforcement actions that have been rendered final following the opportunity for administrative or judicial review. After a mine operator has been placed on POV status, MSHA will thereafter issue an order withdrawing miners from the area affected by any enforcement action designated by MSHA as posing a significant and substantial, or S&S, hazard to the health and/or safety of miners. Further, once designated as a POV mine, a mine operator can be removed from POV status only upon: (1) a complete inspection of the entire mine with no S&S enforcement actions issued by MSHA; or (2) no POV-related withdrawal orders being issued by MSHA within ninety (90) days of the mine operator being placed on POV status. Although it remains to be seen how these new regulations will ultimately affect production at the Partnership’s mines, they are consistent with the trend of more stringent enforcement.

From time to time, certain portions of individual mines have been required to suspend or shut down operations temporarily in order to address a compliance requirement or because of an accident. For instance, MSHA issues orders pursuant to Section 103(k) that, among other things, call for operations in the area of the mine at issue to suspend operations until compliance is restored. Likewise, if an accident occurs within a mine, the MSHA requirements call for all operations in that area to be suspended until the circumstance leading to the accident has been resolved. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (as in earlier years), the Partnership received such orders from government agencies and has experienced accidents within its mines requiring the suspension or shutdown of operations in those particular areas until the circumstances leading to the accident have been resolved. While the violations or other circumstances that caused such an accident were being addressed, other areas of the mine could and did remain operational. These circumstances did not require the Partnership to suspend operations on a mine-wide level or otherwise entail material financial or operational consequences for it. Any suspension of operations at any one of the Partnership’s locations that may occur in the future may have material financial or operational consequences for us.

It is the Partnership’s practice to contest notices of violations in cases in which it believes it has a good faith defense to the alleged violation or the proposed penalty and/or other legitimate grounds to challenge the alleged violation or the proposed penalty. The Partnership exercises substantial efforts toward achieving compliance at its mines. For example, it has further increased its focus with regard to health and safety at all of its mines. These efforts include hiring additional skilled personnel, providing training programs, hosting quarterly safety meetings with MSHA personnel and making capital expenditures in consultation with MSHA aimed at increasing mine safety. The Partnership believes that these efforts have contributed, and continue to contribute, positively to safety and compliance at the Partnership’s mines. In “Part 1, Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure” and in Exhibit 95.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Partnership provides additional details on how they monitor safety performance and MSHA compliance, as well as provide the mine safety disclosures required pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Black Lung Laws

Under the Black Lung Benefits Act of 1977 and the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977, as amended in 1981, coal mine operators must make payments of black lung benefits to current and former coal miners with black lung disease, some survivors of a miner who dies from this disease, and to fund a trust fund for the payment of benefits and medical expenses to claimants who last worked in the industry prior to January 1, 1970. To help fund these benefits, a tax is levied on production of $1.10 per ton for underground-mined coal and $0.55 per ton for surface-mined coal, but not to exceed 4.4% of the applicable sales price. This excise tax does not apply to coal that is exported outside of the United States. In 2017, the Partnership recorded approximately $3.0 million of expense related to this excise tax.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes significant changes to the federal black lung program including an automatic survivor benefit paid upon the death of a miner with an awarded black lung claim and establishes a rebuttable presumption with regard to pneumoconiosis among miners with 15 or more years of coal mine employment that are totally disabled by a respiratory condition. These changes could have a material impact on the Partnership’s costs expended in association with the federal black lung program. The Partnership may also be liable under state laws for black lung claims that are covered through either insurance policies or state programs.

Workers’ Compensation

The Partnership is required to compensate employees for work-related injuries under various state workers’ compensation laws. The states in which we operate consider changes in workers’ compensation laws from time to time. Its costs will vary based on the number of accidents that occur at their mines and other facilities, and its costs of addressing these claims. The Partnership is insured under the Ohio State Workers Compensation Program for their operations in Ohio. Its remaining operations are insured through Rockwood Casualty Insurance Company.

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (“SMCRA”)

SMCRA establishes operational, reclamation and closure standards for all aspects of surface mining, including the surface effects of underground coal mining. SMCRA requires that comprehensive environmental protection and reclamation standards be met during the course of and upon completion of mining activities. In conjunction with mining the property, the Partnership reclaims and restores the mined areas by grading, shaping and preparing the soil for seeding. Upon completion of mining, reclamation generally is completed by seeding with grasses or planting trees for a variety of uses, as specified in the approved reclamation plan. We believe the Partnership is in compliance in all material respects with applicable regulations relating to reclamation.

SMCRA and similar state statutes require, among other things, that mined property be restored in accordance with specified standards and approved reclamation plans. The act requires that we restore the surface to approximate the original contours as soon as practicable upon the completion of surface mining operations. The mine operator must submit a bond or otherwise secure the performance of these reclamation obligations. Mine operators can also be responsible for replacing certain water supplies damaged by mining operations and repairing or compensating for damage to certain structures occurring on the surface as a result of mine subsidence, a consequence of long-wall mining and possibly other mining operations. In addition, the Abandoned Mine Lands Program, which is part of SMCRA, imposes a tax on all current mining operations, the proceeds of which are used to restore mines closed prior to SMCRA’s adoption in 1977. The maximum tax for the period from October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2021, has been decreased to 28 cents per ton on surface mined coal and 12 cents per ton on underground mined coal. However, this fee is subject to change. Should this fee be increased in the future, given the market for coal, it is unlikely that coal mining companies would be able to recover all of these fees from their customers. As of December 31, 2017, the Partnership had accrued approximately $15.9 million for the estimated costs of reclamation and mine closing, including the cost of treating mine water discharge when necessary. In addition, states from time to time have increased and may continue to increase their fees and taxes to fund reclamation of orphaned mine sites and abandoned mine drainage control on a statewide basis.

After a mine application is submitted, public notice or advertisement of the proposed permit action is required, which is followed by a public comment period. It is not uncommon for a SMCRA mine permit application to take over two years to prepare and review, depending on the size and complexity of the mine, and another two years or even longer for the permit to be issued. The variability in time frame required to prepare the application and issue the permit can be attributed primarily to the various regulatory authorities’ discretion in the handling of comments and objections relating to the project received from the general public and other agencies. Also, it is not uncommon for a permit to be delayed as a result of judicial challenges related to the specific permit or another related company’s permit.

Federal laws and regulations also provide that a mining permit or modification can be delayed, refused or revoked if owners of specific percentages of ownership interests or controllers (i.e., officers and directors or other entities) of the applicant have, or are affiliated with another entity that has outstanding violations of SMCRA or state or tribal programs authorized by SMCRA. This condition is often referred to as being “permit blocked” under the federal Applicant Violator Systems, or AVS. Thus, non-compliance with SMCRA can provide the bases to deny the issuance of new mining permits or modifications of existing mining permits, although we know of no basis by which the Partnership would be (and it is not now) permit-blocked.

In addition, a February 2014 decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia invalidated the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s (“OSM”) 2008 Stream Buffer Zone Rule, which prohibited mining disturbances within 100 feet of streams, subject to various exemptions. In December 2016, the OSM published the final Stream Protection Rule, which, among other things, would required operators to test and monitor conditions of streams they might impact before, during and after mining. The final rule took effect in January 2017 and would have required mine operators to collect additional baseline data about the site of the proposed mining operation and adjacent areas; imposed additional surface and groundwater monitoring requirements; enacted specific requirements for the protection or restoration of perennial and intermittent streams; and imposed additional bonding and financial assurance requirements. However, in February 2017, both the House and the Senate passed measures to revoke the Stream Protection Rule under the Congressional Review Act (“CRA”), which gives Congress the ability to repeal regulations promulgated in the last 60 days of the congressional session. President Trump signed the resolution on February 16, 2017 and, pursuant to the CRA, the Stream Protection Rule “shall have no force or effect” and OSM cannot promulgate a substantially similar rule absent future legislation. Whether Congress will enact future legislation to require a new Stream Protection Rule remains uncertain. A new Stream Protection Rule, or other new SMCRA regulations, could result in additional material costs, obligations, and restrictions associated with the Partnership’s operations.

Surety Bonds

Federal and state laws require a mine operator to secure the performance of its reclamation obligations required under SMCRA through the use of surety bonds or other approved forms of performance security to cover the costs the state would incur if the mine operator were unable to fulfill its obligations. It has become increasingly difficult for mining companies to secure new surety bonds without the posting of partial collateral. In August 2016, the OSMRE issued a Policy Advisory discouraging state regulatory authorities from approving self-bonding arrangements. The Policy Advisory indicated that the OSM would begin more closely reviewing instances in which states accept self-bonds for mining operations. In the same month, the OSM also announced that it was beginning the rulemaking process to strengthen regulations on self - bonding. In addition, surety bond costs have increased while the market terms of surety bond have generally become less favorable. It is possible that surety bonds issuers may refuse to renew bonds or may demand additional collateral upon those renewals. The Partnership’s failure to maintain, or inability to acquire, surety bonds that are required by state and federal laws would have a material adverse effect on its ability to produce coal, which could affect its profitability and cash flow.

As of December 31, 2017, the Partnership had approximately $37.5 million in surety bonds outstanding to secure the performance of its reclamation obligations.

Air Emissions

The federal Clean Air Act (the “CAA”) and similar state and local laws and regulations, which regulate emissions into the air, affect coal mining operations both directly and indirectly. The CAA directly impacts the Partnership’s coal mining and processing operations by imposing permitting requirements and, in some cases, requirements to install certain emissions control equipment, on sources that emit various hazardous and non-hazardous air pollutants. The CAA also indirectly affects coal mining operations by extensively regulating the air emissions of coal-fired electric power generating plants and other industrial consumers of coal, including air emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, mercury and other compounds. There have been a series of recent federal rulemakings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, which are focused on emissions from coal-fired electric generating facilities. For example, In June 2015, the United States Supreme Court decided Michigan v. the EPA, which held that the EPA should have considered the compliance costs associated with its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, or MATS, in deciding to regulate power plants under Section 112(n)(1) of the Clean Air Act. The Court did not vacate the MATS rule, and MATS has remained in place. In April 2016, EPA published its final supplemental finding that it is “appropriate and necessary” to regulate coal and oil-fired units under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. In August 2016, EPA denied two petitions for reconsideration of startup and shutdown provisions in MATS, leaving in place the startup and shutdown provisions finalized in November 2014. The MATS rule was expected to result in the retirement of certain older coal plants. It remains to be seen whether any power plants may reevaluate their decision to retire following the Supreme Court’s decision and EPA’s recent actions, or whether plants that have already installed certain controls to comply with MATS will continue to operate them at all times. Installation of additional emissions control technology and additional measures required under laws and regulations related to air emissions will make it more costly to operate coal-fired power plants and possibly other facilities that consume coal and, depending on the requirements of individual state implementation plans, or SIPs, could make coal a less attractive fuel alternative in the planning and building of power plants in the future.

In addition to the greenhouse gas (“GHG”) regulations discussed below, air emission control programs that affect the Partnership’s operations, directly or indirectly, through impacts to coal-fired utilities and other manufacturing plants, include, but are not limited to, the following:

The EPA has adopted new, more stringent NAAQS for ozone, fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. As a result, some states will be required to amend their existing SIPs to attain and maintain compliance with the new air quality standards. For example, in June 2010, the EPA issued a final rule setting forth a more stringent primary NAAQS applicable to sulfur dioxide. The rule also modifies the monitoring increment for the sulfur dioxide standard, establishing a 1-hour standard, and expands the sulfur dioxide monitoring network. Initial non-attainment determinations related to the 2010 sulfur dioxide rule were published in August 2013 with an effective date in October 2013. States with non-attainment areas had to submit their SIP revisions in April 2015, which must meet the modified standard by summer 2017. For all other areas, states will be required to submit “maintenance” SIPs. EPA finalized its PM2.5 NAAQS designations in December 2014. Individual states must now identify the sources of PM2.5 emissions and develop emission reduction plans, which may be state-specific or regional in scope. Nonattainment areas must meet the revised standard no later than 2021. More recently, in October 2015, the EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone from 75 to 70 parts per billion for both the 8-hour primary and secondary standards. Significant additional emissions control expenditures will likely be required at coal-fired power plants and coke plants to meet the new standards. In November 2017, EPA announced initial area designations for most counties with respect to the 2015 primary and secondary NAAQS for ozone and promulgated these designations in a final rule effective January 2018. In December 2017, EPA indicated the anticipated area designations for the portions of the country not already designated for the 2015 ozone standards. EPA has announced its intention to make final designation determinations for these portions of the country in the spring of 2018. Because coal mining operations and coal-fired electric generating facilities emit particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, the Partnership’s mining operations and customers could be affected when the standards are implemented by the applicable states. Moreover, we could face adverse impacts on their business to the extent that these and any other new rules affecting coal-fired power plants result in reduced demand for coal.

In addition, over the years, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA, has filed lawsuits against a number of coal-fired electric generating facilities alleging violations of the new source review provisions of the CAA. The EPA has alleged that certain modifications have been made to these facilities without first obtaining certain permits issued under the new source review program. Several of these lawsuits have settled, but others remain pending. Depending on the ultimate resolution of these cases, demand for the Partnership’s coal could be affected.

Non-government organizations have also petitioned EPA to regulate coal mines as stationary sources under the Clean Air Act. On May 13, 2014, the D.C. Circuit in WildEarth Guardians v. United States Environmental Protection Agency upheld EPA’s denial of one such petition. On July 18, 2014, the D.C. Circuit denied a petition to rehear that case en banc. We cannot guarantee that these groups will not make similar efforts in the future. If such efforts are successful, emissions of these or other materials associated with the Partnership’s mining operations could become subject to further regulation pursuant to existing laws such as the CAA. In that event, the Partnership may be required to install additional emissions control equipment or take other steps to lower emissions associated with its operations, thereby reducing its revenues and adversely affecting its operations.

Climate Change

One by-product of burning coal is carbon dioxide or CO ₂ , which EPA considers a GHG and a major source of concern with respect to climate change and global warming.

On the international level, the United States was one of almost 200 nations that agreed on December 12, 2015 to an international climate change agreement in Paris, France, that calls for countries to set their own GHG emission targets and be transparent about the measures each country will use to achieve its GHG emission targets; however, the agreement does not set binding GHG emission reduction targets. The Paris climate agreement entered into force in November 2016; however, in August 2017 the U.S. State Department officially informed the United Nations of the intent of the U.S. to withdraw from the agreement, with the earliest possible effective date of withdrawal being November 4, 2020. Despite the planned withdrawal, certain U.S. city and state governments have announced their intention to satisfy their proportionate obligations under the Paris Agreement. These commitments could further reduce demand and prices for coal.

At the Federal level, EPA has taken a number of steps to regulate GHG emissions. For example, in August 2015, the EPA issued its final Clean Power Plan (the “CPP”) rules that establish carbon pollution standards for power plants, called CO ₂ emission performance rates. Judicial challenges led the U.S. Supreme Court to grant a stay of the implementation of the CPP in February 2016. By its terms, this stay will remain in effect throughout the pendency of the appeals process. The Supreme Court’s stay applies only to EPA’s regulations for CO ₂ emissions from existing power plants and will not affect EPA’s standards for new power plants. It is not yet clear how the courts will rule on the legality of the CPP. Additionally, in October 2017 EPA proposed to repeal the CPP, although the final outcome of this action and the pending litigation regarding the CPP is uncertain at this time. In connection with the proposed repeal, EPA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”) in December 2017 regarding emission guidelines to limit GHG emissions from existing electricity utility generating units. The ANPRM seeks comment regarding what the EPA should include in a potential new, existing-source regulation under the Clean Air Act of GHG emissions from electric utility generating units that it may propose. If the effort to repeal the rules is unsuccessful and the rules were upheld at the conclusion of the appellate process and were implemented in their current form or if the ANPRM results in a different proposal to control GHG emissions from electric utility generating units, demand for coal will likely be further decreased. The EPA also issued a final rule for new coal-fired power plants in August 2015, which essentially set performance standards for coal-fired power plants that requires partial carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”). Additional legal challenges have been filed against the EPA’s rules for new power plants. The EPA’s GHG rules for new and existing power plants, taken together, have the potential to severely reduce demand for coal. In addition, passage of any comprehensive federal climate change and energy legislation could impact the demand for coal. Any reduction in the amount of coal consumed by North American electric power generators could reduce the price of coal that we mine and sell, thereby reducing the Partnership’s revenues and materially and adversely affecting their business and results of operations.

Many states and regions have adopted greenhouse gas initiatives and certain governmental bodies have or are considering the imposition of fees or taxes based on the emission of greenhouse gases by certain facilities, including coal-fired electric generating facilities. For example, in 2005, ten northeastern states entered into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative agreement (“RGGI”) calling for implementation of a cap and trade program aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the participating states. The members of RGGI have established in statute and/or regulation a carbon dioxide trading program. Auctions for carbon dioxide allowances under the program began in September 2008. Though New Jersey withdrew from RGGI in 2011, since its inception, several additional northeastern states and Canadian provinces have joined as participants or observers. Following the RGGI model, five Western states launched the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative to identify, evaluate and implement collective and cooperative methods of reducing greenhouse gases in the region to 15% below 2005 levels by 2020. These states were joined by two additional states and four Canadian provinces and became collectively known as the Western Climate Initiative Partners. However, in November 2011, six states withdrew, leaving California and the four Canadian provinces as members. At a January 12, 2012 stakeholder meeting, this group confirmed a commitment and timetable to create the largest carbon market in North America and provide a model to guide future efforts to establish national approaches in both Canada and the U.S. to reduce GHG emissions. It is likely that these regional efforts will continue.

Many coal-fired plants have already closed or announced plans to close and proposed new construction projects have also come under additional scrutiny with respect to GHG emissions. There have been an increasing number of protests and challenges to the permitting of new coal-fired power plants by environmental organizations and state regulators due to concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions. Other state regulatory authorities have also rejected the construction of new coal-fueled power plants based on the uncertainty surrounding the potential costs associated with GHG emissions from these plants under future laws limiting the emissions of carbon dioxide. In addition, several permits issued to new coal-fired power plants without limits on GHG emissions have been appealed to the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board. In addition, over 30 states have adopted mandatory “renewable portfolio standards,” which require electric utilities to obtain a certain percentage of their electric generation portfolio from renewable resources by a certain date. These standards range generally from 10% to 30%, over time periods that generally extend from the present until between 2020 and 2030. Other states may adopt similar requirements, and federal legislation is a possibility in this area. To the extent these requirements affect the Partnership’s current and prospective customers; they may reduce the demand for coal-fired power, and may affect long-term demand for their coal.

If mandatory restrictions on CO ₂ emissions are imposed, the ability to capture and store large volumes of carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants may be a key mitigation technology to achieve emissions reductions while meeting projected energy demands. A number of recent legislative and regulatory initiatives to encourage the development and use of carbon capture and storage technology have been proposed or enacted. For example, in October 2015, the EPA released a rule that established, for the first time, new source performance standards under the federal Clean Air Act for CO ₂ emissions from new fossil fuel-fired electric utility generating power plants. The EPA has designated partial carbon capture and sequestration as the best system of emission reduction for newly constructed fossil fuel-fired steam generating units at power plants to employ to meet the standard. However, widespread cost-effective deployment of CCS will occur only if the technology is commercially available at economically competitive prices and supportive national policy frameworks are in place.

There have also been attempts to encourage greater regulation of coalbed methane because methane has a greater GHG effect than CO2. Methane from coal mines can give rise to safety concerns, and may require that various measures be taken to mitigate those risks. If new laws or regulations were introduced to reduce coalbed methane emissions, those rules could adversely affect the Partnership’s costs of operations.

These and other current or future global climate change laws, regulations, court orders or other legally enforceable mechanisms, or related public perceptions regarding climate change, are expected to require additional controls on coal-fired power plants and industrial boilers and may cause some users of coal to further switch from coal to alternative sources of fuel, thereby depressing demand and pricing for coal.

Finally, some scientists have warned that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts and floods and other climatic events. If these warnings are correct, and if any such effects were to occur in areas where the Partnership or their customers operate, they could have an adverse effect on their assets and operations.

Clean Water Act

The Federal Clean Water Act (the “CWA”) and similar state and local laws and regulations affect coal mining operations by imposing restrictions on the discharge of pollutants, including dredged or fill material, into waters of the U.S. The CWA establishes in-stream water quality and treatment standards for wastewater discharges that are applied to wastewater dischargers through Section 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permits. Regular monitoring, as well as compliance with reporting requirements and performance standards, are preconditions for the issuance and renewal of Section 402 NPDES permits. Individual permits or general permits under Section 404 of the CWA are required to discharge dredged or fill materials into waters of the U.S. including wetlands, streams, and other areas meeting the regulatory definition. Expansion of EPA jurisdiction over these areas has the potential to adversely impact our operations. Considerable legal uncertainty exists surrounding the standard for what constitutes jurisdictional waters and wetlands subject to the protections and requirements of the Clean Water Act. A 2015 rulemaking by EPA to revise the standard was stayed nationwide by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and stayed for certain primarily western states by a United States District Court in North Dakota. In January 2018, the Supreme Court determined that the circuit courts do not have jurisdiction to hear challenges to the 2015 rule, removing the basis for the Sixth Circuit to continue its nationwide stay. Additionally, EPA has promulgated a final rule that extends the applicability date of the 2015 rule for another two years in order to allow EPA to undertake a rulemaking on the question of what constitutes a water of the United States. In the meantime, judicial challenges to the 2015 rulemaking are likely to continue to work their way through the courts along with challenges to the recent rulemaking that extends the applicability date of the 2015 rule. For now, EPA and the Corps will continue to apply the existing standard for what constitutes a water of the United States as determined by the Supreme Court in the Rapanos case and post-Rapanos guidance. Should the 2015 rule take effect, or should a different rule expanding the definition of what constitutes a water of the United States be promulgated as a result of EPA and the Corps’s rulemaking process, we could face increased costs and delays with respect to obtaining permits for dredge and fill activities in wetland areas.

The Partnership’s surface coal mining and preparation plant operations typically require such permits to authorize activities such as the creation of slurry ponds, stream impoundments, and valley fills. The EPA, or a state that has been delegated such authority by the EPA, issues NPDES permits for the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) issues dredge and fill permits under Section 404 of the CWA. Where Section 402 NPDES permitting authority has been delegated to a state, the EPA retains a limited oversight role. The CWA also gives the EPA an oversight role in the Section 404 permitting program, including drafting substantive rules governing permit issuance by the Corps, providing comments on proposed permits, and, in some cases, exercising the authority to delay or pre-empt Corps issuance of a Section 404 permit. The EPA has recently asserted these authorities more forcefully to question, delay, and prevent issuance of some Section 402 and 404 permits for surface coal mining in Appalachia. Currently, significant uncertainty exists regarding the obtaining of permits under the CWA for coal mining operations in Appalachia due to various initiatives launched by the EPA regarding these permits.

For instance, even though the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the State of West Virginia have been delegated the authority to issue NPDES permits for coal mines in those states, the EPA is taking a more active role in its review of NPDES permit applications for coal mining operations in Appalachia. The EPA issued final guidance on July 21, 2011 that encouraged EPA Regions 3, 4 and 5 to object to the issuance of state program NPDES permits where the Region does not believe that the proposed permit satisfies the requirements of the CWA and with regard to state issued general Section 404 permits, support the previously drafted Enhanced Coordination Process (“ECP”) among the EPA, the Corps, and the U.S. Department of the Interior for issuing Section 404 permits, whereby the EPA undertook a greater level of review of certain Section 404 permits than it had previously undertaken. The D.C. Circuit upheld EPA’s use of the ECP in July 2014. Future application of the ECP, such as may be enacted following notice and comment rulemaking, would have the potential to delay issuance of permits for surface coal mines, or to change the conditions or restrictions imposed in those permits.

The EPA also has statutory “veto” power under Section 404(c) to effectively revoke a previously issued Section 404 permit if the EPA determines, after notice and an opportunity for a public hearing, that the permit will have an “unacceptable adverse effect.” The Court previously upheld the EPA’s ability to exercise this authority. Any future use of the EPA’s Section 404 “veto” power could create uncertainty with regard to the Partnership’s continued use of their current permits, as well as impose additional time and cost burdens on future operations, potentially adversely affecting their revenues.

The Corps is authorized to issue general “nationwide” permits for specific categories of activities that are similar in nature and that are determined to have minimal adverse environmental effects. The Partnership may no longer seek general permits under Nationwide Permit 21 (“NWP 21”) because in February 2012, the Corps reinstated the use of NWP 21, but limited application of NWP 21 authorizations to discharges with impacts not greater than a half-acre of water, including no more than 300 linear feet of streambed, and disallowed the use of NWP 21 for valley fills. This limitation remains in place in the NWP 21 issued in January of 2017. If the 2017 NWP 21 cannot be used for any of the Partnership’s proposed surface coal mining projects, the Partnership will have to obtain individual permits from the Corps subject to the additional EPA measures discussed below with the uncertainties and delays attendant to that process.

The Partnership currently has a number of Section 404 permit applications pending with the Corps. Not all of these permit applications seek approval for valley fills or other obvious “fills”; some relate to other activities, such as mining through streams and the associated post-mining reconstruction efforts. The Partnership sought to prepare all pending permit applications consistent with the requirements of the Section 404 program. The Partnership’s five year plan of mining operations does not rely on the issuance of these pending permit applications. However, the Section 404 permitting requirements are complex, and regulatory scrutiny of these applications, particularly in Appalachia, has increased such that their applications may not be granted or, alternatively, the Corps may require material changes to their proposed operations before it grants permits. While the Partnership will continue to pursue the issuance of these permits in the ordinary course of their operations, to the extent that the permitting process creates significant delay or limits the Partnership’s ability to pursue certain reserves beyond their current five year plan, their revenues may be negatively affected.

Total Maximum Daily Load (“TMDL”) regulations under the CWA establish a process to calculate the maximum amount of a pollutant that an impaired water body can receive and still meet state water quality standards, and to allocate pollutant loads among the point and non-point pollutant sources discharging into that water body. Likewise, when water quality in a receiving stream is better than required, states are required to conduct an anti-degradation review before approving discharge permits. The adoption of new TMDLs and load allocations or any changes to anti-degradation policies for streams near the Partnership’s coal mines could limit their ability to obtain NPDES permits, require more costly water treatment, and adversely affect their coal production.

Hazardous Substances and Wastes

The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the “Superfund” law, and analogous state laws, impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons that are considered to have contributed to the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons include the owner or operator of the site where the release occurred and companies that disposed or arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances found at the site. Persons who are or were responsible for releases of hazardous substances under CERCLA may be subject to joint and several liabilities for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources. Some products used by coal companies in operations generate waste containing hazardous substances. The Partnership is not aware of any material liability associated with the release or disposal of hazardous substances from the Partnership’s past or present mine sites.

The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and corresponding state laws regulating hazardous waste affect coal mining operations by imposing requirements for the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of hazardous wastes. Many mining wastes are excluded from the regulatory definition of hazardous wastes, and coal mining operations covered by SMCRA permits are by statute exempted from RCRA permitting. RCRA also allows the EPA to require corrective action at sites where there is a release of hazardous wastes. In addition, each state has its own laws regarding the proper management and disposal of waste material. While these laws impose ongoing compliance obligations, such costs are not believed to have a material impact on the Partnership’s operations.

In December 2014, EPA finalized regulations that address the management of coal ash as a non-hazardous solid waste under Subtitle D. The rules impose engineering, structural and siting standards on surface impoundments and landfills that hold coal combustion wastes and mandate regular inspections. The rule also requires fugitive dust controls and imposes various monitoring, cleanup, and closure requirements. The rule leaves intact the Bevill exemption for beneficial uses of CCB, though it defers a final Bevill regulatory determination with respect to CCB that is disposed of in landfills or surface impoundments. Additionally, in December 2016, Congress passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which provides for the establishment of state and EPA permit programs for the control of coal combustion residuals and authorizes states to incorporate EPA’s final rule for coal combustion residuals or develop other criteria that are at least as protective as the final rule. The costs of complying with these new requirements may result in a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s business, financial condition or results of operations, and could potentially increase its customers’ operating costs, thereby reducing their ability to purchase coal as a result. In addition, contamination caused by the past disposal of CCB, including coal ash, can lead to material liability to its customers under RCRA or other federal or state laws and potentially reduce the demand for coal.

Endangered Species Act

The federal Endangered Species Act and counterpart state legislation protect species threatened with possible extinction. Protection of threatened and endangered species may have the effect of prohibiting or delaying the Partnership from obtaining mining permits and may include restrictions on timber harvesting, road building and other mining or agricultural activities in areas containing the affected species or their habitats. A number of species indigenous to the Partnership’s properties are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Based on the species that have been identified to date and the current application of applicable laws and regulations, however, the Partnership does not believe there are any species protected under the Endangered Species Act that would materially and adversely affect its ability to mine coal from its properties in accordance with current mining plans.

Use of Explosives

The Partnership uses explosives in connection with its surface mining activities. The Federal Safe Explosives Act (“SEA”) applies to all users of explosives. Knowing or willful violations of the SEA may result in fines, imprisonment, or both. In addition, violations of SEA may result in revocation of user permits and seizure or forfeiture of explosive materials.

The storage of explosives is also subject to regulatory requirements. For example, pursuant to a rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security in 2007, facilities in possession of chemicals of interest (including ammonium nitrate at certain threshold levels) are required to complete a screening review in order to help determine whether there is a high level of security risk, such that a security vulnerability assessment and a site security plan will be required. It is possible that its use of explosives in connection with blasting operations may subject the Partnership to the Department of Homeland Security’s chemical facility security regulatory program.

The costs of compliance with these requirements should not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.

In December 2014, OSM announced its decision to propose a rule that will address all blast generated fumes and toxic gases. OSM has not yet issued a proposed rule to address these blasts. The Partnership is unable to predict the impact, if any, of these actions by the OSM, although the actions potentially could result in additional delays and costs associated with its blasting operations.

Other Environmental and Mine Safety Laws

The Partnership is also required to comply with numerous other federal, state and local environmental and mine safety laws and regulations in addition to those previously discussed. These additional laws include, for example, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The costs of compliance with these requirements is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

Other Environmental and Mine Safety Laws

The Partnership is required to comply with numerous other federal, state and local environmental and mine safety laws and regulations in addition to those previously discussed. These additional laws include, for example, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The costs of compliance with these requirements is not expected to have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition or results of operations.

Federal Power Act – Grid Reliability Proposal

Pursuant to a direction from the Secretary of the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking under the Federal Power Act regarding the valuation by regional electric grid system operators of the reliability and resilience attributes of electricity generation. The rulemaking would have required the FERC to impose market rules that would allow certain cost recovery by electricity-generating units that maintain a 90-day fuel supply on-site and that are therefore capable of providing electricity during supply disruptions from emergencies, extreme weather or natural or man-made disasters. Many coal-fired electricity generating plants could have qualified under this criteria and the cost recovery could have helped improve the economics of their operations. However, in January 2018, the FERC terminated the proposed rulemaking, finding that it failed to satisfy the legal requirements of section 206 of the Federal Power Act, and initiated a new proceeding to further evaluate whether additional FERC action regarding resilience is appropriate. Should a version of this rule be adopted in the future along the lines originally proposed, it could provide economic incentives for companies that produce electricity from coal, among other fuels, which could either slow or stabilize the trend in the shuttering of coal-fired power plants and could thereby maintain certain levels of domestic demand for coal. W cannot speculate on the timing or nature of any subsequent FERC or grid operator actions resulting from the FERC’s decision to further study the issue of grid resiliency.

Employees

We and our subsidiaries employed 635 full-time employees as of December 31, 2017. None of the employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We believe that we have good relations with these employees and since its inception it has had no history of work stoppages or union organizing campaigns.

Available Information

Our internet address is http://www.royalenergy.us , and we make available free of charge on our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and Forms 3, 4 and 5 for our Section 16 filers (and amendments and exhibits, such as press releases, to such filings) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file with or furnish such material to the SEC. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this report and does not constitute a part of this report.

We file or furnish annual, quarterly and current reports and other documents with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Additionally, the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov, contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC.