7. Equity Investments and Membership Interests in Joint Ventures

The Company accounts for its investments and membership interests in joint ventures under the equity method of accounting if the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the entity. Below are the equity method investments reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:


		Knight Hawk			DKRW			DTA			Tenaska			Millennium			Tongue River		Total
											(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	131,250		$	21,961		$	14,472		$	9,768		$	—		$	—	$	177,451
Investments in affiliates		—			—			—			5,500			25,000			12,989		43,489
Advances to (distributions from) affiliates, net		(11,450	)		—			4,394			—			1,900			—		(5,156	)
Equity in comprehensive income (loss)		15,807			(1,631	)		(3,713	)		(2	)		(1,561	)		—		8,900
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	135,607		$	20,330		$	15,153		$	15,266		$	25,339		$	12,989	$	224,684

Notes receivable from investees:
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	1,700		$	18,100		$	—		$	4,100		$	—		$	—	$	23,900
Balance at September 30, 2011		—			28,417			—			4,777			—			—		33,194

In July 2011, the Company purchased a 33% membership interest in the Tongue River Holding Company, LLC ("Tongue River") joint venture. Tongue River will construct and develop a railway line near Miles City, Montana and the Company's Otter Creek reserves. The Company has the right, upon completion of the railway line or under other prescribed circumstances, to require the other investors to purchase all of the Company's units in the venture at an amount equal to the capital contributions made by the Company at that time, less any distributions received.

In January 2011, the Company purchased a 38% ownership interest in Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview, LLC ("Millennium"), the owner of a brownfield bulk commodity terminal on the Columbia River near Longview, Washington, for $25.0 million, plus additional future consideration upon the completion of certain project milestones. Millennium continues to work on obtaining the required approvals and necessary permits to complete dredging and other upgrades to enable coal, alumina and cementitious material shipments through the terminal. The Company will control 38% of the terminal's throughput and storage capacity, in order to facilitate export shipments of coal off the west coast of the United States.

The Company may be required to make future contingent payments of up to $70.9 million related to development financing for certain of its equity investees. The Company's obligation to make these payments, as well as the timing of any payments required, is contingent upon a number of factors, including project development progress, receipt of permits and construction financing.