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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of TNCLP and the accompanying notes include the accounts of the Partnership. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Income is allocated to the General Partner and the limited partners in accordance with the provisions of the TNCLP agreement of limited partnership that provides for allocations of income between the limited partners and the General Partner in the same proportion as cash distributions declared during the year.
Revenue Recognition
The basic criteria necessary for revenue recognition are: 1) evidence that a sales arrangement exists, 2) delivery of goods has occurred, 3) the seller's price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectability is reasonably assured. The title and risk of loss passes to an affiliate of the General Partner as the product is shipped from the plant gate. We recognize revenue when these criteria have been met and when title and risk of loss have been transferred to an affiliate of the General Partner.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.
Due to/from Affiliates of General Partner
We receive cash and make expenditures directly from our cash accounts. Because we sell our products to and receive payroll and other related services from affiliates of the General Partner, the affiliates of the General Partner continue to be both debtors and creditors to us.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable are recorded at face amounts less an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance is an estimate based on historical collection experience, current economic and market conditions, and a review of the current status of each customer's trade accounts receivable. A receivable is past due if payments have not been received within the agreed upon invoice terms. Account balances are charged-off against the allowance when management determines that it is probable the receivable will not be recovered.
Inventories
Inventories are reported at the lower of cost or market and are determined on a first-in, first-out or average cost basis. Inventories include the cost of materials, production labor and production overhead. Market value is reviewed quarterly. Fixed production costs related to idle capacity are not included in the cost of inventories but are charged directly to cost of sales.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method. Depreciable lives range from 10 to 40 years for buildings and 5 to 30 years for machinery and equipment. We periodically review these depreciable lives and change the estimates to reflect the results of those reviews.
Scheduled inspections, replacements and overhauls of plant machinery and equipment at our continuous process manufacturing facility are referred to as plant turnarounds. Plant turnarounds are accounted for under the deferral method, as opposed to the direct expense or built-in overhaul methods. Under the deferral method, expenditures related to turnarounds are capitalized when incurred and amortized to production costs on a straight-line basis over the period benefited, which is until the next scheduled turnaround in up to 5 years. If the direct expense method were used, all turnaround costs would be expensed as incurred. Internal employee costs and overhead amounts are not considered turnaround costs and are not capitalized. Turnaround costs are classified as investing activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows. For additional information, see Note 9—Property, Plant and Equipment, Net.
Recoverability of Long-Lived Assets
We review property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets in order to assess recoverability based on expected future undiscounted cash flows whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected future net cash flows is less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized. The impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset.
Leases
Leases are classified as either operating leases or capital leases. Assets acquired under capital leases are depreciated on the same basis as property, plant and equipment. We currently do not have any capital leases. Rental payments, including rent holidays, leasehold incentives, and scheduled rent increases are expensed on a straight-line basis. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the depreciable lives of the corresponding fixed assets or the lease term including any applicable renewals.
Income Taxes
As a partnership, we are not subject to income taxes. For additional information, see Note 1—Background and Basis of Presentation. The income tax liability of the individual partners is not reflected in our consolidated financial statements.
Derivative Financial Instruments
Natural gas is the principal raw material used to produce nitrogen fertilizers. We use natural gas both as a chemical feedstock and as a fuel to produce ammonia and UAN. We manage the risk of changes in natural gas prices primarily through the use of derivative financial instruments. The derivative instruments that we use are primarily fixed price swaps and options traded in the over-the-counter markets. These derivatives reference NYMEX futures contract prices, which represent the basis for fair value at any given time. The derivatives are traded in months forward and settlements are scheduled to coincide with anticipated gas purchases during those future periods. We do not use derivatives for trading purposes and are not a party to any leveraged derivatives.
Derivatives are recognized on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Cash flows related to natural gas derivatives are reported as operating activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.
Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations (AROs) are legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operation of such assets. AROs are initially recognized as liabilities as incurred when sufficient information exists to estimate fair value. When initially recognized, the fair value based on discounted future cash flows is recorded both as a liability and an increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. In subsequent periods, depreciation of the asset and accretion of the liability are recorded. For additional information on AROs, see Note 11—Asset Retirement Obligations.
Environmental
Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations are expensed. Expenditures that increase the capacity or extend the useful life of an asset, improve the safety or efficiency of the operations, or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized. Liabilities are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Environmental liabilities are not discounted.
Litigation
From time to time, the Partnership is subject to ordinary, routine legal proceedings related to the usual conduct of its business. The Partnership also is involved in legal proceedings regarding public utility and transportation rates, environmental matters, taxes and permits relating to the operations of its plant and facilities. Accruals for such contingencies are recorded to the extent management concludes their occurrence is probable and the financial impact of an adverse outcome is reasonably estimable. Disclosure for specific legal contingencies is provided if the likelihood of occurrence is at least reasonably possible and the exposure is considered material to the consolidated financial statements. In making determinations of likely outcomes of litigation matters, many factors are considered. These factors include, but are not limited to, past history, scientific and other evidence, and the specifics and status of each matter. If the assessment of various factors changes, the estimates may change. Predicting the outcome of claims and litigation, and estimating related costs and exposure involves substantial uncertainties that could cause actual costs to vary materially from estimates and accruals.