Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

13. Fair Value Measurements

The hierarchy of fair value measurements prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The levels of the hierarchy, as defined below, give the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

·Level 1 is defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 1 assets include available-for-sale equity securities and coal futures that are submitted for clearing on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

·Level 2 is defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 prices. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company's level 2 assets and liabilities include commodity contracts (coal and heating oil) with fair values derived from quoted prices in over-the-counter markets or from prices received from direct broker quotes.

·Level 3 is defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. These include the Company's commodity option contracts (primarily coal and heating oil) valued using modeling techniques, such as Black-Scholes, that require the use of inputs, particularly volatility, that are rarely observable.

The table below sets forth, by level, the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet:

	Fair Value at December 31, 2011
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Investments in equity securities	$	7,540	$	7,540	$	—	$	—
Derivatives	24,129		12,361		1,450		10,318
Total assets	$	31,669	$	19,901	$	1,450	$	10,318
Liabilities:
Derivatives	$	7,828	$	—	$	3,721	$	4,107

The Company's contracts with certain of its counterparties allow for the settlement of contracts in an asset position with contracts in a liability position in the event of default or termination. For classification purposes, the Company records the net fair value of all the positions with these counterparties as a net asset or liability. Each level in the table above displays the underlying contracts according to their classification in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet, based on this counterparty netting.

The following table summarizes the change in the fair values of financial instruments categorized as level 3.

		Year Ended December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period		$	9,183
Realized and unrealized losses recognized in earnings, net		(16,727		)
Realized and unrealized losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net		(4,122		)
Purchases		23,867
Issuances		(2,160		)
Settlements		(3,830		)
Balance, end of period		$	6,211

Net unrealized losses during the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 related to level 3 financial instruments held on December 31, 2011 were $13.1 million.

Fair Value of Long-Term Debt

At December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the fair value of the Company's senior notes and other long-term debt, including amounts classified as current, was $4.2 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. Fair values are based upon observed prices in an active market when available or from valuation models using market information.