INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	Note 3: Income Taxes Our estimated annual effective tax rate (EAETR) is based on full-year expectations of pretax earnings, statutory tax rates, permanent differences between book and tax accounting such as percentage depletion, and tax planning alternatives available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. For interim financial reporting, we calculate our quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the EAETR. Each quarter, we update our EAETR based on our revised full-year expectation of pretax earnings and calculate the income tax provision so that the year-to-date income tax provision reflects the EAETR. Significant judgment is required in determining our EAETR. In the third quarter of 2016, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $52,062,000 compared to $45,386,000 in the third quarter of 2015. The increase in our income tax expense resulted largely from applying the statutory rate to the increase in our pretax earnings. For the first nine months of 2016, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $116,026,000 compared to $51,177,000 for the first nine months of 2015. The increase in our income tax expense resulted largely from applying the statutory rate to the increase in our pretax earnings. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities (which reflect our best assessment of the future taxes we will pay) based on the differences between the book basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets represent items to be used as a tax deduction or credit in future tax returns while deferred tax liabilities represent items that will result in additional tax in future tax returns. With our adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” as of December 31, 2015, all deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented as noncurrent. We adopted this standard prospectively and as a result, we did not restate periods prior to adoption. Each quarter we analyze the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized. Realization of the deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in either the carryback or carryforward period. A valuation allowance is recorded if, based on the weight of all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Based on our third quarter 2016 analysis, we believe it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefit of all our deferred tax assets with the exception of certain state net operating loss carryforwards. For December 31, 2016, we project deferred tax assets related to state net operating loss carryforwards of $55,318,000, of which $52,995,000 relates to Alabama. The Alabama net operating loss carryforward, if not utilized, would expire in years 2022 – 2029. Prior to 2015, we carried a full valuation allowance against this Alabama deferred tax asset as we did not expect to utilize any portion of it. During 2015, we restructured our legal entities which, among other benefits, resulted in a partial release of the valuation allowance in the amount of $4,655,000 during the third quarter of 2015. Our analyses over the last four quarters have confirmed our third quarter 2015 conclusion but resulted in no further reductions of the valuation allowance. We expect to further reduce, or possibly eliminate, this valuation allowance once we have returned to sustained profitability (as defined in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K), which we project could occur in the fourth quarter of 2016. We recognize a tax benefit associated with a tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained based upon the technical merits of the position. For a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold, we measure the income tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. A liability is established for the unrecognized portion of any tax benefit. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging legislation. A summary of our deferred tax assets is included in Note 9 “Income Taxes” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Note 3: Income Taxes

Our estimated annual effective tax rate (EAETR) is based on full-year expectations of pretax earnings, statutory tax rates, permanent differences between book and tax accounting such as percentage depletion, and tax planning alternatives available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. For interim financial reporting, we calculate our quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the EAETR. Each quarter, we update our EAETR based on our revised full-year expectation of pretax earnings and calculate the income tax provision so that the year-to-date income tax provision reflects the EAETR. Significant judgment is required in determining our EAETR.

In the third quarter of 2016, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $52,062,000 compared to $45,386,000 in the third quarter of 2015. The increase in our income tax expense resulted largely from applying the statutory rate to the increase in our pretax earnings.

For the first nine months of 2016, we recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $116,026,000 compared to $51,177,000 for the first nine months of 2015. The increase in our income tax expense resulted largely from applying the statutory rate to the increase in our pretax earnings.

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities (which reflect our best assessment of the future taxes we will pay) based on the differences between the book basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets represent items to be used as a tax deduction or credit in future tax returns while deferred tax liabilities represent items that will result in additional tax in future tax returns. With our adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” as of December 31, 2015, all deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented as noncurrent. We adopted this standard prospectively and as a result, we did not restate periods prior to adoption.

Each quarter we analyze the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized. Realization of the deferred tax assets ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in either the carryback or carryforward period. A valuation allowance is recorded if, based on the weight of all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Based on our third quarter 2016 analysis, we believe it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefit of all our deferred tax assets with the exception of certain state net operating loss carryforwards. For December 31, 2016, we project deferred tax assets related to state net operating loss carryforwards of $55,318,000, of which $52,995,000 relates to Alabama. The Alabama net operating loss carryforward, if not utilized, would expire in years 2022 – 2029. Prior to 2015, we carried a full valuation allowance against this Alabama deferred tax asset as we did not expect to utilize any portion of it. During 2015, we restructured our legal entities which, among other benefits, resulted in a partial release of the valuation allowance in the amount of $4,655,000 during the third quarter of 2015. Our analyses over the last four quarters have confirmed our third quarter 2015 conclusion but resulted in no further reductions of the valuation allowance. We expect to further reduce, or possibly eliminate, this valuation allowance once we have returned to sustained profitability (as defined in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K), which we project could occur in the fourth quarter of 2016.

We recognize a tax benefit associated with a tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained based upon the technical merits of the position. For a tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold, we measure the income tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. A liability is established for the unrecognized portion of any tax benefit. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging legislation.

A summary of our deferred tax assets is included in Note 9 “Income Taxes” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.