INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

INCOME TAXES [Abstract]

Components of Earnings From Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

in thousands	2016	2015	2014
Earnings from Continuing Operations
before Income Taxes
Domestic	$      513,721	$     293,547	$     264,473
Foreign	33,536	34,310	34,365
Total	$      547,257	$     327,857	$     298,838

Provision (Benefit) For Income Taxes from Continuing Operations

in thousands	2016	2015	2014
Income Tax Expense from
Continuing Operations
Current
Federal	$        72,506	$       67,521	$       47,882
State and local	14,774	14,035	18,983
Foreign	6,974	7,784	7,174
Total	$        94,254	$       89,340	$       74,039
Deferred
Federal	$        37,246	$       11,192	$       13,556
State and local	(6,647)	(4,888)	4,120
Foreign	(2)	(701)	(23)
Total	$        30,597	$         5,603	$       17,653
Total expense	$      124,851	$       94,943	$       91,692

Sources and Tax Effects of Differences Between Benefit from Income Taxes and Amount Computed by Applying Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Losses from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

dollars in thousands		2016		2015		2014
Income tax expense at the federal
statutory tax rate of 35%	$    191,540	35.0%	$    114,750	35.0%	$    104,594	35.0%
Expense (Benefit) from
Income Tax Differences
Statutory depletion	(32,230)	-5.9%	(27,702)	-8.4%	(25,774)	-8.6%
State and local income taxes, net of federal
income tax benefit 1	5,283	1.0%	5,945	1.8%	15,017	5.0%
U.S. production deduction	(8,790)	-1.6%	(5,099)	-1.6%	0	0.0%
Foreign tax credit carryforward	(6,513)	-1.2%	6,486	2.0%	0	0.0%
Permanently reinvested foreign earnings	(4,578)	-0.8%	(6,396)	-2.0%	0	0.0%
Share-based compensation 2	(22,443)	-4.1%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Other, net	2,582	0.4%	6,959	2.2%	(2,145)	-0.7%
Total income tax expense/
Effective tax rate	$    124,851	22.8%	$      94,943	29.0%	$      91,692	30.7%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability

in thousands	2016	2015
Deferred Tax Assets Related to
Employee benefits	$        85,123	$       78,999
Asset retirement obligations & other reserves	63,617	59,507
Deferred compensation	103,947	117,298
State net operating losses	54,498	61,658
Federal credit carryforwards	18,139	34,340
Other	44,843	48,856
Total gross deferred tax assets	370,167	400,658
Valuation allowance	(44,237)	(59,323)
Total net deferred tax assets	$      325,930	$     341,335
Deferred Tax Liabilities Related to
Property, plant & equipment	$      664,763	$     665,057
Goodwill/other intangible assets	327,666	324,910
Other	36,355	32,464
Total deferred tax liabilities	$   1,028,784	$  1,022,431
Net deferred tax liability	$      702,854	$     681,096

Changes in Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits

in thousands	2016	2015	2014
Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1	$          8,447	$        7,057	$      12,155
Increases for tax positions related to
Prior years	1,368	491	229
Current year	1,040	942	528
Decreases for tax positions related to
Prior years	0	0	(53)
Settlements with taxing authorities	0	0	0
Expiration of applicable statute of limitations	(27)	(43)	(5,802)
Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31	$        10,828	$        8,447	$        7,057