INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

INCOME TAXES [Abstract]

Components of Earnings From Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

in thousands	2018	2017	2016
Earnings from Continuing Operations
before Income Taxes
Domestic	$      593,446	$     346,668	$     513,721
Foreign	29,844	14,648	33,536
Total	$      623,290	$     361,316	$     547,257

Provision (Benefit) For Income Taxes from Continuing Operations

in thousands	2018	2017	2016
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) from
Continuing Operations
Current
Federal	$        21,111	$       (7,416)	$      72,506
State and local	15,127	4,661	14,774
Foreign	4,278	3,109	6,974
Total	$        40,516	$           354	$      94,254
Deferred
Federal	$        59,216	$  (202,184)	$      37,246
State and local	8,369	(30,052)	(6,647)
Foreign	(2,652)	(193)	(2)
Total	$        64,933	$  (232,429)	$      30,597
Total expense (benefit)	$      105,449	$  (232,075)	$    124,851

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	2018		2017		2016
Income tax expense at the federal
statutory tax rate	$    130,891	21.0%	$    126,461	35.0%	$    191,540	35.0%
Expense (Benefit) from
Income Tax Differences
Statutory depletion	(21,733)	-3.5%	(28,995)	-8.0%	(32,230)	-5.9%
State and local income taxes, net of federal
income tax benefit	18,562	3.0%	8,115	2.2%	10,074	1.9%
Share-based compensation	(16,551)	-2.7%	(20,740)	-5.7%	(22,443)	-4.1%
Uncertain tax positions	(6,402)	-1.0%	1,062	0.3%	1,272	0.2%
Revaluation - deferred tax balances	0	0.0%	(301,567)	-83.5%	0	0.0%
AL NOL valuation allowance release	0	0.0%	(28,827)	-8.0%	(4,791)	-0.9%
U.S. production deduction	0	0.0%	2,452	0.7%	(8,790)	-1.6%
Transition tax	595	0.1%	12,301	3.4%	0	0.0%
Foreign tax credit carryforward	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	(6,513)	-1.2%
Other, net	87	0.0%	(2,337)	-0.6%	(3,268)	-0.6%
Total income tax expense (benefit)/
Effective tax rate	$    105,449	16.9%	$  (232,075)	-64.2%	$    124,851	22.8%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability

in thousands	2018	2017
Deferred Tax Assets Related to
Employee benefits	$        24,407	$       29,547
Incentive compensation	62,829	59,010
Asset retirement obligations & other reserves	55,822	47,116
State net operating losses	68,436	73,083
Federal credit carryforwards	0	51,284
Other	31,294	37,518
Total gross deferred tax assets	$      242,788	$     297,558
Valuation allowance	(29,680)	(29,723)
Total net deferred tax asset	$      213,108	$     267,835
Deferred Tax Liabilities Related to
Property, plant & equipment	$      510,604	$     490,459
Goodwill/other intangible assets	233,471	216,039
Other	36,316	25,418
Total deferred tax liabilities	$      780,391	$     731,916
Net deferred tax liability	$      567,283	$     464,081

Changes in Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits

in thousands	2018	2017	2016
Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1	$        11,643	$       10,828	$         8,447
Increases for tax positions related to
Prior years	0	27	1,368
Current year	698	1,039	1,040
Decreases for tax positions related to
Prior years	(655)	(204)	0
Settlements with taxing authorities	0	0	0
Expiration of applicable statute of limitations	(8,025)	(47)	(27)
Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31	$          3,661	$       11,643	$       10,828