INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

INCOME TAXES [Abstract]

Components of Earnings From Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

in thousands	2019	2018	2017
Earnings from Continuing Operations
before Income Taxes
Domestic	$      734,025	$     593,446	$     346,668
Foreign	23,676	29,844	14,648
Total	$      757,701	$     623,290	$     361,316

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes from Continuing Operations

in thousands	2019	2018	2017
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) from
Continuing Operations
Current
Federal	$        31,234	$       21,111	$        (7,416)
State and local	24,403	15,127	4,661
Foreign	3,304	4,278	3,109
Total	$        58,941	$       40,516	$            354
Deferred
Federal	$        67,810	$       59,216	$   (202,184)
State and local	8,660	8,369	(30,052)
Foreign	(213)	(2,652)	(193)
Total	$        76,257	$       64,933	$   (232,429)
Total expense (benefit)	$      135,198	$     105,449	$   (232,075)

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

dollars in thousands	2019		2018		2017
Income tax expense at the federal
statutory tax rate	$    159,117	21.0%	$    130,891	21.0%	$    126,461	35.0%
Expense (Benefit) from
Income Tax Differences
Statutory depletion	(23,006)	-3.0%	(21,733)	-3.5%	(28,995)	-8.0%
State and local income taxes, net of federal
income tax benefit	26,119	3.4%	18,562	3.0%	8,115	2.2%
Share-based compensation	(17,277)	-2.3%	(16,551)	-2.7%	(20,740)	-5.7%
Uncertain tax positions	1,822	0.2%	(6,402)	-1.0%	1,062	0.3%
Revaluation - deferred tax balances	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	(301,567)	-83.5%
AL NOL valuation allowance release	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	(28,827)	-8.0%
Transition tax	0	0.0%	595	0.1%	12,301	3.4%
Research and development credit	(9,490)	-1.3%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Other, net	(2,087)	-0.2%	87	0.0%	115	0.1%
Total income tax expense (benefit)/
Effective tax rate	$    135,198	17.8%	$    105,449	16.9%	$  (232,075)	-64.2%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability

in thousands	2019	2018
Deferred Tax Assets Related to
Employee benefits	$        29,996	$       24,407
Incentive compensation	66,488	62,829
Asset retirement obligations & other reserves	55,033	55,822
State net operating losses	67,354	68,436
Other	44,169	31,294
Total gross deferred tax assets	$      263,040	$     242,788
Valuation allowance	(29,650)	(29,680)
Total net deferred tax asset	$      233,390	$     213,108
Deferred Tax Liabilities Related to
Property, plant & equipment	$      590,075	$     510,604
Goodwill/other intangible assets	238,712	233,471
Other	37,642	36,316
Total deferred tax liabilities	$      866,429	$     780,391
Net deferred tax liability	$      633,039	$     567,283

Changes in Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits

in thousands	2019	2018	2017
Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1	$          3,661	$       11,643	$       10,828
Increases for tax positions related to
Prior years	273	0	27
Current year	3,224	698	1,039
Decreases for tax positions related to
Prior years	0	(655)	(204)
Expiration of applicable statute of limitations	(1,716)	(8,025)	(47)
Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31	$          5,442	$         3,661	$       11,643