PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT [Abstract]

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT

NOTE 4: PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT

Balances of major classes of assets and allowances for depreciation, depletion and amortization at December 31 are as follows:

in thousands	2020	2019
Property, Plant & Equipment
Land and land improvements 1	$    3,013,327	$  2,920,963
Buildings	145,418	141,898
Machinery and equipment	5,517,897	5,362,279
Finance leases (see Note 7)	7,796	1,677
Deferred asset retirement costs (see Note 17)	240,743	167,484
Construction in progress	176,905	154,917
Total, gross	$    9,102,086	$  8,749,218
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion
and amortization	4,676,087	4,433,180
Total, net	$    4,425,999	$  4,316,038

¹ Includes depletable land as follows: December 31, 2020 — $1,712,059 thousand and December 31, 2019 — $1,667,642 thousand.

Capitalized interest costs with respect to qualifying construction projects and total interest costs incurred before recognition of the capitalized amount for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

in thousands	2020	2019	2018
Capitalized interest cost	$          3,487	$        3,896	$        3,674
Total interest cost incurred before recognition
of the capitalized amount	139,447	134,051	141,651