INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

INCOME TAXES [Abstract]

Components of Earnings From Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

in thousands	2020	2019	2018
Earnings from Continuing Operations
before Income Taxes
Domestic	$      732,971	$     734,025	$     593,446
Foreign	10,827	23,676	29,844
Total	$      743,798	$     757,701	$     623,290

Provision (Benefit) For Income Taxes from Continuing Operations

in thousands	2020	2019	2018
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) from
Continuing Operations
Current
Federal	$        69,180	$       31,234	$       21,111
State and local	23,826	24,403	15,127
Foreign	942	3,304	4,278
Total	$        93,948	$       58,941	$       40,516
Deferred
Federal	$        50,890	$       67,810	$       59,216
State and local	10,798	8,660	8,369
Foreign	167	(213)	(2,652)
Total	$        61,855	$       76,257	$       64,933
Total expense	$      155,803	$     135,198	$     105,449

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	2020		2019		2018
Income tax expense at the federal
statutory tax rate	$    156,198	21.0%	$    159,117	21.0%	$    130,891	21.0%
Expense (Benefit) from
Income Tax Differences
Statutory depletion	(24,728)	-3.3%	(23,006)	-3.0%	(21,733)	-3.5%
State and local income taxes, net of federal
income tax benefit	27,352	3.7%	26,119	3.4%	18,562	3.0%
Share-based compensation	(6,877)	-0.9%	(17,277)	-2.3%	(16,551)	-2.7%
Uncertain tax positions	1,380	0.2%	1,822	0.2%	(6,402)	-1.0%
Transition tax	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	595	0.1%
Research and development credit	(2,650)	-0.4%	(9,490)	-1.3%	0	0.0%
Other, net	5,128	0.6%	(2,087)	-0.2%	87	0.0%
Total income tax expense/
Effective tax rate	$    155,803	20.9%	$    135,198	17.8%	$    105,449	16.9%

Components of Net Deferred Income Tax Liability

in thousands	2020	2019
Deferred Tax Assets Related to
Employee benefits	$        21,874	$       29,996
Incentive compensation	58,194	66,488
Asset retirement obligations & other reserves	58,327	55,033
State net operating losses	67,756	67,354
Other	25,362	44,169
Total gross deferred tax assets	$      231,513	$     263,040
Valuation allowance	(32,512)	(29,650)
Total net deferred tax asset	$      199,001	$     233,390
Deferred Tax Liabilities Related to
Property, plant & equipment	$      622,897	$     590,075
Goodwill/other intangible assets	252,209	238,712
Other	29,945	37,642
Total deferred tax liabilities	$      905,051	$     866,429
Net deferred tax liability	$      706,050	$     633,039

Changes in Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits

in thousands	2020	2019	2018
Unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1	$          5,442	$        3,661	$      11,643
Increases for tax positions related to
Prior years	353	273	0
Current year	1,884	3,224	698
Decreases for tax positions related to
Prior years	0	0	(655)
Expiration of applicable statute of limitations	(862)	(1,716)	(8,025)
Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31	$          6,817	$        5,442	$        3,661