LEASES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
LEASES [Abstract]
LEASES	Note 2: Leases Our portfolio of nonmineral leases is composed of leases for real estate (including office buildings, aggregates sales yards and terminals, and concrete and asphalt sites) and equipment (including railcars and rail track, barges, and office, plant and mobile equipment). Lease right-of-use (ROU) assets and liabilities and the weighted-average lease terms and discount rates are as follows: September 30 December 31 September 30 dollars in thousandsClassification on the Balance Sheet2021 2020 2020 Assets Operating lease ROU assets $ 728,763 $ 482,513 $ 483,659 Accumulated amortization (71,882) (59,385) (52,432) Operating leases, netOperating lease right-of-use assets, net 656,881 423,128 431,227 Finance lease assets 125,624 7,796 7,003 Accumulated amortization (4,975) (1,640) (1,148) Finance leases, netProperty, plant & equipment, net 120,649 6,156 5,855 Total lease assets $ 777,530 $ 429,284 $ 437,082 Liabilities Current OperatingOther current liabilities$ 48,727 $ 36,969 $ 36,434 FinanceOther current liabilities 38,395 2,047 1,875 Noncurrent Operating Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 622,275 399,582 407,336 FinanceOther noncurrent liabilities 63,172 4,139 4,000 Total lease liabilities $ 772,569 $ 442,737 $ 449,645 Lease Term and Discount Rate Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) Operating leases 21.0 9.5 10.1 Finance leases 3.4 4.2 4.2 Weighted-average discount rate Operating leases3.9% 3.6% 3.9% Finance leases1.2% 1.4% 1.5% The increases in ROU assets and liabilities presented above primarily relate to the acquisition of U.S. Concrete (see Note 16 for additional information). Our lease agreements do not contain residual value guarantees, restrictive covenants or early termination options that we deem material. We have not sought or been granted any material lease concessions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The components of lease expense are as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30 September 30in thousands2021 2020 2021 2020 Lease Cost Finance lease cost Amortization of right-of-use assets$ 828 $ 449 $ 2,158 $ 1,122 Interest on lease liabilities 172 27 231 75 Operating lease cost 18,390 14,837 49,199 43,177 Short-term lease cost 1 7,717 7,787 17,878 24,507 Variable lease cost 2,225 3,236 7,696 10,141 Sublease income (668) (677) (2,325) (2,133) Total lease cost$ 28,664 $ 25,659 $ 74,837 $ 76,889 1Our short-term lease cost includes the cost of leases with an initial term of one month or less. Cash paid for operating leases was $44,592,000 and $40,456,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Cash paid for finance leases was $4,767,000 and $1,104,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

LEASES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Note 2: Leases Our portfolio of nonmineral leases is composed of leases for real estate (including office buildings, aggregates sales yards and terminals, and concrete and asphalt sites) and equipment (including railcars and rail track, barges, and office, plant and mobile equipment). Lease right-of-use (ROU) assets and liabilities and the weighted-average lease terms and discount rates are as follows: September 30 December 31 September 30 dollars in thousandsClassification on the Balance Sheet2021 2020 2020 Assets Operating lease ROU assets $ 728,763 $ 482,513 $ 483,659 Accumulated amortization (71,882) (59,385) (52,432) Operating leases, netOperating lease right-of-use assets, net 656,881 423,128 431,227 Finance lease assets 125,624 7,796 7,003 Accumulated amortization (4,975) (1,640) (1,148) Finance leases, netProperty, plant & equipment, net 120,649 6,156 5,855 Total lease assets $ 777,530 $ 429,284 $ 437,082 Liabilities Current OperatingOther current liabilities$ 48,727 $ 36,969 $ 36,434 FinanceOther current liabilities 38,395 2,047 1,875 Noncurrent Operating Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 622,275 399,582 407,336 FinanceOther noncurrent liabilities 63,172 4,139 4,000 Total lease liabilities $ 772,569 $ 442,737 $ 449,645 Lease Term and Discount Rate Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) Operating leases 21.0 9.5 10.1 Finance leases 3.4 4.2 4.2 Weighted-average discount rate Operating leases3.9% 3.6% 3.9% Finance leases1.2% 1.4% 1.5% The increases in ROU assets and liabilities presented above primarily relate to the acquisition of U.S. Concrete (see Note 16 for additional information). Our lease agreements do not contain residual value guarantees, restrictive covenants or early termination options that we deem material. We have not sought or been granted any material lease concessions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The components of lease expense are as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30 September 30in thousands2021 2020 2021 2020 Lease Cost Finance lease cost Amortization of right-of-use assets$ 828 $ 449 $ 2,158 $ 1,122 Interest on lease liabilities 172 27 231 75 Operating lease cost 18,390 14,837 49,199 43,177 Short-term lease cost 1 7,717 7,787 17,878 24,507 Variable lease cost 2,225 3,236 7,696 10,141 Sublease income (668) (677) (2,325) (2,133) Total lease cost$ 28,664 $ 25,659 $ 74,837 $ 76,889 1Our short-term lease cost includes the cost of leases with an initial term of one month or less. Cash paid for operating leases was $44,592,000 and $40,456,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Cash paid for finance leases was $4,767,000 and $1,104,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.