Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

10. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The components of net periodic cost are as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,												Six Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands)	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits						Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	2,925		$	2,853		$	(58	)	$	30		$	5,901		$	5,706		$	57		$	60
Interest cost		9,984			9,024			(318	)		187			19,111			18,048			285			374
Expected return on plan assets		(13,365	)		(11,107	)		—			—			(25,172	)		(21,713	)		—			—
Amortization of prior service cost		107			135			52			—			209			270			(50	)		—
Amortization of net loss (gain)		1,391			1,743			125			(40	)		3,369			3,485			(118	)		(80	)
Net periodic cost	$	1,042		$	2,648		$	(199	)	$	177		$	3,418		$	5,796		$	174		$	354

The Company expects, based on current actuarial calculations, to contribute approximately $18 million to its defined benefit plans and $1 million to its other postretirement benefit plans in 2011, of which $9.9 million and $0.5 million have been contributed during the first six months of 2011, respectively. The Company contributed $5.8 million to its defined benefit plans and $0.4 million to its other postretirement benefit plans during the first six months of 2010. Cash contributions for subsequent years will depend on a number of factors, including the impact of the Pension Protection Act signed into law in 2006, changes in minimum funding requirements, long-term interest rates, the investment performance of plan assets and changes in employee census data affecting the Company's projected benefit obligations.