Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Abstract]

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 September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits						Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
(in thousands)	2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010
Service cost	$	2,951		$	2,853		$	28		$	29		$	8,852		$	8,559		$	85		$	89
Interest cost		9,555			9,024			156			190			28,666			27,072			441			564
Expected return on plan assets		(12,585	)		(10,856	)		—			—			(37,757	)		(32,570	)		—			—
Amortization of prior service cost		105			135			(127	)		—			314			405			(177	)		—
Amortization of net loss (gain)		1,685			1,743			43			(40	)		5,054			5,228			(75	)		(120	)
Net periodic cost	$	1,711		$	2,899		$	100		$	179		$	5,129		$	8,694		$	274		$	533

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 $16.1 million and $1.0 million have been contributed during the first nine months of 2011, respectively. The Company contributed $39.4 million to its defined benefit plans and $1.1 million to its other postretirement benefit plans during the first nine 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.