Employee Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits

Retirement Plans

The net periodic benefit cost recognized for the three, nine and twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is made up of the components listed below as determined using the projected unit credit actuarial cost method (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Twelve Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	1,712		$	1,516		$	5,137		$	4,548		$	6,653		$	5,932
Interest cost	3,497			3,407			10,491			10,222			13,898			13,518
Amendments	—			—			—			—			838			—
Expected return on plan assets	(3,523		)	(3,467		)	(10,571		)	(10,400		)	(14,038		)	(14,259		)
Amortization of:
Net loss	1,636			887			4,908			2,661			5,796			3,067
Prior service cost	29			29			87			87			115			115
Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,351		$	2,372		$	10,052		$	7,118		$	13,262		$	8,373

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company contributed $13.4 million of its projected $13.9 million2011 annual contribution to its retirement plans.

Other Postretirement Benefits

The net periodic benefit cost recognized for the three, nine and twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2011 is made up of the components listed below (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended						Twelve Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,						September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010			2011			2010
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	747		$	889		$	2,241		$	2,668		$	3,131		$	3,516
Interest cost	1,345			1,666			4,034			4,998			5,700			6,621
Expected return on plan assets	(455		)	(382		)	(1,367		)	(1,147		)	(1,749		)	(1,521		)
Amortization of:
Prior service benefit	(1,482		)	(717		)	(4,445		)	(2,152		)	(5,162		)	(2,869		)
Net gain	(11		)	(44		)	(30		)	(131		)	(74		)	(131		)
Net periodic benefit cost	$	144		$	1,412		$	433		$	4,236		$	1,846		$	5,616

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company contributed $2.2 million to fund its entire annual contribution to its postretirement plan for 2011.