EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Schedule of reconciliation of the changes in the pension benefit obligations, fair value of Pension Plan assets and statement of the funded status

		2011			2010
			(in thousands)
Accumulated Benefit Obligation		$	104,911		$	102,097
Changes in projected benefit obligations
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	102,097		$	89,996
	Interest cost		4,519			4,825
	Actuarial gain		2,411			11,482
	Benefits paid		(4,116	)		(4,206	)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year		$	104,911		$	102,097
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		$	61,388		$	57,181
	Actual return on plan assets		(1,323	)		5,005
	Employer contribution		11,335			3,408
	Benefits paid		(4,116	)		(4,206	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		$	67,284		$	61,388
Funded status of the plan at end of year		$	(37,627	)	$	(40,709	)
The amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):
	Accrued liabilities	$	(68	)	$	(181	)
	Noncurrent liabilities – other		(37,559	)		(40,528	)
	Net amount recognized	$	(37,627	)	$	(40,709	)
The amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income at September 30, 2011 and 2010, and not yet reflected in net periodic benefit cost, are as follows (in thousands):
Net actuarial gain (loss)		$	(43,781	)	$	(38,001	)
Prior service cost			(2	)		(2	)
Total		$	(43,783	)	$	(38,003	)

Schedule of weighted average assumptions used for the pension calculations

Years Ended September 30,	2011		2010		2009
Discount rate for net periodic benefit costs		4.48%		5.42%		7.25%
Discount rate for year-end obligations		4.33%		4.48%		5.42%
Expected return on plan assets		8.00%		8.00%		8.00%

Schedule of components of the net periodic pension expense (benefit)

Years Ended September 30,	2011			2010			2009
		(in thousands)
Interest cost	$	4,519		$	4,825		$	4,988
Expected return on plan assets		(5,050	)		(4,552	)		(4,643	)
Amortization of prior service cost		—			—			(1	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		2,976			2,295			3
Settlement/curtailment		28			—			—
Net pension expense (benefit)	$	2,473		$	2,568		$	347

Schedule of expected benefits to be paid from pension plan

Years Ended September 30,
2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017-2021		Total
$	6,171	$	5,626	$	5,278	$	5,965	$	6,678	$	35,649	$	65,367

Schedule of target allocation and the asset allocation for the Pension Plan

		Target Allocation		Percentage of Plan Assets At September 30,
Asset Category		2012		2011		2010
U.S. equities			56%		56%		53%
International equities			14		13		15
Fixed income			25		30		31
Real estate and other			5		1		1
	Total		100%		100%		100%

Schedule of fair value of plan assets, summarized by level within fair value hierarchy

			Fair Value as of September 30, 2011
			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
				(in thousands)
Short-term investments			$	156	$	156	$	—	$	—
Mutual funds:
	Domestic stock funds			28,288		28,288		—		—
	Bond funds			20,127		20,127		—		—
	International stock funds			8,848		8,848		—		—
		Total mutual funds		57,263		57,263		—		—
Domestic common stock				8,252		8,252		—		—
Common collective trust				535		—		535		—
Foreign equity stock				803		803		—		—
Oil and gas properties				275		—		—		275
Total			$	67,284	$	66,474	$	535	$	275

			Fair Value as of September 30, 2010
			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
				(in thousands)
Short-term investments			$	63	$	63	$	—	$	—
Mutual funds:
	Domestic stock funds			17,858		17,858		—		—
	Bond funds			18,872		18,872		—		—
	International stock funds			8,956		8,956		—		—
		Total Mutual funds		45,686		45,686		—		—
Domestic common stock				13,710		13,710		—		—
Common collective trust				785		—		785		—
Foreign equity stock				869		869		—		—
Oil and gas properties				275		—		—		275
Total			$	61,388	$	60,328	$	785	$	275

Summary of changes in fair value of plan's Level 3 assets

	Oil and Gas Properties
Years Ended September 30,	2011		2010
		(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year	$	275	$	435
Unrealized losses relating to property still held at the reporting date		—		(160	)
Balance, end of year	$	275	$	275