FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

3.	FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments are as follows:

(Thousands)	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
As of December 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,341	$	1,341
Marketable securities		15,916		15,916
Short-term debt		175,822		175,822
Long-term debt, including current portion		364,372		449,968

As of September 30, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$	923	$	923
Marketable securities		14,833		14,833
Derivative instrument assets		5,702		5,702
Short-term debt		98,879		98,879
Long-term debt		364,357		443,739

As of December 31, 2010
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,208	$	1,208
Marketable securities		13,652		13,652
Derivative instrument assets		12,516		12,516
Short-term debt		166,360		166,360
Long-term debt		364,313		393,705

The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents and short-term debt approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments. The fair values of long-term debt are estimated based on market prices for similar issues. The fair values of marketable securities, derivative instrument assets, and derivative instrument liabilities are valued as described in Note 4, Fair Value Measurements.

- Definition

This item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the Company is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risk is are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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