BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s defined benefit plans and for the Company’s other postretirement employee benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:

Defined Benefit Plans	Three Months Ended
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Service cost	$	2,978		$	2,434
Interest cost	2,691			2,187
Expected return on plan assets	(1,225		)	(1,216		)
Amortization of prior service cost	(37		)	20
Amortization of net loss	498			383
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,905		$	3,808

Other Postretirement Plans	Three Months Ended
(in thousands)	2012		2011
Service cost	$	19	$	16
Interest cost	117		138
Amortization of net loss	58		49
Net periodic benefit cost	$	194	$	203

Information Related to the Contributions to the Compnay's Benefit Plans

The following sets forth the information related to the contributions to the Company’s benefit plans for 2012:

(in thousands)	Pension Benefits		Other Postretirement Benefits
Actual contributions through March 31, 2012	$	3,404	$	178
Projected for the remainder of the year	8,782		800
Total for year	$	12,186	$	978