Pension Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Defined Benefit Plan [Abstract]

Pension Benefits

Note 8 - Pension Benefits

Pension Plans

The Company has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering employees who meet age and service requirements and who began employment with the Company prior to January 1, 2016 (the “Qualified Pension Plan”). The Company also has a supplemental non-contributory pension plan covering certain management employees (the “Nonqualified Pension Plan” and together with the Qualified Pension Plan, the “Pension Plans”). The Company froze the Pension Plans to new participants, effective as of January 1, 2016. Employees participating in the Pension Plans prior to the plans being frozen will continue to earn benefits.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Pension Plans

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(in thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	1,395		$	1,683
Interest cost	698			656
Expected return on plan assets that reduces periodic pension benefit cost	(393		)	(466		)
Amortization of prior service cost	4			4
Amortization of net actuarial loss	240			332
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,944		$	2,209

Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of active participants. Gains and losses in excess of 10 percent of the greater of the benefit obligation or the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants. The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost for the Pension Plans is presented as an operating expense within the general and administrative and exploration expense line items on the accompanying statements of operations while the other components of net periodic benefit cost for the Pension Plans are presented as non-operating expenses within the other non-operating expense, net line item on the accompanying statements of operations.

Contributions

As of the filing of this report, the Company has contributed $3.3 million to the Qualified Pension Plan in 2020.