Employee Pension Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Employee Pension Benefits [Abstract]

Employee Pension Benefits

10. Employee Pension Benefits

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension benefit of the ESI Pension Plan and ESI Excess Pension Plan for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Interest cost		$608		$  846		$1,804		$2,286
Expected return on assets		(1,273)		(1,081)		(3,567)		(3,301)
Recognized net actuarial loss		400		684		1,352		1,438
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost		(474)		7		(1,166)		21
Net periodic pension (benefit)		($739)		$456		($1,577)		$444

The benefit accruals under the ESI Pension Plan and ESI Excess Pension Plan were frozen effective March 31, 2006. As a result, no service cost has been included in the net periodic pension benefit.

The rates at which interest is credited under the ESI Pension Plan and ESI Excess Pension Plan were changed effective January 1, 2011. This was the primary cause of the lower interest cost in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. This change also resulted in the recognition of a prior service credit, which is being amortized and is included in the net periodic pension benefit in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

We made no contributions to the ESI Pension Plan or the ESI Excess Pension Plan in the three or nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. We do not expect to make any contributions to the ESI Pension Plan or the ESI Excess Pension Plan in 2011.