Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Derivative Financial Instruments

The following table presents our financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, including both current and noncurrent portions, as of September 30, 2011 and 2010:



	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
September 30, 2011
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments
Commodity contracts	$	27	$	41	$	—	$	68
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments
Commodity contracts	$	4,102	$	7,634	$	—	$	11,736
Interest rate contracts	$	—	$	18,585	$	—	$	18,585

September 30, 2010
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments
Commodity contracts	$	61	$	425	$	—	$	486
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments
Commodity contracts	$	3,263	$	17,798	$	—	$	21,061

The fair values of our Level 1 exchange-traded commodity futures and option derivative contracts and certain non exchange-traded electricity forward contracts are based upon actively-quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities. The fair values of the remainder of our derivative financial instruments and electricity forward contracts, which are designated as Level 2, are generally based upon recent market transactions and related market indicators.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities (excluding unsettled derivative instruments and current maturities of long-term debt) approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. The carrying amount and estimated fair value of our long-term debt at September 30, 2011 were $640,000 and $737,223, respectively. The carrying amount and estimated fair value of our long-term debt at September 30, 2010 were $640,000 and $749,227, respectively. We estimate the fair value of long-term debt by using current market rates and by discounting future cash flows using rates available for similar types of debt.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial 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 entity 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 risks 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.

+ References

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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+ Details