Employee Benefit Plans

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans

7. Employee Benefit Plans

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s defined benefit and other postretirement plans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, included the following:

Components of Net Periodic	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
Benefit Cost	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(in thousands)
Service cost	$	2,360		$	2,350		$	4,720		$	4,699
Interest cost	6,517			6,326			13,034			12,652
Expected return on plan assets	(4,687		)	(4,156		)	(9,375		)	(8,313		)
Recognized net actuarial loss	90			102			180			205
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,280		$	4,622		$	8,559		$	9,243

The Company made contributions of $3.4 million and $5.3 million to its defined benefit and other postretirement plans during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, and expects to make contributions in the amount of $6.7 million during the remainder of 2011.