DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND AFFILATIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Loss before Income Taxes: [Abstract]
Income tax benefits	$ 90,000	$ 54,000	$ 296,000	$ 70,000
Loss from discontinued operations - net	(166,000)	(101,000)	(549,000)	(130,000)
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations, net [Abstract]
Basic	$ (0.006)	$ (0.003)	$ (0.019)	$ (0.005)
Diluted	$ (0.006)	$ (0.003)	$ (0.018)	$ (0.004)
Affiliations [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	7,300,000		7,300,000
Net advances to unconsolidated affiliates		36,500,000		36,500,000
Notes Receivable - affiliate	110,200,000		110,200,000		127,900,000
Notes receivable, secured by property, plant and equipment of affiliates	48,300,000		48,300,000
Interest accrual on secured notes receivable (in hundredths)	7.50%		7.50%
Repayment period, latest date			2025
Notes receivable, unsecured	61,900,000		61,900,000
Net asset - included in investment in affiliates and other noncurrent liabilities	28,900,000		28,900,000
Combined equity contributions and the notes receivable - affiliate			142,100,000
Sand Mining [Member]
Loss before Income Taxes: [Abstract]
Loss before income taxes	(157,000)	68,000	(351,000)	26,000
Fuel Oil [Member]
Loss before Income Taxes: [Abstract]
Loss before income taxes	$ (99,000)	$ (223,000)	$ (494,000)	$ (226,000)
Millennium Account Services [Member]
Affiliations [Abstract]
Equity interest (in hundredths)	50.00%		50.00%
LVE Energy Partners, LLC (LVE) [Member]
Affiliations [Abstract]
Equity interest (in hundredths)	50.00%		50.00%
Energenic US LLC [Member]
Affiliations [Abstract]
Equity interest (in hundredths)	50.00%		50.00%
Potato Creek, LLC (Potato Creek) [Member]
Affiliations [Abstract]
Equity interest (in hundredths)	30.00%		30.00%