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ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION: (Details) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 69 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) item | Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION: |  |  |  |  |
Period after which successive reviews are required by the law (in years) |  |  | 5 years |  |
Accepted value of the Lima office building | $ 27,800 |  | $ 27,800 |  | $ 27,800
Cumulative guarantee amount | 17,900 |  | $ 17,900 |  | 17,900
Number of units with future closure costs recognized as an asset retirement obligation | item |  |  | 3 |  |
Environmental costs |  |  |  |  |
Environmental remediation | 7,043 | $ 37,163 | $ 23,503 | $ 37,163 |
Asset retirement obligation activity |  |  |  |  |
Balance at the beginning of the period |  |  | 116,100 | 124,800 |
Changes in estimates |  |  |  | 26,700 |
Closure payments |  |  | (15,300) | (8,100) |
Accretion expense |  |  | 13,100 | 5,800 |
Balance at the end of the period | $ 113,900 | $ 149,200 | $ 113,900 | $ 149,200 | 113,900
Mexico |  |  |  |  |
Environmental costs |  |  |  |  |
Plant demolition and soil remediation budgeted cost |  |  |  |  | 62,400
Environmental remediation |  |  |  |  | $ 62,200

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- Definition The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190 + Details
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- Definition Total anticipated costs associated with remediation, site restoration, postclosure, monitoring commitments, or other exit costs that may occur on the sale, disposal, or abandonment of a particular property resulting from unanticipated contamination of the assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section Y -Paragraph Question 4 + Details
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