XML 30 R49.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Apr. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Apr. 30, 2013 Amended Ammonium Nitrate Supply Agreement [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Amended Bayer Agreement [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Chemical Business [Member] Plant | Sep. 30, 2013 Pryor Facility [Member] Cases | Apr. 19, 2013 Pryor Facility [Member] Cases | Sep. 30, 2013 Hallowell Facility [Member] Subsidiary | Sep. 30, 2013 Climate Control Business [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 Insurance Claims [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 El Dorado Facility [Member] Nitric Acid Plant [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 El Dorado Facility [Member] Ammonia Plant [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 El Dorado Facility [Member] Minimum [Member] Ammonia Plant [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 El Dorado Facility [Member] Maximum [Member] Ammonia Plant [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notice of termination |  |  | Required notice of termination from two years to one year. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Agreement term |  |  |  | 7 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated project cost to construct plant |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 120,000,000 |  |  |
Project costs capitalized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 35,900,000 | 29,800,000 |  |
Estimated cost for project ranges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 250,000,000 | 300,000,000
Accrued liabilities for environmental matters |  | 1,150,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Penalty related to discharge water permit |  | 124,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Alleged discharge water permit violation settlement amount |  | 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital cost in connection with construction of pipeline |  | 4,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated share of the annual operating costs of pipeline, minimum |  | 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated share of the annual operating costs of pipeline, maximum |  | 150,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating agreement maturity date |  | Dec. 31, 2053 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum penalty amount per day under Clean Air Act |  | 27,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of nitric acid affected plants |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Plants compliant with Clean Air Act |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum range of estimated capital cost to meet Clean Air Act emission rates |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum range of estimated capital cost to meet Clean Air Act emission rates |  |  |  |  | 3,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Plants requiring capital investment to achieve Clean Air Act compliance |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reforestation mitigation estimated project costs |  |  |  |  | 150,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of civil penalty to be paid |  |  |  |  | 725,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of civil penalty |  |  |  |  |  | 100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of alleged non-compliance issues |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of alleged violation resolved through a global settlement |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of alleged violations resolved through civil penalty payment |  |  |  |  |  | 11 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of subsidiaries under Chemical Business that sold their operating assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance coverage of general liability risks | 100,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product liability deductible per claim | 250,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 250,000 |  |  |  |  |
Professional fees |  | 168,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued general liability insurance claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 205,000 |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Accrued environmental liabilities as of the balance sheet date which are included in accrued and other liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_AccruedEnvironmentalLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Accrued general liability insurance claims as of the balance sheet date which are included in accrued and other liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_AccruedGeneralLiabilityInsuranceClaims
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of alleged violations resolved through a global settlement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_AllegedViolationResolvedViaGlobalSettlement
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of alleged violations resolved through payment of a civil penalty. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_AllegedViolationsResolvedViaCivilPenaltyPayment
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Civil penalty amount to be paid to environmental protection agency. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_CivilPenaltyAmountToBePaidToEnvironmentalProtectionAgency
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Civil penalty settlement amount to be paid to department of environmental quality. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_CivilPenaltySettlementAmountToBePaidToDepartmentOfEnvironmentalQuality
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | lxu_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Contract maturity date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_ContractMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Estimated cost of project. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_EstimatedCostOfProject
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated cost of a project. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_EstimatedProjectCosts
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The maximum estimated share of the annual operating cost of a wastewater pipeline used in the chemical operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_EstimatedShareOfAnnualOperatingCostOfPipelineMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The minimum estimated share of the annual operating cost of a wastewater pipeline used in the chemical operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_EstimatedShareOfAnnualOperatingCostOfPipelineMinimum
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Expected cost of construction of wastewater pipeline used in the chemical operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_ExpectedCostOfConstructionOfPipeline
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Insurance coverage of general liability and auto liability risks. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_InsuranceCoverageOfGeneralLiabilityAndAutoLiabilityRisks
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The estimated maximum amount of capital cost to achieve Clean Air Act emission rates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_MaximumEstimatedRangeCapitalCostToAchieveCleanAirActEmissionRates
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum penalty amount per day under Clean Air Act. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_MaximumPenaltyAmountPerDayUnderCleanAirAct
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated minimum amount of capital cost to achieve Clean Air Act emission rates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_MinimumEstimatedRangeCapitalCostToAchieveCleanAirActEmissionRates
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The notice of termination for an agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_NoticeOfTermination
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of alleged non-compliance issues identified. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_NumberOfAllegedNonComplianceIssues
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of nitric acid affected plants. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_NumberOfNitricAcidAffectedPlant
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of chemical subsidiaries that sold their operating assets consisting of the Hallowell Facility now classified as discontinued operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_NumberOfSubsidiariesUnderChemicalBusinessThatSoldTheirOperatingAssets
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Penalty related to discharge water permit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_PenaltyRelatedToDischargeWaterPermit
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of plants currently compliant with the Clean Air Act emission rates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_PlantsCompliantWithCleanAirAct
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Plants requiring capital investment to achieve Clean Air Act proposed emission rates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_PlantsRequiringCleanAirActCapitalInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Product liability deductible per claim. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_ProductLiabilityDeductiblePerClaim
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated costs to complete a reforestation mitigation project. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_ReforestationMitigationEstimatedProjectCosts
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The settlement amount related to alleged violations of a discharge water permit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_SettlementAmountRelatedToDischargeWaterPermit
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Term of the contract arrangement (excluding leases and derivatives), in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lxu_TermOfContract
Namespace Prefix: | lxu_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of structure or a modification to a structure under construction. Includes recently completed structures or modifications to structures that have not been placed into service. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition A fee charged for services from professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. The term is often expanded to include other professions, for example, pharmacists charging to maintain a medicinal profile of a client or customer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.2(a),(b),(c),(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 225 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (k) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488370&loc=d3e13550-115849 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProfessionalFees
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration