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Income Taxes
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
9. Income Taxes

The Company files income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction, in a limited number of foreign jurisdictions, and in many state jurisdictions. The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for years 2009 and 2010. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal, state or foreign income tax examinations for years before 2008.

The Company had $534,000 and $309,000 of unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change by approximately $400,000 in the following twelve months, related to the anticipated settlement of certain matters arising from the Company's former investment in Northwest Pipe Asia Pte. Ltd. ("NWPA") and the Company's defined benefit pension plans; however, actual results could differ from those currently expected.

 

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The Company provided for income taxes at estimated effective tax rates of 37.2% and 38.3% for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, respectively.