v2.4.0.8

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $) |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2013 Asphalt JV [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Fair Value Level 3 | Dec. 31, 2013 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Fair Value Level 3 Contingent consideration [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Fair Value Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate |  |  |  |  | 11.00% |
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, Low |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High |  |  |  |  | 1,300,000 |
Guarantees liability |  |  |  | 1,900,000 |  |
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted |  |  | 79,700,000 | 79,700,000 |  |
Number of Guarantees with Unlimited Exposure |  |  | 2 | 2 |  |
Assets held for sale | 21,987,000 | 118,334,000 |  |  |  | 22,000,000
Investment in joint ventures | $ 68,735,000 | $ 102,945,000 | $ 0 |  |  |

X
- Definition Number of guarantees that do not specify a maximum amount. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ns_NumberOfGuaranteesWithUnlimitedExposure
Namespace Prefix: | ns_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Current assets (normally turning over within one year or one business cycle if longer) that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold within one year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e6927-128479 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition For contingent consideration arrangements and indemnification assets recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the low-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e6927-128479 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueLow
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33749-111570 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bbb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueInputsLiabilitiesQuantitativeInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value portion of guarantee, including, but not limited to, financial standby letter of credit, fair value guarantee, guarantee of collection of scheduled contractual cash flows from financial assets, and contracts that contingently require the guarantor to make payments or perform services. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12201-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant