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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS Narrative (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | ||
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
| Benefit Plan Costs, International Employees | $ 2.5 | $ 2.6 | $ 2.6 |
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General partner employees benefit plans
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| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
| Pension Plan, Description | The NuStar Pension Plan (the Pension Plan) is a qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that became effective July 1, 2006. The Pension Plan covers substantially all of NuStar GP, LLC’s employees and generally provides eligible employees with retirement income calculated under a final average pay formula (FAP) or a cash balance formula. Employees hired before January 1, 2011 are covered under FAP, which is based on years of service and compensation during their period of service, and employees become fully vested in their benefits upon attaining five years of vesting service. Employees hired on January 1, 2011 or after are covered under the cash balance formula, which is based on age and service and interest credits, and employees become fully vested in their benefits upon attaining three years of vesting service. Effective January 1, 2014, the Pension Plan was amended to freeze the FAP benefit as of December 31, 2013 and all employees will be covered under the cash balance formula. | ||
| Thrift Plan, Description | The NuStar Thrift Plan (the Thrift Plan) is a qualified employee profit-sharing plan that became effective June 26, 2006. Participation in the Thrift Plan is voluntary and is open to substantially all NuStar GP, LLC employees upon their date of hire, except for part-time employees (as defined in the Thrift Plan), who become eligible upon completing one year of service (as defined in the Thrift Plan). Thrift Plan participants can contribute from 1% up to 30% of their total annual compensation to the Thrift Plan in the form of pre-tax and/or after tax employee contributions. NuStar GP, LLC makes matching contributions in an amount equal to 100% of each participant’s employee contributions up to a maximum of 6% of the participant’s total annual compensation. | ||
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General partner employees benefit plans | The 2000 LTIP [Member]
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| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
| Unit-based compensation, number of units authorized | 3,250,000 | ||
| Unit-based compensation, number of units available to be awarded | 1,517,027 | ||
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General partner employees benefit plans | The 2006 LTIP [Member]
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| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
| Unit-based compensation, number of units authorized | 2,000,000 | ||
| Unit-based compensation, number of units available to be awarded | 1,494,177 | ||