SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

The accompanying consolidated financial statements represent the consolidated operations of the Partnership and our subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interests are separately disclosed on the financial statements. Inter-partnership balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The operations of certain pipelines and terminals in which we own an undivided interest are proportionately consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an ongoing basis, management reviews their estimates based on currently available information. Management may revise estimates due to changes in facts and circumstances.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when acquired.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable represent valid claims against non-affiliated customers for products sold or services rendered. We extend credit terms to certain customers after review of various credit indicators, including the customer’s credit rating. Outstanding customer receivable balances are regularly reviewed for possible non-payment indicators and allowances for doubtful accounts are recorded based upon management’s estimate of collectability at the time of their review.

Inventories

Inventories consist of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and materials and supplies. Inventories, except those associated with a qualifying fair value hedge, are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the weighted-average cost method. Our inventory, other than materials and supplies, consists of one end-product category, petroleum products, which we include in the fuels marketing segment. Accordingly, we determine lower of cost or market adjustments on an aggregate basis. Inventories associated with qualifying fair value hedges are valued at current market prices. Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or market.

Property, Plant and Equipment

We record additions to property, plant and equipment, including reliability and strategic capital expenditures, at cost. Repair and maintenance costs associated with existing assets that are minor in nature and do not extend the useful life of existing assets are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. When property or equipment is retired, sold or otherwise disposed of, the difference between the carrying value and the net proceeds is recognized in “Other income, net” in the consolidated statements of income in the year of disposition.

We capitalize overhead costs and interest costs incurred on funds used to construct property, plant and equipment while the asset is under construction. The overhead costs and capitalized interest are recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life as a component of depreciation expense.

Goodwill

We assess goodwill for impairment annually on October 1, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate it might be impaired. We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. We performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2015 and 2014, and we determined that no impairment charges occurred. See Note 11 for a discussion of the goodwill impairment recognized in 2013.

We calculate the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units using a weighted-average of values calculated using an income approach and a market approach. The income approach involves estimating the fair value of each reporting unit by discounting its estimated future cash flows using a discount rate that would be consistent with a market participant’s assumption. The market approach bases the fair value measurement on information obtained from observed stock prices of public companies and recent merger and acquisition transaction data of comparable entities.

Our reporting units to which goodwill has been allocated consist of the following:


•	crude oil pipelines;


•	refined product pipelines;


•	refined product terminals, excluding our St. Eustatius and Point Tupper facilities; and


•	bunkering activity at our St. Eustatius and Point Tupper facilities.

The quantitative impairment test for goodwill consists of a two-step process. Step 1 compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill. The carrying value of each reporting unit equals the total identified assets (including goodwill) less the sum of each reporting unit’s identified liabilities. We used reasonable and supportable methods to assign the assets and liabilities to the appropriate reporting units in a consistent manner. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, there is a potential impairment and step 2 must be performed to determine the amount of goodwill impairment. Step 2 compares the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its implied fair value using a hypothetical allocation of the reporting unit’s fair value. If the goodwill carrying value exceeds its implied fair value, the excess is reported as impairment.

Investment in Joint Ventures

We account for investment in the joint ventures using the equity method of accounting. We reported our ownership interest in our equity method investments within “Investment in joint ventures” on the consolidated balance sheet and our portion of the results of operations for our equity method investments in “Equity in earnings (loss) of joint ventures” in the consolidated statements of income (loss). On January 2, 2015, we acquired full ownership of ST Linden Terminal, LLC (Linden), which owns a refined products terminal in Linden, NJ with 4.3 million barrels of storage capacity (the Linden Acquisition). See Note 4 for additional information on the Linden Acquisition. On February 26, 2014, we sold our remaining 50% ownership interest in Axeon Specialty Products LLC. See Note 5 for additional discussion.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We review long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We evaluate recoverability using undiscounted estimated net cash flows generated by the related asset or asset group. If the results of that evaluation indicate that the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset (i.e., the asset is not recoverable) we perform an impairment analysis. If our intent is to hold the asset for continued use, we determine the amount of impairment as the amount by which the net carrying value exceeds its fair value. If our intent is to sell the asset, and the criteria required to classify an asset as held for sale are met, we determine the amount of impairment as the amount by which the net carrying amount exceeds its fair value less costs to sell. We believe that the carrying amounts of our long-lived assets as of December 31, 2015 are recoverable. See Note 5 for a discussion of impairments of long-lived assets recognized in 2013.

Income Taxes

We are a limited partnership and generally are not subject to federal or state income taxes. Accordingly, our taxable income or loss, which may vary substantially from income or loss reported for financial reporting purposes, is generally included in the federal and state income tax returns of our partners. For transfers of publicly held units subsequent to our initial public offering, we have made an election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) to adjust the common unit purchaser’s tax basis in our underlying assets to reflect the purchase price of the units. This results in an allocation of taxable income and expenses to the purchaser of the common units, including depreciation deductions and gains and losses on sales of assets, based upon the new unitholder’s purchase price for the common units.

We conduct certain of our operations through taxable wholly owned corporate subsidiaries. We account for income taxes related to our taxable subsidiaries using the asset and liability method. Under this method, we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We measure deferred taxes using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

We recognize a tax position if it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained, based on the technical merits of the position, upon examination. We record uncertain tax positions in the financial statements at the largest amount of benefit that is more-likely-than-not to be realized. We had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

NuStar Energy and certain of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. For U.S. federal and state purposes, as well as for our major non-U.S. jurisdictions, tax years subject to examination are 2011 through 2014, according to standard statute of limitations.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We record a liability for asset retirement obligations at the fair value of the estimated costs to retire a tangible long-lived asset at the time we incur that liability, which is generally when the asset is purchased, constructed or leased, when we have a legal obligation to incur costs to retire the asset and when a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the obligation can be made. If a reasonable estimate cannot be made at the time the liability is incurred, we record the liability when sufficient information is available to estimate the fair value.

We have asset retirement obligations with respect to certain of our assets due to various legal obligations to clean and/or dispose of those assets at the time they are retired. However, these assets can be used for an extended and indeterminate period of time as long as they are properly maintained and/or upgraded. It is our practice and current intent to maintain our assets and continue making improvements to those assets based on technological advances. As a result, we believe that our assets have indeterminate lives for purposes of estimating asset retirement obligations because dates or ranges of dates upon which we would retire these assets cannot reasonably be estimated at this time. When a date or range of dates can reasonably be estimated for the retirement of any asset, we estimate the costs of performing the retirement activities and record a liability for the fair value of these costs.

We also have legal obligations in the form of leases and right-of-way agreements, which require us to remove certain of our assets upon termination of the agreement. However, these lease or right-of-way agreements generally contain automatic renewal provisions that extend our rights indefinitely or we have other legal means available to extend our rights. We have recorded a liability of approximately $0.6 million and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which is included in “Other long-term liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets, for conditional asset retirement obligations related to the retirement of terminal assets with lease and right-of-way agreements.

Environmental Remediation Costs

Environmental remediation costs are expensed and an associated accrual established when site restoration and environmental remediation and cleanup obligations are either known or considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. These environmental obligations are based on estimates of probable undiscounted future costs over a 20-year time period using currently available technology and applying current regulations, as well as our own internal environmental policies. The environmental liabilities have not been reduced by possible recoveries from third parties. Environmental costs include initial site surveys, costs for remediation and restoration and ongoing monitoring costs, as well as fines, damages and other costs, when estimable. Adjustments to initial estimates are recorded, from time to time, to reflect changing circumstances and estimates based upon additional information developed in subsequent periods.

Product Imbalances

We incur product imbalances as a result of variances in pipeline meter readings and volume fluctuations within the East Pipeline system due to pressure and temperature changes. We use quoted market prices as of the reporting date to value our assets and liabilities related to product imbalances. Product imbalance liabilities are included in “Accrued liabilities” and product imbalance assets are included in “Other current assets” in the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues for the pipeline segment are derived from interstate and intrastate pipeline transportation of refined product, crude oil and anhydrous ammonia. Transportation revenues (based on pipeline tariffs) are recognized as the refined product, crude oil or anhydrous ammonia is delivered out of the pipelines.

Revenues for the storage segment include fees for tank storage agreements, whereby a customer agrees to pay for a certain amount of storage in a tank over a period of time (storage lease revenues), and throughput agreements, whereby a customer pays a fee per barrel for volumes moving through our terminals for which we charge additional fees (throughput revenues). Our terminals also provide blending, additive injections, handling and filtering services for which we charge additional fees. Certain of our facilities charge fees to provide marine services such as pilotage, tug assistance, line handling, launch service, emergency response services and other ship services. Storage lease revenues are recognized when services are provided to the customer. Throughput revenues are recognized as refined products or crude oil are received in or delivered out of our terminal and as crude oil and certain other refinery feedstocks are received by the related refinery. Revenues for marine services are recognized as those services are provided.

Revenues from the sale of petroleum products, which are included in our fuels marketing segment, are recognized when product is delivered to the customer and title and risk pass to the customer.

We collect taxes on certain revenue transactions to be remitted to governmental authorities, which may include sales, use, value added and some excise taxes. These taxes are not included in revenue.

Income Allocation

Our net income for each quarterly reporting period is first allocated to the general partner in an amount equal to the general partner’s incentive distribution calculated based upon the declared distribution for the respective reporting period. We allocate the remaining net income among the limited and general partners in accordance with their respective 98% and 2% interests.

Net Income per Unit Applicable to Limited Partners

We have identified the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights as participating securities and use the two-class method when calculating the net income per unit applicable to limited partners, which is based on the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted net income per unit applicable to limited partners are the same as we have no potentially dilutive securities outstanding.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items. This process includes identification of the hedging instrument and the hedged transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged and how the hedging instrument’s effectiveness will be assessed. To qualify for hedge accounting, at inception of the hedge we assess whether the derivative instruments that are used in our hedging transactions are expected to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows or the fair value of the hedged items. Throughout the designated hedge period and at least quarterly, we assess whether the derivative instruments are highly effective and continue to qualify for hedge accounting. To assess the effectiveness of the hedging relationship both prospectively and retrospectively, we use regression analysis to calculate the correlation of the changes in the fair values of the derivative instrument and related hedged item.

We record commodity derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. We recognize mark-to-market adjustments for derivative instruments designated and qualifying as fair value hedges (Fair Value Hedges) and the related change in the fair value of the associated hedged physical inventory or firm commitment within “Cost of product sales.” For derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges (Cash Flow Hedges), we record the effective portion of mark-to-market adjustments as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income” (AOCI) until the underlying hedged forecasted transactions occur. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in “Cost of product sales.” Once a hedged transaction occurs, we reclassify the effective portion from AOCI to “Cost of product sales.” If it becomes probable that a hedged transaction will not occur, then the associated gains or losses are reclassified from AOCI to “Cost of product sales” immediately. For derivative instruments that have associated underlying physical inventory but do not qualify for hedge accounting (Economic Hedges and Other Derivatives), we record the mark-to-market adjustments in “Cost of product sales.”

Under the terms of our forward-starting interest rate swap agreements, we pay a fixed rate and receive a variable rate. We entered into the forward-starting swaps in order to hedge the risk of changes in the interest payments attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate during the period from the effective date of the swap to the issuance of the forecasted debt. We account for the forward-starting interest rate swaps as Cash Flow Hedges, and we recognize the fair value of each interest rate swap in the consolidated balance sheets. We record the effective portion of mark-to-market adjustments as a component of AOCI, and any hedge ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in “Interest expense, net.” The amount accumulated in AOCI is amortized into “Interest expense, net” as the forecasted interest payments occur or if the interest payments are probable not to occur.

We classify cash flows associated with our derivative instruments as operating cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows, except for receipts or payments associated with terminated forward-starting interest rate swap agreements, which are included in cash flows from financing activities. See Note 17 for additional information regarding our derivative financial instruments.

Operating Leases

We recognize rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including the impact of both scheduled rent increases and free or reduced rents (commonly referred to as “rent holidays”).

Unit-based Compensation

NuStar GP, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar GP Holdings, has adopted various long-term incentive plans that provide the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of NuStar GP, LLC with the right to grant employees and directors of NuStar GP, LLC and its affiliates providing services to NuStar Energy the right to receive NS common units. NuStar GP, LLC accounts for awards of NS common unit options, restricted units and performance awards at fair value as a derivative, whereby a liability for the award is recorded at inception. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the award are included in the determination of net income. NuStar GP, LLC determines the fair value of NS unit options using the Black-Scholes model at each reporting date. NuStar GP, LLC determines the fair value of NS restricted units and performance awards using the market price of NS common units at each reporting date. However, performance awards are earned only upon NuStar Energy’s achievement of an objective performance measure. NuStar GP, LLC records compensation expense each reporting period such that the cumulative compensation expense recognized equals the current fair value of the percentage of the award that has vested. NuStar GP, LLC records compensation expense related to NS unit options until such options are exercised, and compensation expense related to NS restricted units until the date of vesting.

NuStar GP Holdings has adopted a long-term incentive plan that provides the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of NuStar GP Holdings with the right to grant employees, consultants and directors of NuStar GP Holdings and its affiliates, including NuStar GP, LLC, rights to receive NSH common units. NuStar GP Holdings accounts for awards of NSH restricted units and unit options granted to its directors or employees of NuStar GP, LLC at fair value. The fair value of NSH unit options is determined using the Black-Scholes model at the grant date, and the fair value of the NSH restricted unit equals the market price of NSH common units at the grant date. NuStar GP Holdings recognizes compensation expense for NSH restricted units and unit options ratably over the vesting period based on the fair value of the units at the grant date.

Under these long-term incentive plans, certain awards provide that the grantee’s award vests immediately upon retirement. Compensation expense is recognized immediately if these awards are granted to retirement-eligible employees, as defined in each award. In addition, if, during a vesting period of a grant, the grantee will become retirement-eligible, then compensation expense associated with the grant is recognized from the grant date through the grantee’s retirement eligibility date.

We reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for the expenses resulting from grants of NS and NSH awards under our long-term incentive plans to employees and directors of NuStar GP, LLC. We include such compensation expense in “General and administrative expenses” on the consolidated statements of income. We do not reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for the expense resulting from NSH awards to non-employee directors of NuStar GP Holdings.

Margin Deposits

Margin deposits relate to our exchange-traded derivative contracts and generally vary based on changes in the value of the contracts. Margin deposits are included in “Other current assets” in the consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries are the local currency of the country in which the subsidiary is located, except for our subsidiaries located in St. Eustatius in the Caribbean (formerly the Netherlands Antilles), whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries with local functional currencies are translated to U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates, and income and expense items are translated to U.S. dollars at weighted-average exchange rates in effect during the period. These translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are included in “Other income, net” in the consolidated statements of income.