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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Employee Benefits and Share-based Compensation [Abstract]  
Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block]
The number of awards granted under the above-noted plans were as follows:
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
Vesting
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
2000 LTIP:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Performance awards
 
(a)
 
29,633

 
28,841

 
38,786

Restricted units (b)
 
1/5 per year
 
250,563

 
208,714

 
269,182

Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP, LLC)
 
1/3 per year
 
7,553

 
7,009

 
8,904

2006 LTIP:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted units
 
1/5 per year
 
26,240

 
16,895

 
18,620

Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP Holdings) (c)
 
1/3 per year
 
12,814

 
8,911

 
13,183

 
(a)
Performance awards vest 1/3 per year if certain performance measures are met, as defined in the award terms.
(b)
The 2000 LTIP restricted unit grants include 2,835, 2,844 and 3,882 restricted unit awards granted to certain international employees for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively, that vest 1/3 per year, as defined in the award terms.
(c)
We do not reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for compensation expense relating to these awards.
Schedule of Compensation Expense for Long Term Incentive Plans and Benefit Plans [Table Text Block]
Our share of compensation expense related to the benefit plans and long-term incentive plans sponsored by NuStar GP, LLC described above is as follows:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
(Thousands of Dollars)
Benefit plans
$
13,215

 
$
11,385

 
$
27,741

Long-term incentive plans
$
6,397

 
$
10,934

 
$
7,369