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EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS 
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

12. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

        The following table provides the components for the net periodic benefit (income) for all of our pension plans:

 
   Three months ended
September 30,		   Nine months ended
September 30,		  
In thousands
  2011   2010   2011   2010  

Components of net periodic benefit (income):

                          

Interest cost

   $ 1,819   $ 1,882   $ 5,523   $ 5,809  

Expected return on assets

     (2,387 )   (2,463 )   (7,156 )   (7,388 )

Amortization of:

                          
 

Prior service credit

     1     3     3     3  
 

Actuarial loss recognized due to settlement

           —     591     —  
 

Actuarial loss

     251     187     745     595  
                   

Total net periodic benefit (income)

   $ (316 ) $ (391 ) $ (294 ) $ (981 )
                   

        Our major assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit (income) for our U.S. pension plans are presented as follows:

 
   Nine months
ended
September 30,		  
 
   2011   2010  

Discount rate

     5.55 %   6.00 %

Expected return on assets

     8.50 %   8.75 %

        The use of different estimates or assumptions could result in materially different determinations.

        In connection with the closure of our Sarnia, Ontario PVC resin manufacturing facility in December 2008, we decided to wind up the Canadian pension plan. All future benefit obligations for this pension plan were fully funded in February 2011 with a contribution in the amount of approximately $0.8 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we made contributions of nil and $0.5 million, respectively, to the Canadian pension plan.

        For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we made no contributions to the U.S. pension plan. We made contributions in the form of direct benefit payments for the U.S. pension plans in the nine months ended for both September 30, 2011 and 2010 of approximately $0.4 million, respectively. There were no contributions in the form of direct benefit payment to the U.S. pension plans in either of the three month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.