Pensions And Other Postretirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
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1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Feb. 28, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Pension Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Pension Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Other Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Other Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
SEI Opportunity Collective Fund [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
SEI Special Situations Fund [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Structured Credit [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Real Estate [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
North American Coal [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
North American Coal [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
North American Coal [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Postretirement Health Coverage [Member]
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans Of U S Entity Defined Benefit [Member]
Prior To Age 65 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Postretirement Health Coverage [Member]
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans Of U S Entity Defined Benefit [Member]
After Age 65 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Postretirement Health Coverage [Member]
Northshore [Member]
After Age 65 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
United States [Member]
Pension Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
United States [Member]
Pension Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
United States [Member]
Other Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
United States [Member]
Other Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Canada [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Canada [Member]
Pension Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Canada [Member]
Pension Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Canada [Member]
Other Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Canada [Member]
Other Benefits [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Lower Limit [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Lower Limit [Member]
Defined Benefit Postretirement Health Coverage [Member]
Northshore [Member]
Prior To Age 65 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Upper Limit [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Upper Limit [Member]
Defined Benefit Postretirement Health Coverage [Member]
Northshore [Member]
Prior To Age 65 [Member]
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Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Remaining interest percentage | 73.20% | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Number of USW Employees | Ìý | 2,400 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Percentage of total workforce under labor contract | Ìý | 32.00% | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 11.00% | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Annual limit on medical coverage for each participant | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | $ 7,000 | $ 3,000 | $ 2,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | $ 4,020 | Ìý | $ 4,500 |
Minimum participants percentage | Ìý | 15.00% | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Contribution rate per hour worked | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 6.50 | 6.42 | 5.27 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Annual costs for defined contribution plan | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 5,700,000 | 4,200,000 | 2,100,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 9,500,000 | 10,300,000 | 6,100,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Funding of bargaining unit pension plans and VEBAs | Ìý | 90,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit pension plans | Ìý | 1,114,700,000 | 997,200,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Redemption request notice period, days | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 65 | 95 | 90 | 45 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Discount rate | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 4.28% | 5.11% | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | 4.28% | 5.11% | 4.28% | 5.11% | 4.00% | 4.00% | 5.00% | 4.25% | 5.00% | 4.12% | Ìý | 4.43% | Ìý |
Investment Commitments Reserved | Ìý | 13,000,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Reserved investment commitments | Ìý | 10,500,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
Contributions by participants to other benefit plans | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | $ 4,600,000 | $ 6,200,000 | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |