Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS (Details)

v2.4.0.6
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Commodity Financial Contracts [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Commodity Financial Contracts [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Commodity Financial Contracts [Member]
Sep. 30, 2011
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Commodity Financial Contracts [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Commodity Financial Contracts [Member]
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS [Abstract]                          
Feedstock and natural gas usage to operating expenses (in hundredths)       82.10% 82.50%                
Monthly feedstock requirements hedged, Maximum 40.00%     40.00%                  
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]                          
Unrealized gain (loss)       $ (731,000) $ (388,000)       $ 1,446,000 $ (307,000) $ (837,000) $ (388,000)  
Realized gain (loss)                 (1,446,000) (86,000) (942,000) 279,000  
Net loss                 0 (393,000) (1,779,000) (109,000)  
Fair value of financial contracts - asset (liability)                 (444,000)   (444,000)   393,000
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) as a percentage of cost of sales and processing (in hundredths) 0.00% 0.10%   1.20% 0.00%                
Margin calls on outstanding financial contracts     1,500,000 500,000                  
Margin calls on outstanding financial contracts refunded       1,000,000                  
Fair value of interest rate swap - liability           978,000   1,134,000          
Term loan in pay fixed, receive variable interest rate swap           10,000,000              
Term loan secured by plant, pipeline and equipment           14,000,000              
Notional amount           6,000,000              
Derivative, variable interest rate (in hundredths)           5.83%              
Cumulative loss           (978,000) (1,130,000)            
Deferred tax benefit           333,000 384,000            
Net cumulative loss       103,000 (9,000) (645,000) (746,000)            
Interest expense reclassified from other comprehensive loss           275,000 316,000            
Cash flow hedge gain (loss) to be reclassified within twelve months           $ 316,000