NavSight (NSH) 10-K 3 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

DEI_Document

DEI Document (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'NuStar GP Holdings, LLC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001223786	'	'
Trading Symbol	'nsh	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	42,656,281	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$925

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$1,603	$2,597
Receivable from related parties	9,617	7,870
Income tax receivable	1,198	2,450
Other receivables	77	147
Deferred income tax assets, net	1,047	928
Other current assets	245	248
Total current assets	13,787	14,240
Investment in NuStar Energy L.P.	357,456	464,981
Long-term receivable from related party	41,139	18,071
Deferred income tax assets, net	0	20,424
Total assets	412,382	517,716
Liabilities and Members' Equity	'	'
Short-term debt	26,000	20,000
Accounts payable	324	1,002
Accrued compensation expense	12,318	14,968
Accrued liabilities	536	429
Taxes other than income tax	1,240	1,399
Total current liabilities	40,418	37,798
Deferred income tax liabilities, net	3,671	0
Long-term liabilities	18,307	67,096
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)	'	'
Members' equity	341,045	444,844
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	8,941	-32,022
Total members' equity	349,986	412,822
Total liabilities and members' equity	$412,382	$517,716

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	'	'	'
Equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy L.P.	($6,741)	($4,578)	$65,783
General and administrative expenses	-3,105	-3,337	-3,298
Other income, net	382	9,801	7,320
Interest expense, net	-778	-624	-570
Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)	-10,242	1,262	69,235
Income tax benefit (expense)	-792	866	401
Net income (loss)	-11,034	2,128	69,636
Other comprehensive (loss) income:	'	'	'
Share of NuStar Energy L.P.bs other comprehensive (loss) income	-674	-4,297	-12,580
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan adjustments:	'	'	'
Net unrecognized (loss) gain arising during the year, net of income tax benefit (expense)	39,596	-6,574	-11,094
Net loss reclassified into income	2,041	1,514	538
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan adjustments	41,637	-5,060	-10,556
Total other comprehensive (loss) income	40,963	-9,357	-23,136
Comprehensive (loss) income	$29,929	($7,229)	$46,500
Basic net income (loss) per unit	($0.26)	$0.05	$1.64
Diluted net income (loss) per unit	($0.26)	$0.05	$1.64
Weighted-average number of basic units outstanding	42,619,722	42,576,858	42,546,096
Weighted-average number of diluted units outstanding	42,619,722	42,584,667	42,572,617

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	'	'	'
Net unrecognized (loss) gain arising during the year, tax benefit (expense)	($23,552)	$3,879	$6,599

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($11,034)	$2,128	$69,636
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	'	'	'
Equity in loss (earnings) of NuStar Energy L.P.	6,741	4,578	-65,783
Distributions of equity in earnings from NuStar Energy L.P.	0	0	65,783
Gain related to NuStar Energy L.P.'s issuance of limited partner units	0	-10,689	-8,074
Loss (gain) on sale of NuStar Energy L.P. limited partner units in connection with unit-based compensation	-382	888	754
Expense (benefit) for deferred income tax	424	-443	-264
Changes in current assets and liabilities (Note 9)	-4,000	-3,638	-584
Decrease (increase) in other assets	0	0	1,189
Increase in long-term receivable from related party	-22,984	-3,278	-4,414
Increase (decrease) in long-term liabilities	16,452	12,528	5,621
Other, net	209	471	466
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-14,574	2,545	64,330
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Distributions in excess of equity in earnings from NuStar Energy L.P.	96,134	92,628	20,323
Investment in NuStar Energy L.P.	-3,913	-18,005	-17,031
Proceeds from sale of NuStar Energy L.P. units in connection with unit-based compensation	8,271	8,552	10,894
Net cash provided by investing activities	100,492	83,175	14,186
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Proceeds from short-term debt borrowings	26,000	21,000	6,000
Repayment of short-term debt	-20,000	-17,500	-5,500
Distributions to unitholders	-92,912	-88,345	-82,966
Other, net	0	368	0
Net cash used in financing activities	-86,912	-84,477	-82,466
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-994	1,243	-3,950
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period	2,597	1,354	5,304
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period	$1,603	$2,597	$1,354

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_MEM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBERSb EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Units [Member]	Members' Equity [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data	USD ($)		USD ($)	USD ($)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$541,463	'	$540,992	$471
Balance, units, at Dec. 31, 2010	'	42,544,659	'	'
Net income (loss)	69,636	'	69,636	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-23,136	'	0	-23,136
Distributions to unitholders	-82,966	'	-82,966	0
Unit-based compensation	1,886	'	1,886	0
Unit-based compensation, units	'	13,841	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	506,883	'	529,548	-22,665
Balance, units, at Dec. 31, 2011	'	42,558,500	'	'
Net income (loss)	2,128	'	2,128	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-9,357	'	0	-9,357
Distributions to unitholders	-88,345	'	-88,345	0
Unit-based compensation	1,513	'	1,513	0
Unit-based compensation, units	'	41,691	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	412,822	'	444,844	-32,022
Balance, units, at Dec. 31, 2012	'	42,600,191	'	'
Net income (loss)	-11,034	'	-11,034	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	40,963	'	0	40,963
Distributions to unitholders	-92,912	'	-92,912	0
Unit-based compensation	147	'	147	0
Unit-based compensation, units	'	56,090	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$349,986	'	$341,045	$8,941
Balance, units, at Dec. 31, 2013	'	42,656,281	'	'

ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZATION	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
ORGANIZATION	'
	ORGANIZATION
	NuStar GP Holdings, LLC (NuStar GP Holdings) (NYSE: NSH), a publicly held Delaware limited liability company, was formed in June 2000. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “NuStar GP Holdings,” “we,” “our” and “us” are used in this report to refer to NuStar GP Holdings, LLC, to one or more of our consolidated subsidiaries or to all of them taken as a whole.
	Our unitholders have no liability under our limited liability company agreement, or for any of our debts, obligations or liabilities, in their capacity as a unitholder.
	We have no operations or sources of income or cash flows other than our investment in NuStar Energy L.P. (NuStar Energy) (NYSE: NS). On December 31, 2013, we owned approximately 14.9% of NuStar Energy, consisting of the following:
	•	the 2% general partner interest;
	•	100% of the incentive distribution rights (IDR) issued by NuStar Energy, which entitle us to receive increasing percentages of the cash distributed by NuStar Energy, currently at the maximum percentage of 23%; and
	•	10,228,945 common units of NuStar Energy representing a 12.9% limited partner interest.
	NuStar Energy is a publicly held Delaware limited partnership engaged in the terminalling and storage of petroleum products, the transportation of petroleum products and anhydrous ammonia, and the marketing of petroleum products. NuStar Energy has terminal and storage facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, including St. Eustatius in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Turkey.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	Consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NuStar GP Holdings and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	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.
	Investment in NuStar Energy
	We account for our 14.9% investment in NuStar Energy using the equity method. As the general partner, we exercise significant influence over NuStar Energy, even though our ownership did not exceed 20% as of December 31, 2013. We evaluate our investment in NuStar Energy for impairment when there is evidence that we may not be able to recover the carrying amount of our investment or that the investee is unable to sustain an earnings capacity that justifies the carrying amount. We recognize a loss in the value of our investment that is other than a temporary decline currently in earnings based on the difference between the estimated current fair value of the investment and our carrying amount. We believe that the carrying amount of our investment in NuStar Energy as of December 31, 2013 is recoverable.
	Accounting for Sales of Units by NuStar Energy
	We account for issuances of common units by NuStar Energy as if we had sold a proportionate share of our investment, such that we record any gain or loss in earnings. Please refer to Note 4 for a description of the issuances of common units by NuStar Energy.
	Income Taxes
	We are a limited liability company taxed as a 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 unitholders. 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.
	On August 14, 2006, NuStar GP, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, elected to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes under Treasury Regulation §301.7701-3(a). We account for income taxes under 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.
	Income tax expense includes federal and state income and withholding taxes currently payable and deferred federal and state income taxes resulting from temporary differences between financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities when such differences exist. We, or certain of our subsidiaries, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. For U.S. federal and state purposes, tax years subject to examination are 2009 through 2012.
	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, 2013 and 2012.
	Unit-Based Compensation
	We account for awards of NS unit options, performance awards and restricted units to employees and directors of NuStar GP, LLC at fair value, whereby a liability for the award is initially recorded and subsequent changes in the fair value are included in the determination of net income. The fair value of NS unit options is determined using the Black-Scholes model at each reporting date. The fair value of NS restricted units and performance awards equals 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. We record compensation expense each reporting period such that the cumulative compensation expense equals the portion of the award’s current fair value that has vested. We record compensation expense related to NS unit options until such options are exercised, and we record compensation expense for NS restricted units and performance awards until the date of vesting.
	We account for awards of NSH restricted units and unit options granted to employees of NuStar GP, LLC and our directors based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date. 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 units equals the market price of NSH common units at the grant date. Compensation expense for NSH restricted units and unit options is recognized ratably over the vesting period based on the initial fair value determination.
	The liability for awards of NS unit options, performance awards and restricted units is included in “Accrued compensation expense” on our consolidated balance sheets. NuStar Energy reimburses us for the expenses resulting from NS awards and NSH awards to employees providing services to NuStar Energy. Expenses resulting from NSH awards to our non-employee directors are included in “General and administrative expenses” on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
	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. 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. Currently, employees are typically retirement eligible at age 55.
	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
	We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our defined benefit pension or postretirement plans as an asset or a liability as of the balance sheet dates. We record changes in the funded status of our plans as a component of comprehensive income (loss) in the year the changes occur.

NEW_ACCOUNTING_PRONOUNCEMENTS

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]	'
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	'
	NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
	Other Comprehensive Income
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board further amended the disclosure requirements for the presentation of comprehensive income. The amended guidance requires that entities present, either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements, the effect of significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The amended guidance is effective prospectively for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. Accordingly, we adopted the amended guidance January 1, 2013, and it did not have a material impact on our disclosures.

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY	'
	INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY
	NuStar Energy’s Equity Offerings
	On September 10, 2012, NuStar Energy issued 7,130,000 common units representing limited partner interests at a price of $48.94 per unit. NuStar Energy received proceeds of $336.8 million, net of issuance costs. In conjunction with NuStar Energy’s issuance of common units, we contributed $7.1 million to NuStar Energy in order to maintain our 2% general partner interest and our ownership in NuStar Energy was reduced from 16.3% at December 31, 2011 to 15.0% at December 31, 2012. This issuance resulted in a gain of $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is included in “Other income, net” on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), and represents the increase in the value of our proportionate share of NuStar Energy’s capital.
	On December 9, 2011, NuStar Energy issued 6,037,500 common units representing limited partner interests at a price of $53.45 per unit. NuStar Energy received proceeds of $311.4 million, net of issuance costs. In September and October 2011, NuStar Energy issued 108,029 common units for proceeds of $5.9 million, net of issuance costs. In conjunction with NuStar Energy’s issuances of common units in 2011, we contributed $6.7 million to NuStar Energy in order to maintain our 2% general partner interest. Additionally, these issuances resulted in a gain of $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is included in “Other income, net” on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income and represents the increase in the value of our proportionate share of NuStar Energy’s capital. Following these issuances, our ownership in NuStar Energy was reduced from 17.6% at December 31, 2010 to 16.3% at December 31, 2011.
	NuStar Energy’s Acquisitions and Dispositions
	On January 1, 2013, NuStar Energy sold its fuels refinery in San Antonio, Texas (the San Antonio Refinery) and related assets, which included inventory, a terminal in Elmendorf, Texas and a pipeline connecting the terminal and refinery for approximately $117.0 million (the San Antonio Refinery Sale). NuStar Energy presented the results of operations for the San Antonio Refinery and related assets as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
	On December 13, 2012, NuStar Energy completed its acquisition of the TexStar Crude Oil Assets (as defined below), including 100% of the partnership interest in TexStar Crude Oil Pipeline, LP, from TexStar Midstream Services, LP and certain of its affiliates (collectively, TexStar) for $325.4 million (the TexStar Asset Acquisition). The TexStar Crude Oil Assets consist of approximately 140 miles of crude oil pipelines and gathering lines, as well as five terminals and storage facilities providing 0.6 million barrels of storage capacity.
	On September 28, 2012, NuStar Energy sold a 50% ownership interest (the Asphalt Sale) in NuStar Asphalt LLC (Asphalt JV), previously a wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar Energy. Asphalt JV owns and operates the asphalt refining assets that were previously wholly owned by NuStar Energy (collectively, the Asphalt Operations). Upon closing, NuStar Energy deconsolidated Asphalt JV and started reporting its remaining investment in Asphalt JV using the equity method of accounting.
	Summary Financial Information
	Condensed consolidated financial information reported by NuStar Energy is presented below:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Balance Sheet Information:
	Current assets	$	633,549		$	939,443
	Property, plant and equipment, net	3,310,653			3,238,460
	Goodwill	617,429			951,024
	Other non-current assets	470,555			484,162
	Total assets	$	5,032,186		$	5,613,089
	Current liabilities	$	392,572		$	845,971
	Long-term debt, less current portion	2,655,553			2,124,582
	Other non-current liabilities	80,267			57,541
	Total liabilities	3,128,392			3,028,094
	NuStar Energy partners’ equity	1,902,136			2,572,384
	Noncontrolling interest	1,658			12,611
	Total liabilities and partners’ equity	$	5,032,186		$	5,613,089
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Statement of Income (Loss) Information:
	Revenues	$	3,463,732		$	5,945,736		$	6,257,629
	Operating (loss) income	$	(19,121	)	$	(18,168	)	$	310,883
	(Loss) income from continuing operations	$	(185,509	)	$	(166,001	)	$	218,674
	(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(99,162		)	(61,236		)	2,927
	Net (loss) income	$	(284,671	)	$	(227,237	)	$	221,601
	Other
	Our investment in NuStar Energy reconciles to NuStar Energy’s total partners’ equity as follows:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar Energy’s partners’ equity	$	1,902,136		$	2,572,384
	NuStar GP Holdings’ ownership interest in NuStar Energy	14.9		%	15		%
	NuStar GP Holdings’ share of NuStar Energy’s partners’ equity	283,418			385,858
	Step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy’s assets and liabilities,	74,038			79,123
	including equity method goodwill, and other
	Investment in NuStar Energy	$	357,456		$	464,981
	Valero Energy Corporation (Valero Energy) acquired us in connection with its December 31, 2001 acquisition of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation (2001 Acquisition). The step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy’s assets and liabilities, including equity method goodwill, reflected in the table above relates to purchase accounting adjustments resulting from the 2001 Acquisition. The amount represents the unamortized excess of the fair value over carrying amount applicable to Valero Energy’s proportionate 73.6% interest in NuStar Energy’s identifiable assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2001, of which $81.8 million is being amortized as a reduction to equity in earnings of NuStar Energy over approximately 28 years. This amount also includes the portion of goodwill resulting from the 2001 Acquisition that was attributed to our investment in NuStar Energy. Since 26.4% of the equity interest in NuStar Energy was owned by public unitholders as of the date of the 2001 Acquisition, a significant portion of the total ownership interest in NuStar Energy was deemed to be held by the public according to GAAP, thereby preventing the adjustment of the reported financial statements of NuStar Energy.
	The following table summarizes our equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar GP Holdings’ Equity in (Loss) Earnings of NuStar Energy:
	General partner interest	$	(6,338	)	$	(5,356	)	$	3,703
	General partner incentive distribution (a)	43,220			41,242			36,319
	General partner’s interest in earnings and	36,882			35,886			40,022
	incentive distributions of NuStar Energy
	Limited partner interest in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy	(40,739		)	(37,580		)	28,645
	Amortization of step-up in basis related to	(2,884		)	(2,884		)	(2,884		)
	NuStar Energy’s assets and liabilities
	Equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy	$	(6,741	)	$	(4,578	)	$	65,783
	(a)	Our equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy allocated to the general partner incentive distribution is less than the actual distribution made with respect to 2011, due to NuStar Energy’s issuance of common units after the end of the third quarter, but before the record date.

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	'
	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
	General
	We manage NuStar Energy through our ownership of NuStar GP, LLC and Riverwalk Holdings, LLC, which own Riverwalk Logistics L.P., the general partner of NuStar Energy. Our officers are also officers of NuStar GP, LLC. The chairman of our board of directors, William E. Greehey, is also the chairman of the board of directors of NuStar GP, LLC. The board of directors of NuStar GP, LLC is responsible for overseeing NuStar GP, LLC’s role as the general partner of the general partner of NuStar Energy, and we, as the sole owner of NuStar GP, LLC, must also approve matters that have or would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on our interests as the sole owner of NuStar GP, LLC.
	Asphalt JV is directed by a board of managers, which is comprised of eight members. William E. Greehey is the chairman of the board of managers for Asphalt JV.
	We had a receivable from related parties of $9.6 million and $7.9 million, as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, mainly relating to payroll, employee benefit plans and unit-based compensation for our employees providing services to NuStar Energy and NuStar Energy’s joint ventures. We also had a long-term receivable from related party of $41.1 million and $18.1 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to amounts payable for retiree medical benefits and other post-employment benefits. The following table summarizes information pertaining to related party transactions:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Expenses for payroll, employee benefit plans and unit-based compensation	$	190,643	$	225,135	$	216,380
	Other expenses	$	434	$	437	$	402
	GP Services Agreement
	NuStar Energy and NuStar GP, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a services agreement, effective January 1, 2008 (the GP Services Agreement). The GP Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC will furnish administrative and certain operating services necessary to conduct the business of NuStar Energy. All employees providing services to both NuStar GP Holdings and NuStar Energy are employed by NuStar GP, LLC; therefore, NuStar Energy reimburses NuStar GP, LLC for all employee costs, other than the expenses allocated to NuStar GP Holdings (the Holdco Administrative Services Expense). The Holdco Administrative Services Expense is based on $1.1 million, plus 1.0% of NuStar GP, LLC’s domestic bonus and unit-based compensation expense, subject to certain other adjustments. The GP Services Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2014, renewing automatically every two years unless terminated by either party upon six months’ prior written notice. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Holdco Administrative Services Expense totaled $1.4 million, $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
	Non-Compete Agreement
	On July 19, 2006, in connection with our initial public offering, we entered into a non-compete agreement with NuStar Energy (the Non-Compete Agreement). Under the Non-Compete Agreement, we will have a right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of general partner and other equity interests in publicly traded partnerships under common ownership with the general partner interest. NuStar Energy has a right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of assets that relate to the transportation, storage or terminalling of crude oil, feedstocks or refined petroleum products (including petrochemicals) in the United States and internationally. With respect to any other business opportunities, neither we nor NuStar Energy are prohibited from engaging in any business, even if we and NuStar Energy would have a conflict of interest with respect to such other business opportunity. The Non-Compete Agreement remains in effect for so long as we or any of our affiliates own 20% or more of NuStar GP, LLC or Riverwalk Logistics, L.P.
	Asphalt JV Services Agreement
	In conjunction with NuStar Energy’s Asphalt Sale, NuStar GP, LLC entered into a services agreement with Asphalt JV, effective September 28, 2012 (the Asphalt JV Services Agreement). The Asphalt JV Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC furnish certain administrative and other operating services necessary to conduct the business of Asphalt JV. Asphalt JV compensates us for these services through an annual fee totaling $10.0 million, subject to adjustment based on the annual merit increase percentage applicable to our employees for the most recently completed contract year. The Asphalt JV Services Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2017 and will automatically renew for successive two-year terms. Asphalt JV may terminate the Asphalt JV Services Agreement at any time, with 180 days prior written notice or reduce the level of service with 45 days prior written notice. During the year ended December 31, 2013, Asphalt JV provided written notice to reduce the level of services that we provide to Asphalt JV to 63% of the original service level. The aggregate amounts of the Asphalt JV Services Agreement charged was $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement
	In conjunction with NuStar Energy’s Asphalt Sale, NuStar GP, LLC entered into an employee services agreement with Asphalt JV, effective September 28, 2012 (the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement). The Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement provided that certain of NuStar GP, LLC employees would provide employee-services to Asphalt JV. In exchange, Asphalt JV would reimburse us for the compensation expense of those employees at the same rates that were in effect at the effective date of the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement, including an annual bonus amount that does not exceed our target bonus plan. The employees covered under the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement were not entitled to any new unit-based compensation grants from us, and Asphalt JV was not responsible for unit-based compensation costs prior to the effective date. The Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement terminated on December 31, 2012, and effective January 1, 2013, those employees became employees of Asphalt JV.

DISTRIBUTIONS_FROM_NUSTAR_ENER

DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY [Abstract]	'
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY	'
	DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY
	NuStar Energy’s partnership agreement, as amended, determines the amount and priority of cash distributions that NuStar Energy’s common unitholders and general partner may receive. We, as NuStar Energy’s general partner, are entitled to incentive distributions if the amount NuStar Energy distributes with respect to any quarter exceeds $0.60 per unit, with the maximum percentage of 23% of the amount of any quarterly distribution in excess of $0.66 per unit. We also receive a 2% distribution with respect to our general partner interest.
	The following table reflects the allocation of NuStar Energy’s cash distributions earned for the periods indicated among its general and limited partners:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
	General partner interest	$	7,844		$	7,486		$	6,630
	General partner incentive distribution	43,220			41,242			36,326
	Total general partner distribution	51,064			48,728			42,956
	Limited partner distribution	44,975			45,152			44,812
	Total distributions to NuStar GP Holdings	96,039			93,880			87,768
	Public unitholders’ distributions	296,165			280,374			243,738
	Total cash distributions	$	392,204		$	374,254		$	331,506
	Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners	$	4.38		$	4.38		$	4.36
	The following table summarizes information related to NuStar Energy’s quarterly cash distributions:
	Quarter Ended		Cash Distributions Per Unit			Total Cash Distributions (Thousands of Dollars)			Record Date	Payment Date
	December 31, 2013 (a)		$	1.095		$	98,051		February 10, 2014	February 14, 2014
	30-Sep-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		November 11, 2013	November 14, 2013
	30-Jun-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		August 5, 2013	August 9, 2013
	31-Mar-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		May 6, 2013	May 10, 2013
	(a)	The distribution was announced on January 30, 2014.

ACCRUED_COMPENSATION_EXPENSE_A

ACCRUED COMPENSATION EXPENSE AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ACCRUED COMPENSATION EXPENSE AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES [Abstract]	'
Accrued Compensation Expense and Long-term Liabilities	'
	ACCRUED COMPENSATION EXPENSE AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
	Accrued compensation expense and long-term liabilities consisted of the following:
		Accrued Compensation Expense				Long-term Liabilities
		December 31,				December 31,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar Energy restricted units	$	6,224	$	10,376	$	—	$	—
	Pension liabilities (Note 14)	2,333		137		9,726		44,640
	Other postretirement benefit plan liabilities (Note 14)	141		243		7,013		20,719
	Other employee-related liabilities	3,620		4,212		1,568		1,737
	Total	$	12,318	$	14,968	$	18,307	$	67,096

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	'
	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	We segregate the inputs used in measuring fair value into three levels: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists.
	The following liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
		December 31, 2013
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Accrued compensation expense:
	NuStar Energy restricted units	$	6,224	$	—	$	—	$	6,224
	Total	$	6,224	$	—	$	—	$	6,224
		December 31, 2012
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Accrued compensation expense:
	NuStar Energy restricted units	$	10,376	$	—	$	—	$	10,376
	Total	$	10,376	$	—	$	—	$	10,376
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	We recognize cash equivalents, receivables, payables and short-term debt in our consolidated balance sheets at their carrying amount. The fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts. The fair value of our short-term debt would fall in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]	'
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS	'
	STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Decrease (increase) in current assets:
	Receivable from related parties	$	338		$	1,077		$	5,771
	Income tax receivable	1,252			(780		)	(1,339		)
	Other receivables	70			211			550
	Other current assets	(187		)	(210		)	(62		)
	Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:
	Accounts payable	(678		)	542			104
	Accrued compensation expense	(4,743		)	(4,557		)	(5,601		)
	Accrued liabilities	107			(33		)	64
	Income tax payable	—			—			(302		)
	Taxes other than income tax	(159		)	112			231
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities	$	(4,000	)	$	(3,638	)	$	(584	)
	Cash flows related to interest and income tax were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Cash paid for interest	$	561		$	475		$	385
	Cash (refunded) paid for income tax, net	$	(885	)	$	356		$	1,504
	Non-cash investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 mainly consisted of:
	•	Adjustments to our investment in NuStar Energy and accumulated other comprehensive loss through recognition of our proportionate share of NuStar Energy’s accumulated other comprehensive loss; and
	•	Pension funding adjustments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

CREDIT_FACILITY

CREDIT FACILITY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]	'
CREDIT FACILITY	'
	CREDIT FACILITY
	Borrowings under our revolving credit facility are used to fund capital contributions to NuStar Energy to maintain our 2% general partner interest when NuStar Energy issues additional common units and to meet other liquidity and capital resource requirements. Our 364-day revolving credit agreement dated June 28, 2013 matures on June 27, 2014 and has a borrowing capacity of up to $40.0 million, of which, up to $10.0 million may be available for letters of credit (the 2013 Credit Facility). Our obligations under the 2013 Credit Facility are guaranteed by Riverwalk Holdings, LLC (Riverwalk), a wholly owned subsidiary. Riverwalk pledged 1,792,918 NuStar Energy units that it owns to secure its guarantee.
	As of December 31, 2013, we had outstanding borrowings of $26.0 million and availability of $14.0 million for borrowings under the 2013 Credit Facility. Interest on the 2013 Credit Facility is based upon, at our option, either an alternative base rate, plus 1.00% or a LIBOR-based rate, plus 2.00%. As of December 31, 2013, the interest rate was 2.2%.
	The terms of the 2013 Credit Facility require NuStar Energy to maintain, as of the end of each rolling period, which consists of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio not to exceed 5.0-to-1.0. If NuStar Energy consummates an acquisition for an aggregate net consideration of at least $50.0 million, the maximum consolidated debt coverage ratio will increase to 5.5-to-1.0 for two rolling periods. As of December 31, 2013, NuStar Energy’s consolidated debt coverage ratio was 4.4x. We are also required to receive cash distributions of at least $12.5 million in respect of our ownership interests in NuStar Energy each fiscal quarter. Our management believes that we are in compliance with the covenants of the 2013 Credit Facility as of December 31, 2013.
	We borrowed $26.0 million under the 2013 Credit Facility during the year ended December 31, 2013, mainly to repay $18.5 million on our previous revolving credit facility and to repay $7.5 million to NuStar Energy for employee benefits and related costs. During the year ended December 31, 2013, our repayments totaled $20.0 million under the 2013 Credit Facility. The weighted-average interest rate related to borrowings under the 2013 Credit Facility for the year ended December 31, 2013 was 2.1%.

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Contingencies
	We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings and have not recorded any accruals for loss contingencies. NuStar Energy is a party to claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of its business, which it believes are not material to its financial position or results of operations. However, due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding would not have a material adverse effect on NuStar Energy’s results of operations and ability to pay distributions, which would impact our ability to pay distributions.
	Commitments
	As of December 31, 2013, we had no future minimum payments applicable to non-cancellable operating leases and purchase obligations.

NET_INCOME_LOSS_PER_UNIT

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT	'
	NET (LOSS) INCOME PER UNIT
	We treat restricted units granted under our long-term incentive plan as participating securities in computing net (loss) income per unit pursuant to the two-class method. The computation of diluted net (loss) income for the year ended December 31, 2013 excludes outstanding options to purchase NuStar GP Holdings units, as the exercise price exceeded the market price and their effect would be anti-dilutive. The outstanding options to purchase NuStar GP Holdings units totaled 289,100 as of December 31, 2013. Unit amounts used in the computation of basic and diluted net income per unit were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013	2012	2011
	Basic units outstanding:
	Weighted-average number of basic units outstanding	42,619,722	42,576,858	42,546,096
	Diluted units outstanding:
	Weighted-average number of basic units outstanding	42,619,722	42,576,858	42,546,096
	Effect of dilutive securities	—	7,809	26,521
	Weighted-average number of diluted units outstanding	42,619,722	42,584,667	42,572,617

MEMBERS_EQUITY

MEMBERS' EQUITY	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Members' Equity [Abstract]	'
MEMBERS' EQUITY	'
	MEMBERS’ EQUITY
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
	The following table presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component:
		Share of			Pension and			Accumulated
		NuStar			Other			Other
		Energy’s Other			Postretirement			Comprehensive
		Comprehensive			Benefit Plan			(Loss) Income
		Income (Loss)			Adjustments
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Balance as of January 1, 2011	$	8,134		$	(7,663	)	$	471
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassification adjustments	(12,580		)	(11,094		)	(23,674		)
	Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	—			538			538
	Other comprehensive loss	(12,580		)	(10,556		)	(23,136		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2011	(4,446		)	(18,219		)	(22,665		)
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassification adjustments	(4,297		)	(6,574		)	(10,871		)
	Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	—			1,514			1,514
	Other comprehensive loss	(4,297		)	(5,060		)	(9,357		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2012	(8,743		)	(23,279		)	(32,022		)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(674		)	39,596			38,922
	Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	—			2,041			2,041
	Other comprehensive (loss) income	(674		)	41,637			40,963
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	(9,417	)	$	18,358		$	8,941
	(a)	We recognized the net loss reclassified into income as general and administrative expenses. NuStar Energy reimburses us for these employee costs.
	Cash Distributions
	Our limited liability company agreement requires that, within 50 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to the holders of record of our units on the applicable record date. Available cash is defined as all cash on hand at the end of any calendar quarter, less the amount of cash reserves necessary or appropriate, as determined in good faith by our board of directors. The following table summarizes our cash distributions applicable to the period in which the distributions were earned:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
	Cash distributions per unit	$	2.18		$	2.11		$	1.98
	Total cash distributions	$	92,938		$	89,860		$	84,252
	The following table summarizes information related to our quarterly cash distributions:
	Quarter Ended		Cash Distributions Per Unit			Total Cash Distributions (Thousands of Dollars)			Record Date		Payment Date
	December 31, 2013 (a)		$	0.545		$	23,249		February 10, 2014		February 18, 2014
	30-Sep-13		$	0.545		$	23,231		November 11, 2013		November 19, 2013
	30-Jun-13		$	0.545		$	23,236		August 5, 2013		August 14, 2013
	31-Mar-13		$	0.545		$	23,222		May 6, 2013		May 15, 2013
	(a)	The distribution was announced on January 30, 2014.
	Rights Agreement
	On July 19, 2006, we entered into a rights agreement with Computershare Investor Services, LLC, as amended effective February 28, 2008 and October 23, 2012 (the Rights Agreement), under which one preferred unit purchase right (a Right) is attached to each of our outstanding units. The Rights become exercisable under specified circumstances, including if any person or group (an acquiring person) becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of our outstanding units, subject to specified exceptions. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from us one one-hundredth of a unit of junior participating preferred units, series I (Preferred Units) at an exercise price of $100, subject to adjustment under specified circumstances. If events specified in the Rights Agreement occur, each holder of Rights other than the acquiring person can exercise their Rights. When a holder exercises a Right, the holder will be entitled to receive units valued at a multiple of the exercise price of the Right specified in the Rights Agreement. In some cases, the holder will receive cash, property or other securities instead of units. We may redeem the Rights for $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the tenth day after a person or group becomes an acquiring person.
	The Rights will expire on June 30, 2016, unless extended or earlier redeemed or exchanged, and are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. Preferred Units purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each Preferred Unit will be entitled to share in our distributions of available cash pro rata with the units. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Units will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per unit. Each Preferred Unit will have 100 votes, voting together with the units. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which units are exchanged, each Preferred Unit will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per unit.

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Disclosures [Abstract]	'
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS	'
	EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	The NuStar Thrift Plan
	The NuStar Thrift Plan (the Thrift Plan) is a qualified employee profit-sharing plan that became effective June 26, 2006. Participation in the Thrift Plan is voluntary and is open to substantially all NuStar GP, LLC employees upon their date of hire, except for part-time employees (as defined in the Thrift Plan), who become eligible upon completing one year of service (as defined in the Thrift Plan). Thrift Plan participants can contribute from 1% up to 30% of their total annual compensation to the Thrift Plan in the form of pre-tax and/or after tax employee contributions. NuStar GP, LLC makes matching contributions in an amount equal to 100% of each participant’s employee contributions up to a maximum of 6% of the participant’s total annual compensation. Our matching contributions to the Thrift Plan for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 totaled $5.9 million, $6.9 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
	NuStar GP, LLC also maintains an excess thrift plan (the Excess Thrift Plan) that became effective July 1, 2006. The Excess Thrift Plan is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that provides benefits to those employees of NuStar GP, LLC whose compensation and/or annual contributions under the Thrift Plan are subject to the limitations applicable to qualified retirement plans under the Code.
	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
	The NuStar Pension Plan (the Pension Plan) is a qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that became effective July 1, 2006. The Pension Plan covers substantially all of NuStar GP, LLC’s employees and generally provides eligible employees with retirement income calculated under a final average pay formula (FAP) or a cash balance formula. Employees hired before January 1, 2011 are covered under FAP, which is based on years of service and compensation during their period of service, and employees become fully vested in their benefits upon attaining five years of vesting service. Employees hired on January 1, 2011 and after are covered under the cash balance formula, which is based on age, service and interest credits, and employees become fully vested in their benefits upon attaining three years of vesting service. Effective January 1, 2014, the Pension Plan was amended to freeze the FAP benefit as of December 31, 2013, and going forward, employees will be covered under the cash balance formula.
	NuStar GP, LLC also maintains an excess pension plan (the Excess Pension Plan) which is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that provides benefits to a select group of management or other highly compensated employees of NuStar GP, LLC. The supplemental executive retirement plan (the SERP) has no participants, and it will terminate in 2014 upon a final payment to the former participants.
	None of the Excess Thrift Plan, the Excess Pension Plan or the SERP is intended to constitute either a qualified plan under the provisions of Section 401 of the Code or a funded plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
	NuStar GP, LLC also provides a medical benefits plan for retired employees. In 2013, the plan was amended for employees that retire on or after April 1, 2014 to provide a defined subsidy for eligible third-party health care premiums.
	NuStar Energy reimbursed and will continue to reimburse all costs incurred by us related to these employee benefit plans at cost. We charged NuStar Energy $18.2 million, $23.6 million, and $13.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for these employee benefit plans, including disposition charges. Our current and noncurrent liabilities for these employee benefits are included in “Accrued compensation expense” and “Long-term liabilities,” respectively, on our consolidated balance sheets.
	The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP are collectively referred to as the Pension Plans in the tables and discussion below. We use December 31 as the measurement date for our pension and other postretirement plans.
	Effective January 1, 2013, Asphalt JV employees became employees of Asphalt JV and were 100% vested in the Pension Plan, as a result of the disposition.
	The changes in the benefit obligation, the changes in fair value of plan assets, the funded status and the amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheet for our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
		Pension Plans								Other Postretirement
										Benefit Plans
		2013				2012				2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation, January 1	$	114,046			$	78,017			$	20,962		$	18,672
	Service cost	16,321				15,614				1,171			1,258
	Interest cost	5,036				4,012				940			976
	Transfer to joint venture	—				—				(1,284		)	(90		)
	Disposition charges (a)	180				4,397				—			1,284
	Plan amendments	(24,560		)		(295		)		(11,822		)	(2,420		)
	Benefits paid	(7,353		)		(1,647		)		(248		)	(149		)
	Participants contributions	—				—				125			62
	Actuarial (gain) loss	(15,708		)		18,359				(2,690		)	2,622
	Curtailment (a)	(330		)		(4,411		)		—			(1,253		)
	Benefit obligation, December 31	$	87,632			$	114,046			$	7,154		$	20,962
	Change in plan assets:
	Plan assets at fair value, January 1	$	69,269			$	53,787			$	—		$	—
	Actual return on plan assets	11,905				6,063				—			—
	Company contributions	1,752				11,066				123			87
	Benefits paid	(7,353		)		(1,647		)		(248		)	(149		)
	Participants contributions	—				—				125			62
	Plan assets at fair value, December 31	$	75,573			$	69,269			$	—		$	—
	Reconciliation of funded status:
	Fair value of plan assets at December 31	$	75,573			$	69,269			$	—		$	—
	Less: Benefit obligation at December 31	87,632				114,046				7,154			20,962
	Funded status at December 31	$	(12,059	)		$	(44,777	)		$	(7,154	)	$	(20,962	)
	Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:
	Accrued compensation expense	$	(2,333	)		$	(137	)		$	(141	)	$	(243	)
	Long-term liabilities	(9,726		)		(44,640		)		(7,013		)	(20,719		)
	Net pension liability	$	(12,059	)		$	(44,777	)		$	(7,154	)	$	(20,962	)
	(a)	Disposition charge in 2013 relates to NuStar Energy’s San Antonio Refinery Sale and the curtailment in 2013 relates to the SERP retirement benefits. Disposition charges and curtailment in 2012 relate to the Asphalt Sale.
	The components of net periodic benefit cost related to our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans, which are reimbursed to us by NuStar Energy, were as follows:
		Pension Plans											Other Postretirement
													Benefit Plans
		Year Ended December 31,											Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011			2013				2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Components of net periodic benefit
	cost:
	Service cost	$	16,321			$	15,614			$	12,484		$	1,171			$	1,258		$	1,040
	Interest cost	5,036				4,012				2,881			940				976			888
	Expected return on plan assets	(4,535		)		(3,917		)		(3,617		)	—				—			—
	Amortization of prior service credit	(41		)		(18		)		(18		)	(198		)		—			—
	Amortization of net loss	2,071				1,393				485			209				139			71
	Net periodic benefit cost before other charges	18,852				17,084				12,215			2,122				2,373			1,999
	Other charges (a)	847				4,397				—			—				1,284			—
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	19,699			$	21,481			$	12,215		$	2,122			$	3,657		$	1,999
	(a)	In 2013 other charges for the Pension Plans include an Excess Pension settlement, disposition charges and a curtailment gain associated with the SERP retirement benefits. Other charges in 2012 include disposition charges related to Asphalt JV.
	Adjustments recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) related to our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
	Pension Plans											Other Postretirement
												Benefit Plans
	Year Ended December 31,											Year Ended December 31,
	2013				2012				2011			2013				2012			2011
	(Thousands of Dollars)
Net unrecognized gain (loss)
arising during the year:
Net actuarial gain (loss) (a)	$	24,122			$	(11,800	)		$	(16,260	)	$	2,690			$	(1,368	)	$	(1,433	)
Prior service credit	24,514				295				—			11,822				2,420			—
Net unrealized gain (loss)	48,636				(11,505		)		(16,260		)	14,512				1,052			(1,433		)
arising during the year
Net loss reclassified into income:
Amortization of prior service credit	(41		)		(18		)		(18		)	(198		)		—			—
Amortization of net loss	2,071				1,393				485			209				139			71
Net loss reclassified into income	2,030				1,375				467			11				139			71
Income tax (expense) benefit	(18,053		)		4,269				6,064			(5,499		)		(390		)	535
Total changes in other	$	32,613			$	(5,861	)		$	(9,729	)	$	9,024			$	801		$	(827	)
comprehensive income (loss)
(a) In 2013 net actuarial gain (loss) for the Pension Plans includes an Excess Pension settlement and in 2012 includes the Asphalt JV curtailment.
The amounts recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
	Pension Plans											Other Postretirement
												Benefit Plans
	December 31,											December 31,
	2013				2012				2011			2013				2012			2011
	(Thousands of Dollars)
Unrecognized actuarial loss (a)	$	(10,283	)		$	(36,476	)		$	(26,069	)	$	(2,289	)		$	(5,188	)	$	(3,959	)
Prior service credit (a)	24,853				380				103			14,044				2,420			—
Deferred tax (liability) asset	(3,639		)		14,414				10,145			(4,328		)		1,171			1,561
Accumulated other comprehensive	$	10,931			$	(21,682	)		$	(15,821	)	$	7,427			$	(1,597	)	$	(2,398	)
income (loss), net of tax
(a)	Represents the balance of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that has not been recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost.
In 2014, we expect to recognize $0.2 million and $0.1 million of the unrecognized actuarial loss for Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans, respectively. The aggregate accumulated benefit obligation for our Pension Plans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $86.9 million and $84.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the aggregate accumulated benefit obligation for the Pension Plans exceeded plan assets.
The investment policies and strategies for the assets of our qualified Pension Plan incorporate a well-diversified approach that is expected to earn long-term returns from capital appreciation and a growing stream of current income. This approach recognizes that assets are exposed to risk, and the market value of the Pension Plan’s assets may fluctuate from year to year. Risk tolerance is determined based on NuStar Energy’s financial ability to withstand risk within the investment program and the willingness to accept return volatility. In line with the investment return objective and risk parameters, the Pension Plan’s mix of assets includes a diversified portfolio of equity and fixed-income instruments. The aggregate asset allocation is reviewed on an annual basis. As of December 31, 2013, the target allocations for plan assets are 65% equity securities and 35% fixed income investments.
The overall expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for the Pension Plan is estimated using models of asset returns. Model assumptions are derived using historical data with the assumption that capital markets are informationally efficient. Three models are used to derive the long-term expected returns for each asset class. Since each method has distinct advantages and disadvantages and differing results, an equal weighted average of the methods’ results is used.
We disclose the fair value for each major class of plan assets in the Pension Plan into three levels: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists.
The major classes of plan assets measured at fair value for the Pension Plan, were as follows:
	December 31, 2013
	Level 1				Level 2				Level 3			Total
	(Thousands of Dollars)
Asset class:
Cash equivalent securities	$	1,552			$	—			$	—		$	1,552
Equity securities:
U.S. large cap equity fund (a)	—				45,756				—			45,756
International stock index fund (b)	7,652				—				—			7,652
Fixed income securities:
Bond market index fund (c)	20,613				—				—			20,613
Total	$	29,817			$	45,756			$	—		$	75,573
	December 31, 2012
	Level 1				Level 2				Level 3			Total
	(Thousands of Dollars)
Asset class:
Cash equivalent securities	$	1,294			$	—			$	—		$	1,294
Equity securities:
U.S. large cap equity fund (a)	—				39,676				—			39,676
International stock index fund (b)	6,652				—				—			6,652
Fixed income securities:
Bond market index fund (c)	21,647				—				—			21,647
Total	$	29,593			$	39,676			$	—		$	69,269
(a)	This fund is a low-cost equity index fund not actively managed that tracks the S&P 500. Fair values were estimated using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flows.
(b)	This fund tracks the performance of the Total International Composite Index.
(c)	This fund tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we contributed $1.8 million to the Pension Plans. We expect to contribute approximately $4.3 million to the Pension Plans during 2014, which principally represents contributions either required by regulations or laws, or with respect to unfunded plans, necessary to fund current benefits. Since costs incurred by us related to the Pension Plan and our other postretirement benefit plan are reimbursed by NuStar Energy, funding for these plans will primarily be provided by NuStar Energy.
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid for the years ending December 31:
	Pension Plans				Other
					Postretirement
					Benefit Plans
	(Thousands of Dollars)
2014	$	7,129			$	141
2015	$	5,337			$	168
2016	$	5,833			$	196
2017	$	6,971			$	220
2018	$	7,392			$	252
Years 2019-2023	$	49,601			$	1,992
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations were as follows:
	Pension Plans						Other
							Postretirement
							Benefit Plans
	December 31,						December 31,
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Discount rate	5.04	%		4.48	%		5.28	%		4.51	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.51	%		3.69	%		n/a			n/a
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost were as follows:
	Pension Plans									Other Postretirement
										Benefit Plans
	Year Ended December 31,									Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011			2013		2012			2011
Discount rate	4.48	%		5.21	%		5.82	%		4.51	%	5.25	%		5.8	%
Expected long-term rate of	6.75	%		7	%		7.5	%		n/a		n/a			n/a
return on plan assets
Rate of compensation increase	3.69	%		4.05	%		4.07	%		n/a		n/a			n/a
The assumed health care cost trend rates were as follows:
	December 31,
	2013			2012
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.45	%		7.64	%
Rate to which the cost trend rate was assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	5	%		5	%
Year that the rate reached the ultimate trend rate	2020			2020
Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans. We sponsor a contributory postretirement health care plan. The plan has an annual limitation (a cap) on the increase of the employer’s share of the cost of covered benefits. The cap on the increase in employer’s cost is 2.5% per year. The assumed increase in total health care cost exceeds the 2.5% indexed cap, so increasing or decreasing the health care cost trend rate by 1% does not materially change our obligation or expense for the postretirement health care plan.

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

'

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION

'

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION

As of December 31, 2013, we sponsored the following long-term incentive plans:

•

The Fourth Amended and Restated 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2000 LTIP), under which NuStar GP, LLC may award up to 3,250,000 NuStar Energy (NS) common units. Awards under the 2000 LTIP can include NS unit options, restricted units, performance awards, distribution equivalent rights (DER) and contractual rights to receive common units. As of December 31, 2013, NS common units that remained available to be awarded totaled 1,517,027 under the 2000 LTIP.

•

The 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2006 LTIP) under which NuStar GP Holdings may award up to 2,000,000 NuStar GP Holdings (NSH) units to our employees, consultants and directors who perform services for us or our affiliates. Awards under the 2006 LTIP can include NSH unit options, performance awards, DER, restricted units, phantom units, unit grants and unit appreciation rights. As of December 31, 2013, a total of 1,494,177 NSH units remained available to be awarded under the 2006 LTIP.

The 2003 Employee Unit Incentive Plan (the UIP), under which NuStar GP, LLC awarded NS common units to employees of NuStar GP, LLC or its affiliates, terminated on June 16, 2013. The 2002 Unit Option Plan (the UOP), under which NuStar GP, LLC awarded NS unit options to officers and directors of NuStar GP, LLC or its affiliates, terminated on March 22, 2012.

We purchase NS common units as needed to satisfy awards granted under the 2000 LTIP, the UOP and the UIP.

The number of awards granted under the above-noted plans were as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

2013

2012

2011

Granted

Vesting

Granted

Vesting

Granted

Vesting

2000 LTIP:

Performance awards

38,786

(a)

33,445

(a)

27,111

(a)

Restricted units (b)

269,182

1/5 per year

231,855

1/5 per year

208,195

1/5 per year

Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP, LLC)

8,904

1/3 per year

8,170

1/3 per year

6,760

1/3 per year

UIP:

Restricted units (c)

—

—

15,382

1/5 per year

14,005

1/5 per year

2006 LTIP:

Restricted units

18,620

1/5 per year

25,640

1/5 per year

24,970

1/5 per year

Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP Holdings) (d)

13,183

1/3 per year

10,601

1/3 per year

9,987

1/3 per year

(a)

Performance awards vest 1/3 per year if certain performance measures are met, as defined in the award agreements.

(b)

The 2000 LTIP restricted unit grants include 3,882 restricted unit awards granted to certain international employees for the year ended December 31, 2013, that vest 1/3 per year, as defined in the award agreements.

(c)

The UIP restricted unit grants include 3,392 and 2,880 restricted unit awards granted to certain international employees for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that vest 1/3 per year, as defined in the award agreements.

(d)

Expenses resulting from our awards to non-employee directors are not reimbursed by NuStar Energy and are included in “General and administrative expenses” on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had accrued $6.2 million and $10.4 million, respectively, for the outstanding awards of NS unit options, performance awards and restricted units in “Accrued compensation expense” on our consolidated balance sheets.

The following table summarizes information pertaining to long-term incentive plan compensation expenses:

Year Ended December 31,

2013

2012

2011

(Thousands of Dollars)

Long-term incentive plan compensation expense

$

7,369

$

7,745

$

8,521

charged to NuStar Energy

Expenses resulting from NuStar GP Holdings awards

19

305

305

to non-employee directors

Unit Options

Under the terms of our unit option plan, the exercise price of options granted is not less than the fair market value of our common units on the date of grant. Options become exercisable pursuant to the individual written agreements between the participants and us, usually in five equal annual installments beginning at the date of grant, with unexercised options expiring seven to ten years from the date of grant.

The fair value of each NSH unit option grant was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the grant date. The expected life of NSH unit options granted is the period of time from the grant date to the date of expected exercise or other expected settlement. Expected volatility for NSH unit options is based on closing prices of NSH common units for periods corresponding to the life of options granted. Expected distribution yield is based on annualized distributions at the grant date for NSH unit options. The risk-free interest rate used is the implied yield currently available from the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the options at the grant date for NSH unit options.

On November 16, 2007, we granted 324,100 NSH unit options at $31.55, which was our only grant of options under the 2006 LTIP. These options expire seven years from the grant date and vest in annual one-third increments beginning on November 16, 2010. The total intrinsic value of unit options exercised during each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $0.1 million. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate intrinsic value of NSH unit options outstanding and exercisable was zero as their market value at December 31, 2013 was less than their exercise price. The number of NSH unit options exercised during each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 11,666 and 11,667, respectively. No NSH unit options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2011. The balance of NSH unit options outstanding was 289,100 and 300,766 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The following table summarizes the status of vested NSH unit options granted under the 2006 LTIP:

Number of

Weighted-

Weighted-

Unit Options

Average

Average

Exercise

Remaining

Price

Contractual

Per Unit

Term

(in years)

Outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2013

289,100

$

31.55

0.9

Restricted Units

The following table summarizes information related to outstanding NSH restricted units awarded under the 2006 LTIP:

Restricted

Restricted

Total

Weighted-

Unit Grants

Unit Grants

Average

to Employees

to Non-

Grant-Date

Employee

Fair Value

Directors

Per Unit

Balance as of January 1, 2013

65,418

19,311

84,729

$

29.74

Granted

18,620

13,183

31,803

$

27.87

Vested

(44,834

)

(11,300

)

(56,134

)

$

29.66

Balance as of December 31, 2013

39,204

21,194

60,398

$

28.83

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of NSH restricted units granted during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $27.87, $28.77 and $30.53 per unit, respectively. The total fair value of NSH restricted units that vested during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1.5 million, $1.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

INCOME_TAXES

INCOME TAXES	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INCOME TAXES	'
	INCOME TAXES
	Components of income tax (expense) benefit were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Current:
	U.S. federal	$	—		$	465		$	129
	U.S. state	(368		)	(42		)	8
	Total current	(368		)	423			137
	Deferred:
	U.S. federal	(599		)	433			251
	U.S. state	175			10			13
	Total deferred	(424		)	443			264
	Total income tax (expense) benefit	$	(792	)	$	866		$	401
	The difference between income tax expense recorded in our consolidated statements of income and income taxes computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate (35% for all years presented) to income before income tax expense is due to the fact that the majority of our income is not subject to federal income tax based on our status as a limited liability company.
	The tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Deferred income tax assets:
	Share/option compensation	$	2,976		$	4,444
	Pension	4,318			15,815
	Capital loss	474			270
	Other state	—			1,263
	Net operating loss	3,519			1,104
	Foreign tax credits	44			20
	Deferred income tax assets	11,331			22,916
	Deferred income tax liabilities:
	Investment in Riverwalk Logistics, L.P. and NuStar Energy	(233		)	(213		)
	Other state	(191		)	—
	Other employee benefits	(13,531		)	(1,351		)
	Total net deferred income tax (liabilities) assets	$	(2,624	)	$	21,352
	At December 31, 2013, our U.S. corporate operations had capital loss carryforwards for tax purposes, which were subject to a five-year carryforward limitation and were set to expire in 2017. The realization of deferred income tax assets recorded as of December 31, 2013 is dependent upon our ability to generate future taxable income in the United States. We believe that it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2013 will be realized, based upon expected future taxable income and potential tax planning strategies.

QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_DATA_UNAUD

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]	'
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)	'
	QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
		First		Second			Third		Fourth			Total
		Quarter		Quarter			Quarter		Quarter
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
	2013:00:00
	Net income (loss)	$	11,075	$	12,559		$	12,035	$	(46,703	)	$	(11,034	)
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per unit	0.26		0.29			0.29		(1.10		)	(0.26		)
	Cash distributions per unit applicable to	0.545		0.545			0.545		0.545			2.18
	limited partners
	2012:00:00
	Net income (loss)	$	11,046	$	(33,208	)	$	19,165	$	5,125		$	2,128
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per unit	0.26		(0.78		)	0.45		0.12			0.05
	Cash distributions per unit applicable to	0.51		0.51			0.545		0.545			2.11
	limited partners

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Consolidation	'
	Consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NuStar GP Holdings and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	'
	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 and Cash Equivalents
	Cash equivalents are all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when acquired.
Investment in NuStar Energy	'
	Investment in NuStar Energy
	We account for our 14.9% investment in NuStar Energy using the equity method. As the general partner, we exercise significant influence over NuStar Energy, even though our ownership did not exceed 20% as of December 31, 2013. We evaluate our investment in NuStar Energy for impairment when there is evidence that we may not be able to recover the carrying amount of our investment or that the investee is unable to sustain an earnings capacity that justifies the carrying amount. We recognize a loss in the value of our investment that is other than a temporary decline currently in earnings based on the difference between the estimated current fair value of the investment and our carrying amount. We believe that the carrying amount of our investment in NuStar Energy as of December 31, 2013 is recoverable.
Accounting for Sales of Units by NuStar Energy	'
	Accounting for Sales of Units by NuStar Energy
	We account for issuances of common units by NuStar Energy as if we had sold a proportionate share of our investment, such that we record any gain or loss in earnings. Please refer to Note 4 for a description of the issuances of common units by NuStar Energy.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	We are a limited liability company taxed as a 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 unitholders. 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.
	On August 14, 2006, NuStar GP, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, elected to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes under Treasury Regulation §301.7701-3(a). We account for income taxes under 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.
	Income tax expense includes federal and state income and withholding taxes currently payable and deferred federal and state income taxes resulting from temporary differences between financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities when such differences exist. We, or certain of our subsidiaries, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. For U.S. federal and state purposes, tax years subject to examination are 2009 through 2012.
	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, 2013 and 2012.
Unit-Based Compensation	'
	Unit-Based Compensation
	We account for awards of NS unit options, performance awards and restricted units to employees and directors of NuStar GP, LLC at fair value, whereby a liability for the award is initially recorded and subsequent changes in the fair value are included in the determination of net income. The fair value of NS unit options is determined using the Black-Scholes model at each reporting date. The fair value of NS restricted units and performance awards equals 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. We record compensation expense each reporting period such that the cumulative compensation expense equals the portion of the award’s current fair value that has vested. We record compensation expense related to NS unit options until such options are exercised, and we record compensation expense for NS restricted units and performance awards until the date of vesting.
	We account for awards of NSH restricted units and unit options granted to employees of NuStar GP, LLC and our directors based on the fair value of the awards at the grant date. 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 units equals the market price of NSH common units at the grant date. Compensation expense for NSH restricted units and unit options is recognized ratably over the vesting period based on the initial fair value determination.
	The liability for awards of NS unit options, performance awards and restricted units is included in “Accrued compensation expense” on our consolidated balance sheets. NuStar Energy reimburses us for the expenses resulting from NS awards and NSH awards to employees providing services to NuStar Energy. Expenses resulting from NSH awards to our non-employee directors are included in “General and administrative expenses” on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
	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. 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. Currently, employees are typically retirement eligible at age 55.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits	'
	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
	We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of our defined benefit pension or postretirement plans as an asset or a liability as of the balance sheet dates. We record changes in the funded status of our plans as a component of comprehensive income (loss) in the year the changes occur.

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Ta

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
NuStar Energy's Balance Sheet Information	'
	Condensed consolidated financial information reported by NuStar Energy is presented below:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Balance Sheet Information:
	Current assets	$	633,549		$	939,443
	Property, plant and equipment, net	3,310,653			3,238,460
	Goodwill	617,429			951,024
	Other non-current assets	470,555			484,162
	Total assets	$	5,032,186		$	5,613,089
	Current liabilities	$	392,572		$	845,971
	Long-term debt, less current portion	2,655,553			2,124,582
	Other non-current liabilities	80,267			57,541
	Total liabilities	3,128,392			3,028,094
	NuStar Energy partners’ equity	1,902,136			2,572,384
	Noncontrolling interest	1,658			12,611
	Total liabilities and partners’ equity	$	5,032,186		$	5,613,089
NuStar Energy's Statement of Income (Loss) Information	'
	Condensed consolidated financial information reported by NuStar Energy is presented below:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Statement of (Loss) Income Information:
	Revenues	$	3,463,732		$	5,945,736		$	6,257,629
	Operating (loss) income	$	(19,121	)	$	(18,168	)	$	310,883
	(Loss) income from continuing operations	$	(185,509	)	$	(166,001	)	$	218,674
	(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(99,162		)	(61,236		)	2,927
	Net (loss) income	$	(284,671	)	$	(227,237	)	$	221,601
Reconciliation of NuStar Energybs total partnersb equity to our investment in NuStar Energy	'
	Our investment in NuStar Energy reconciles to NuStar Energy’s total partners’ equity as follows:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar Energy’s partners’ equity	$	1,902,136		$	2,572,384
	NuStar GP Holdings’ ownership interest in NuStar Energy	14.9		%	15		%
	NuStar GP Holdings’ share of NuStar Energy’s partners’ equity	283,418			385,858
	Step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy’s assets and liabilities,	74,038			79,123
	including equity method goodwill, and other
	Investment in NuStar Energy	$	357,456		$	464,981
Summary of Equity in Earnings (Loss) of NuStar Energy	'
	The following table summarizes our equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar GP Holdings’ Equity in (Loss) Earnings of NuStar Energy:
	General partner interest	$	(6,338	)	$	(5,356	)	$	3,703
	General partner incentive distribution (a)	43,220			41,242			36,319
	General partner’s interest in earnings and	36,882			35,886			40,022
	incentive distributions of NuStar Energy
	Limited partner interest in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy	(40,739		)	(37,580		)	28,645
	Amortization of step-up in basis related to	(2,884		)	(2,884		)	(2,884		)
	NuStar Energy’s assets and liabilities
	Equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy	$	(6,741	)	$	(4,578	)	$	65,783
	(a)	Our equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy allocated to the general partner incentive distribution is less than the actual distribution made with respect to 2011, due to NuStar Energy’s issuance of common units after the end of the third quarter, but before the record date.

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Tab

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Schedule of total related party transactions	'
	The following table summarizes information pertaining to related party transactions:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Expenses for payroll, employee benefit plans and unit-based compensation	$	190,643	$	225,135	$	216,380
	Other expenses	$	434	$	437	$	402

DISTRIBUTIONS_FROM_NUSTAR_ENER1

DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY [Abstract]	'
Schedule of distributions to general and limited partners [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table reflects the allocation of NuStar Energy’s cash distributions earned for the periods indicated among its general and limited partners:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
	General partner interest	$	7,844		$	7,486		$	6,630
	General partner incentive distribution	43,220			41,242			36,326
	Total general partner distribution	51,064			48,728			42,956
	Limited partner distribution	44,975			45,152			44,812
	Total distributions to NuStar GP Holdings	96,039			93,880			87,768
	Public unitholders’ distributions	296,165			280,374			243,738
	Total cash distributions	$	392,204		$	374,254		$	331,506
	Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners	$	4.38		$	4.38		$	4.36
Distributions Made to Limited Partner, by Distribution [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes information related to NuStar Energy’s quarterly cash distributions:
	Quarter Ended		Cash Distributions Per Unit			Total Cash Distributions (Thousands of Dollars)			Record Date	Payment Date
	December 31, 2013 (a)		$	1.095		$	98,051		February 10, 2014	February 14, 2014
	30-Sep-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		November 11, 2013	November 14, 2013
	30-Jun-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		August 5, 2013	August 9, 2013
	31-Mar-13		$	1.095		$	98,051		May 6, 2013	May 10, 2013
	(a)	The distribution was announced on January 30, 2014.

ACCRUED_COMPENSATION_EXPENSE_A1

ACCRUED COMPENSATION EXPENSE AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
ACCRUED COMPENSATION EXPENSE AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accrued Compensation Expense and Long-term Liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
	Accrued compensation expense and long-term liabilities consisted of the following:
		Accrued Compensation Expense				Long-term Liabilities
		December 31,				December 31,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	NuStar Energy restricted units	$	6,224	$	10,376	$	—	$	—
	Pension liabilities (Note 14)	2,333		137		9,726		44,640
	Other postretirement benefit plan liabilities (Note 14)	141		243		7,013		20,719
	Other employee-related liabilities	3,620		4,212		1,568		1,737
	Total	$	12,318	$	14,968	$	18,307	$	67,096

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Tables

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'
	The following liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
		December 31, 2013
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Accrued compensation expense:
	NuStar Energy restricted units	$	6,224	$	—	$	—	$	6,224
	Total	$	6,224	$	—	$	—	$	6,224
		December 31, 2012
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Accrued compensation expense:
	NuStar Energy restricted units	$	10,376	$	—	$	—	$	10,376
	Total	$	10,376	$	—	$	—	$	10,376

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS_Table

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]	'
Changes in current assets and liabilities	'
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Decrease (increase) in current assets:
	Receivable from related parties	$	338		$	1,077		$	5,771
	Income tax receivable	1,252			(780		)	(1,339		)
	Other receivables	70			211			550
	Other current assets	(187		)	(210		)	(62		)
	Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:
	Accounts payable	(678		)	542			104
	Accrued compensation expense	(4,743		)	(4,557		)	(5,601		)
	Accrued liabilities	107			(33		)	64
	Income tax payable	—			—			(302		)
	Taxes other than income tax	(159		)	112			231
	Changes in current assets and current liabilities	$	(4,000	)	$	(3,638	)	$	(584	)
Cash flows related to interest and income tax	'
	Cash flows related to interest and income tax were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Cash paid for interest	$	561		$	475		$	385
	Cash (refunded) paid for income tax, net	$	(885	)	$	356		$	1,504

NET_INCOME_LOSS_PER_UNIT_Table

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Unit amounts used in the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per unit	'
	Unit amounts used in the computation of basic and diluted net income per unit were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013	2012	2011
	Basic units outstanding:
	Weighted-average number of basic units outstanding	42,619,722	42,576,858	42,546,096
	Diluted units outstanding:
	Weighted-average number of basic units outstanding	42,619,722	42,576,858	42,546,096
	Effect of dilutive securities	—	7,809	26,521
	Weighted-average number of diluted units outstanding	42,619,722	42,584,667	42,572,617

MEMBERS_EQUITY_Tables

MEMBERS' EQUITY (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Members' Equity [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table presents changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component:
		Share of			Pension and			Accumulated
		NuStar			Other			Other
		Energy’s Other			Postretirement			Comprehensive
		Comprehensive			Benefit Plan			(Loss) Income
		Income (Loss)			Adjustments
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Balance as of January 1, 2011	$	8,134		$	(7,663	)	$	471
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassification adjustments	(12,580		)	(11,094		)	(23,674		)
	Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	—			538			538
	Other comprehensive loss	(12,580		)	(10,556		)	(23,136		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2011	(4,446		)	(18,219		)	(22,665		)
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassification adjustments	(4,297		)	(6,574		)	(10,871		)
	Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	—			1,514			1,514
	Other comprehensive loss	(4,297		)	(5,060		)	(9,357		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2012	(8,743		)	(23,279		)	(32,022		)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(674		)	39,596			38,922
	Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	—			2,041			2,041
	Other comprehensive (loss) income	(674		)	41,637			40,963
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	(9,417	)	$	18,358		$	8,941
	(a)	We recognized the net loss reclassified into income as general and administrative expenses. NuStar Energy reimburses us for these employee costs.
Our cash distributions applicable to the period in which the distributions were earned [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes our cash distributions applicable to the period in which the distributions were earned:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
	Cash distributions per unit	$	2.18		$	2.11		$	1.98
	Total cash distributions	$	92,938		$	89,860		$	84,252
Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company (LLC) Member, by Distribution [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes information related to our quarterly cash distributions:
	Quarter Ended		Cash Distributions Per Unit			Total Cash Distributions (Thousands of Dollars)			Record Date		Payment Date
	December 31, 2013 (a)		$	0.545		$	23,249		February 10, 2014		February 18, 2014
	30-Sep-13		$	0.545		$	23,231		November 11, 2013		November 19, 2013
	30-Jun-13		$	0.545		$	23,236		August 5, 2013		August 14, 2013
	31-Mar-13		$	0.545		$	23,222		May 6, 2013		May 15, 2013
	(a)	The distribution was announced on January 30, 2014.

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Tables

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Disclosures for our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans	'
	The changes in the benefit obligation, the changes in fair value of plan assets, the funded status and the amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheet for our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
		Pension Plans								Other Postretirement
										Benefit Plans
		2013				2012				2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation, January 1	$	114,046			$	78,017			$	20,962		$	18,672
	Service cost	16,321				15,614				1,171			1,258
	Interest cost	5,036				4,012				940			976
	Transfer to joint venture	—				—				(1,284		)	(90		)
	Disposition charges (a)	180				4,397				—			1,284
	Plan amendments	(24,560		)		(295		)		(11,822		)	(2,420		)
	Benefits paid	(7,353		)		(1,647		)		(248		)	(149		)
	Participants contributions	—				—				125			62
	Actuarial (gain) loss	(15,708		)		18,359				(2,690		)	2,622
	Curtailment (a)	(330		)		(4,411		)		—			(1,253		)
	Benefit obligation, December 31	$	87,632			$	114,046			$	7,154		$	20,962
	Change in plan assets:
	Plan assets at fair value, January 1	$	69,269			$	53,787			$	—		$	—
	Actual return on plan assets	11,905				6,063				—			—
	Company contributions	1,752				11,066				123			87
	Benefits paid	(7,353		)		(1,647		)		(248		)	(149		)
	Participants contributions	—				—				125			62
	Plan assets at fair value, December 31	$	75,573			$	69,269			$	—		$	—
	Reconciliation of funded status:
	Fair value of plan assets at December 31	$	75,573			$	69,269			$	—		$	—
	Less: Benefit obligation at December 31	87,632				114,046				7,154			20,962
	Funded status at December 31	$	(12,059	)		$	(44,777	)		$	(7,154	)	$	(20,962	)
	Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:
	Accrued compensation expense	$	(2,333	)		$	(137	)		$	(141	)	$	(243	)
	Long-term liabilities	(9,726		)		(44,640		)		(7,013		)	(20,719		)
	Net pension liability	$	(12,059	)		$	(44,777	)		$	(7,154	)	$	(20,962	)
	(a)	Disposition charge in 2013 relates to NuStar Energy’s San Antonio Refinery Sale and the curtailment in 2013 relates to the SERP retirement benefits. Disposition charges and curtailment in 2012 relate to the Asphalt Sale.
The components of net periodic benefit cost	'
	The components of net periodic benefit cost related to our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans, which are reimbursed to us by NuStar Energy, were as follows:
		Pension Plans											Other Postretirement
													Benefit Plans
		Year Ended December 31,											Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011			2013				2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Components of net periodic benefit
	cost:
	Service cost	$	16,321			$	15,614			$	12,484		$	1,171			$	1,258		$	1,040
	Interest cost	5,036				4,012				2,881			940				976			888
	Expected return on plan assets	(4,535		)		(3,917		)		(3,617		)	—				—			—
	Amortization of prior service credit	(41		)		(18		)		(18		)	(198		)		—			—
	Amortization of net loss	2,071				1,393				485			209				139			71
	Net periodic benefit cost before other charges	18,852				17,084				12,215			2,122				2,373			1,999
	Other charges (a)	847				4,397				—			—				1,284			—
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	19,699			$	21,481			$	12,215		$	2,122			$	3,657		$	1,999
	(a)	In 2013 other charges for the Pension Plans include an Excess Pension settlement, disposition charges and a curtailment gain associated with the SERP retirement benefits. Other charges in 2012 include disposition charges related to Asphalt JV.
Adjustments recognized in other comprehensive (loss) income	'
	Adjustments recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) related to our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
		Pension Plans											Other Postretirement
													Benefit Plans
		Year Ended December 31,											Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011			2013				2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Net unrecognized gain (loss)
	arising during the year:
	Net actuarial gain (loss) (a)	$	24,122			$	(11,800	)		$	(16,260	)	$	2,690			$	(1,368	)	$	(1,433	)
	Prior service credit	24,514				295				—			11,822				2,420			—
	Net unrealized gain (loss)	48,636				(11,505		)		(16,260		)	14,512				1,052			(1,433		)
	arising during the year
	Net loss reclassified into income:
	Amortization of prior service credit	(41		)		(18		)		(18		)	(198		)		—			—
	Amortization of net loss	2,071				1,393				485			209				139			71
	Net loss reclassified into income	2,030				1,375				467			11				139			71
	Income tax (expense) benefit	(18,053		)		4,269				6,064			(5,499		)		(390		)	535
	Total changes in other	$	32,613			$	(5,861	)		$	(9,729	)	$	9,024			$	801		$	(827	)
	comprehensive income (loss)
	(a) In 2013 net actuarial gain (loss) for the Pension Plans includes an Excess Pension settlement and in 2012 includes the Asphalt JV curtailment.
The amounts recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss	'
	The amounts recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our Pension Plans and other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
		Pension Plans											Other Postretirement
													Benefit Plans
		December 31,											December 31,
		2013				2012				2011			2013				2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Unrecognized actuarial loss (a)	$	(10,283	)		$	(36,476	)		$	(26,069	)	$	(2,289	)		$	(5,188	)	$	(3,959	)
	Prior service credit (a)	24,853				380				103			14,044				2,420			—
	Deferred tax (liability) asset	(3,639		)		14,414				10,145			(4,328		)		1,171			1,561
	Accumulated other comprehensive	$	10,931			$	(21,682	)		$	(15,821	)	$	7,427			$	(1,597	)	$	(2,398	)
	income (loss), net of tax
	(a)	Represents the balance of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that has not been recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost.
Schedule of fair value of plan assets	'
	The major classes of plan assets measured at fair value for the Pension Plan, were as follows:
		December 31, 2013
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3			Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Asset class:
	Cash equivalent securities	$	1,552			$	—			$	—		$	1,552
	Equity securities:
	U.S. large cap equity fund (a)	—				45,756				—			45,756
	International stock index fund (b)	7,652				—				—			7,652
	Fixed income securities:
	Bond market index fund (c)	20,613				—				—			20,613
	Total	$	29,817			$	45,756			$	—		$	75,573
		December 31, 2012
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3			Total
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Asset class:
	Cash equivalent securities	$	1,294			$	—			$	—		$	1,294
	Equity securities:
	U.S. large cap equity fund (a)	—				39,676				—			39,676
	International stock index fund (b)	6,652				—				—			6,652
	Fixed income securities:
	Bond market index fund (c)	21,647				—				—			21,647
	Total	$	29,593			$	39,676			$	—		$	69,269
	(a)	This fund is a low-cost equity index fund not actively managed that tracks the S&P 500. Fair values were estimated using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flows.
	(b)	This fund tracks the performance of the Total International Composite Index.
	(c)	This fund tracks the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
Schedule of expected benefit payments	'
	The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid for the years ending December 31:
		Pension Plans				Other
						Postretirement
						Benefit Plans
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	2014	$	7,129			$	141
	2015	$	5,337			$	168
	2016	$	5,833			$	196
	2017	$	6,971			$	220
	2018	$	7,392			$	252
	Years 2019-2023	$	49,601			$	1,992
Assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations	'
	The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations were as follows:
		Pension Plans						Other
								Postretirement
								Benefit Plans
		December 31,						December 31,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Discount rate	5.04	%		4.48	%		5.28	%		4.51	%
	Rate of compensation increase	3.51	%		3.69	%		n/a			n/a
Assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost	'
	The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost were as follows:
		Pension Plans									Other Postretirement
											Benefit Plans
		Year Ended December 31,									Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011			2013		2012			2011
	Discount rate	4.48	%		5.21	%		5.82	%		4.51	%	5.25	%		5.8	%
	Expected long-term rate of	6.75	%		7	%		7.5	%		n/a		n/a			n/a
	return on plan assets
	Rate of compensation increase	3.69	%		4.05	%		4.07	%		n/a		n/a			n/a
Schedule of assumed health care cost trend rates	'
	The assumed health care cost trend rates were as follows:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.45	%		7.64	%
	Rate to which the cost trend rate was assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	5	%		5	%
	Year that the rate reached the ultimate trend rate	2020			2020

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION_Tables

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

'

The number of awards granted under long-term incentive plans

'

The number of awards granted under the above-noted plans were as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

2013

2012

2011

Granted

Vesting

Granted

Vesting

Granted

Vesting

2000 LTIP:

Performance awards

38,786

(a)

33,445

(a)

27,111

(a)

Restricted units (b)

269,182

1/5 per year

231,855

1/5 per year

208,195

1/5 per year

Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP, LLC)

8,904

1/3 per year

8,170

1/3 per year

6,760

1/3 per year

UIP:

Restricted units (c)

—

—

15,382

1/5 per year

14,005

1/5 per year

2006 LTIP:

Restricted units

18,620

1/5 per year

25,640

1/5 per year

24,970

1/5 per year

Restricted units (grants to non-employee directors of NuStar GP Holdings) (d)

13,183

1/3 per year

10,601

1/3 per year

9,987

1/3 per year

(a)

Performance awards vest 1/3 per year if certain performance measures are met, as defined in the award agreements.

(b)

The 2000 LTIP restricted unit grants include 3,882 restricted unit awards granted to certain international employees for the year ended December 31, 2013, that vest 1/3 per year, as defined in the award agreements.

(c)

The UIP restricted unit grants include 3,392 and 2,880 restricted unit awards granted to certain international employees for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that vest 1/3 per year, as defined in the award agreements.

(d)

Expenses resulting from our awards to non-employee directors are not reimbursed by NuStar Energy and are included in “General and administrative expenses” on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

Summary of long-term incentive plan compensation expenses

'

The following table summarizes information pertaining to long-term incentive plan compensation expenses:

Year Ended December 31,

2013

2012

2011

(Thousands of Dollars)

Long-term incentive plan compensation expense

$

7,369

$

7,745

$

8,521

charged to NuStar Energy

Expenses resulting from NuStar GP Holdings awards

19

305

305

to non-employee directors

The status of vested NSH unit options granted under the 2006 LTIP

'

The following table summarizes the status of vested NSH unit options granted under the 2006 LTIP:

Number of

Weighted-

Weighted-

Unit Options

Average

Average

Exercise

Remaining

Price

Contractual

Per Unit

Term

(in years)

Outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2013

289,100

$

31.55

0.9

NSH restricted units award activity

'

The following table summarizes information related to outstanding NSH restricted units awarded under the 2006 LTIP:

Restricted

Restricted

Total

Weighted-

Unit Grants

Unit Grants

Average

to Employees

to Non-

Grant-Date

Employee

Fair Value

Directors

Per Unit

Balance as of January 1, 2013

65,418

19,311

84,729

$

29.74

Granted

18,620

13,183

31,803

$

27.87

Vested

(44,834

)

(11,300

)

(56,134

)

$

29.66

Balance as of December 31, 2013

39,204

21,194

60,398

$

28.83

INCOME_TAXES_Tables

INCOME TAXES (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Components of income tax (expense) benefit	'
	Components of income tax (expense) benefit were as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Current:
	U.S. federal	$	—		$	465		$	129
	U.S. state	(368		)	(42		)	8
	Total current	(368		)	423			137
	Deferred:
	U.S. federal	(599		)	433			251
	U.S. state	175			10			13
	Total deferred	(424		)	443			264
	Total income tax (expense) benefit	$	(792	)	$	866		$	401
The tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred income tax assets and liabilities	'
	The tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
		(Thousands of Dollars)
	Deferred income tax assets:
	Share/option compensation	$	2,976		$	4,444
	Pension	4,318			15,815
	Capital loss	474			270
	Other state	—			1,263
	Net operating loss	3,519			1,104
	Foreign tax credits	44			20
	Deferred income tax assets	11,331			22,916
	Deferred income tax liabilities:
	Investment in Riverwalk Logistics, L.P. and NuStar Energy	(233		)	(213		)
	Other state	(191		)	—
	Other employee benefits	(13,531		)	(1,351		)
	Total net deferred income tax (liabilities) assets	$	(2,624	)	$	21,352

QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_DATA_UNAUD1

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]	'
		First		Second			Third		Fourth			Total
		Quarter		Quarter			Quarter		Quarter
		(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)
	2013:00:00
	Net income (loss)	$	11,075	$	12,559		$	12,035	$	(46,703	)	$	(11,034	)
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per unit	0.26		0.29			0.29		(1.10		)	(0.26		)
	Cash distributions per unit applicable to	0.545		0.545			0.545		0.545			2.18
	limited partners
	2012:00:00
	Net income (loss)	$	11,046	$	(33,208	)	$	19,165	$	5,125		$	2,128
	Basic and diluted net income (loss) per unit	0.26		(0.78		)	0.45		0.12			0.05
	Cash distributions per unit applicable to	0.51		0.51			0.545		0.545			2.11
	limited partners

ORGANIZATION_Narrative_Details

ORGANIZATION Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Percent ownership in NuStar Energy	14.90%	15.00%	16.30%	17.60%
General partner interest percentage	2.00%	'	'	'
Percent of incentive distribution rights (IDR) issued by NuStar Energy	100.00%	'	'	'
Maximum percentage of cash distributed by NuStar Energy	23.00%	'	'	'
Common units of NuStar Energy	10,228,945	'	'	'
Percent of limited partner interest	12.90%	'	'	'

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT2

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'	'
Tax Years Subject to Examination	'We, or certain of our subsidiaries, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. For U.S. federal and state purposes, tax years subject to examination are 2009 through 2012	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$0	$0

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Na

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investment in NuStar Energy in order to maintain 2% interest	$3,913,000	$18,005,000	$17,031,000	'
General partner interest percentage	2.00%	'	'	'
Percent ownership in NuStar Energy	14.90%	15.00%	16.30%	17.60%
Gain related to NuStar Energy L.P.'s issuance of limited partner units	0	10,689,000	8,074,000	'
NuStar Energy - September 2012 Offering [Member]	'	'	'	'
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Limited partner units issued by NuStar Energy	'	7,130,000	'	'
Price of limited partner units issued by NuStar Energy, per unit	'	$48.94	'	'
Proceeds, net of issuance cost, from issuance of NuStar Energy limited partner units	'	336,800,000	'	'
Investment in NuStar Energy in order to maintain 2% interest	'	7,100,000	'	'
NuStar Energy - 2011 Offerings [Member]	'	'	'	'
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Investment in NuStar Energy in order to maintain 2% interest	'	'	6,700,000	'
NuStar Energy - December 2011 Offering [Member]	'	'	'	'
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Limited partner units issued by NuStar Energy	'	'	6,037,500	'
Price of limited partner units issued by NuStar Energy, per unit	'	'	$53.45	'
Proceeds, net of issuance cost, from issuance of NuStar Energy limited partner units	'	'	311,400,000	'
NuStar Energy - September and October 2011 Offerings [Member]	'	'	'	'
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Limited partner units issued by NuStar Energy	'	'	108,029	'
Proceeds, net of issuance cost, from issuance of NuStar Energy limited partner units	'	'	$5,900,000	'

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Na1

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY Narrative 2 (Details) (NuStar Energy [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	TexStar Asset Acquisition [Member]	San Antonio Refinery Sale [Member]	Sale of Asphalt Operations [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'
NuStar Energy's Disposal Date	'	1-Jan-13	28-Sep-12
NuStar Energy's Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets	'	$117	'
NuStar Energy's Effective date of acquisition	13-Dec-12	'	'
NuStar Energy's Percentage acquired	100.00%	'	'
NuStar Energy's Purchase price of acquired entity	$325.40	'	'
NuStar Energy's Acquired pipeline miles	'140 miles	'	'
NuStar Energy's Acquired storage capacity (in barrels)	600,000	'	'
NuStar Energy's Percent Ownership Interest Sold	'	'	50.00%

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Ta1

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY Table 1 (Details) (NuStar Energy [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
NuStar Energy [Member]	'	'
Balance Sheet Information:	'	'
Current assets	$633,549	$939,443
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,310,653	3,238,460
Goodwill	617,429	951,024
Other non-current assets	470,555	484,162
Total assets	5,032,186	5,613,089
Current liabilities	392,572	845,971
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,655,553	2,124,582
Other non-current liabilities	80,267	57,541
Total liabilities	3,128,392	3,028,094
NuStar Energy partners' equity	1,902,136	2,572,384
Noncontrolling interest	1,658	12,611
Total liabilities and partnersb equity	$5,032,186	$5,613,089

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Ta2

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY Table 2 (Details) (NuStar Energy [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
NuStar Energy [Member]	'	'	'
Statement of Income Information:	'	'	'
Revenues	$3,463,732	$5,945,736	$6,257,629
Operating (loss) income	-19,121	-18,168	310,883
(Loss) income from continuing operations	-185,509	-166,001	218,674
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	-99,162	-61,236	2,927
Net (loss) income	($284,671)	($227,237)	$221,601

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Ta3

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY Table 3 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Reconciliation of NuStar Energybs total partnersb equity to our investment in NuStar Energy	'	'	'	'
NuStar GP Holdingsb ownership interest in NuStar Energy	14.90%	15.00%	16.30%	17.60%
NuStar GP Holdingsb share of NuStar Energybs partnersb equity	$283,418	$385,858	'	'
Step-up in basis related to NuStar Energybs assets and liabilities, including equity method goodwill, and other	74,038	79,123	'	'
Investment in NuStar Energy	357,456	464,981	'	'
NuStar Energy [Member]	'	'	'	'
Reconciliation of NuStar Energybs total partnersb equity to our investment in NuStar Energy	'	'	'	'
NuStar Energy's partners' equity	$1,902,136	$2,572,384	'	'

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Na2

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY Narrative 3 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2001
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Description of step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy's assets and liabilities [Abstract]	'
Unamortized step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy's assets and liabilities	$81.80
Step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy's assets and liabilities, amortization period, in years	28
NuStar Energy [Member]	'
Description of step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy's assets and liabilities [Abstract]	'
Valero Energy's proportionate interest in NuStar Energy's identifiable assets and liabilies	73.60%
Percent of equity interest in NuStar Energy owned by public unitholders	26.40%

INVESTMENT_IN_NUSTAR_ENERGY_Ta4

INVESTMENT IN NUSTAR ENERGY Table 4 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
NuStar GP Holdingsb Equity in (Loss) Earnings of NuStar Energy	'	'	'
General partner interest	($6,338)	($5,356)	$3,703
General partner incentive distribution	43,220	41,242	36,319
General partnerbs interest in earnings and incentive distributions of NuStar Energy	36,882	35,886	40,022
Limited partner interest in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy	-40,739	-37,580	28,645
Amortization of step-up in basis related to NuStar Energybs assets and liabilities	-2,884	-2,884	-2,884
Equity in (loss) earnings of NuStar Energy	($6,741)	($4,578)	$65,783

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Nar

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'
Receivable from related parties	$9,617	$7,870
Long-term receivable from related party	$41,139	$18,071

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Tab1

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Table (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expenses for payroll, employee benefit plans and unit-based compensation	$190,643	$225,135	$216,380
Other expenses	$434	$437	$402

RELATED_PARTY_TRANSACTIONS_Nar1

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Narrative 2 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Asphalt JV [Member] | Asphalt JV Services Agreement [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Services Agreements, Description	'The Asphalt JV Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC furnish certain administrative and other operating services necessary to conduct the business of Asphalt JV. Asphalt JV compensates us for these services through an annual fee totaling $10.0 million, subject to adjustment based on the annual merit increase percentage applicable to our employees for the most recently completed contract year.	'	'
Services Agreements, Termination Date	31-Dec-17	'	'
Administrative services expense	$7.90	'	'
Administrative Fees Reduction, Description	'Asphalt JV may terminate the Asphalt JV Services Agreement at any time, with 180 days prior written notice or reduce the level of service with 45 days prior written notice	'	'
Percentage of Services Used Under Agreement with Related Party	63.00%	'	'
Asphalt JV [Member] | Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Services Agreements, Description	'	'The Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement provided that certain of NuStar GP, LLC employees would provide employee-services to Asphalt JV. In exchange, Asphalt JV would reimburse us for the compensation expense of those employees at the same rates that were in effect at the effective date of the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement, including an annual bonus amount that does not exceed our target bonus plan. The employees covered under the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement were not entitled to any new unit-based compensation grants from us, and Asphalt JV was not responsible for unit-based compensation costs prior to the effective date.	'
Services Agreements, Termination Date	'	31-Dec-12	'
NuStar Energy [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Related Party Non-Compete, Description	'The Non-Compete Agreement remains in effect for so long as we or any of our affiliates own 20% or more of NuStar GP, LLC or Riverwalk Logistics, L.P.	'	'
NuStar Energy [Member] | GP Services Agreement [Member]	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'
Services Agreements, Description	'The GP Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC will furnish administrative and certain operating services necessary to conduct the business of NuStar Energy. All employees providing services to both NuStar GP Holdings and NuStar Energy are employed by NuStar GP, LLC; therefore, NuStar Energy reimburses NuStar GP, LLC for all employee costs, other than the expenses allocated to NuStar GP Holdings (the Holdco Administrative Services Expense). The Holdco Administrative Services Expense is based on $1.1 million, plus 1.0% of NuStar GP, LLCbs domestic bonus and unit-based compensation expense, subject to certain other adjustments.	'	'
Services Agreements, Termination Date	31-Dec-14	'	'
Administrative services expense	$1.40	$1.30	$1.40

DISTRIBUTIONS_FROM_NUSTAR_ENER2

DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'
Minimum NuStar Energy quarterly distribution required for incentive distribution entitlement	$0.60
Maximum percentage of cash distributed by NuStar Energy	23.00%
NuStar Energy quarterly distribution required for maximum incentive distribution entitlement	$0.66
General partner interest percentage	2.00%

DISTRIBUTIONS_FROM_NUSTAR_ENER3

DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY Table 1 (Details) (NuStar Energy [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
NuStar Energy [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
The allocation of NuStar Energybs cash distributions earned for the periods indicated among its general and limited partners	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
General partner interest	'	'	'	'	$7,844	$7,486	$6,630
General partner incentive distribution	'	'	'	'	43,220	41,242	36,326
Total general partner distribution	'	'	'	'	51,064	48,728	42,956
Limited partner distribution	'	'	'	'	44,975	45,152	44,812
Total distributions to NuStar GP Holdings	'	'	'	'	96,039	93,880	87,768
Public unitholdersb distributions	'	'	'	'	296,165	280,374	243,738
Total cash distributions	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$392,204	$374,254	$331,506
Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$4.38	$4.38	$4.36

DISTRIBUTIONS_FROM_NUSTAR_ENER4

DISTRIBUTIONS FROM NUSTAR ENERGY Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Distributions from NuStar Energy (dates and totals)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
NuStar Energy's Distribution announcement date (distribution earned)	30-Jan-14	'	'	'	'	'	'
NuStar Energy [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Distributions from NuStar Energy (dates and totals)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
NuStar Energy's Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partner (distribution earned)	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$1.09	$4.38	$4.38	$4.36
NuStar Energy's Total cash distributions (distribution earned)	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$98,051	$392,204	$374,254	$331,506
NuStar Energy's Distribution date of record (distribution earned)	10-Feb-14	11-Nov-13	5-Aug-13	6-May-13	'	'	'
NuStar Energy's Distribution payment date (distribution earned)	14-Feb-14	14-Nov-13	9-Aug-13	10-May-13	'	'	'

ACCRUED_COMPENSATION_EXPENSE_A2

ACCRUED COMPENSATION EXPENSE AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES Table (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued compensation expense	'	'
NuStar Energy restricted units, current	$6,224	$10,376
Pension liabilities, current	2,333	137
Other postretirement benefit plan liabilities, current	141	243
Other employee-related liabilities, current	3,620	4,212
Accrued compensation expense	12,318	14,968
Long-term liabilities	'	'
NuStar Energy restricted units, noncurrent	0	0
Pension liabilities, noncurrent	9,726	44,640
Other postretirement benefit plan liabilities, noncurrent	7,013	20,719
Other employee-related liabilities, noncurrent	1,568	1,737
Long-term liabilities	$18,307	$67,096

FAIR_VALUE_MEASUREMENTS_Table_

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued compensation expense:	'	'
NuStar Energy restricted units	$6,224	$10,376
Total	6,224	10,376
Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Accrued compensation expense:	'	'
NuStar Energy restricted units	6,224	10,376
Total	6,224	10,376
Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Accrued compensation expense:	'	'
NuStar Energy restricted units	0	0
Total	0	0
Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Accrued compensation expense:	'	'
NuStar Energy restricted units	0	0
Total	$0	$0

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS_Table1

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Decrease (increase) in current assets:	'	'	'
Receivable from related parties	$338	$1,077	$5,771
Income tax receivable	1,252	-780	-1,339
Other receivables	70	211	550
Other current assets	-187	-210	-62
Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:	'	'	'
Accounts payable	-678	542	104
Accrued compensation expense	-4,743	-4,557	-5,601
Accrued liabilities	107	-33	64
Income tax payable	0	0	-302
Taxes other than income tax	-159	112	231
Changes in current assets and liabilities	($4,000)	($3,638)	($584)

STATEMENTS_OF_CASH_FLOWS_Table2

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows related to interest and income tax	'	'	'
Cash paid for interest	$561	$475	$385
Cash paid (refunded) for income tax, net	($885)	$356	$1,504

CREDIT_FACILITY_Narrative_Deta

CREDIT FACILITY Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				NuStar Energy Consolidated Debt Coverage Ratio [Member]	Cash Distributions Covenant [Member]	2013 Credit Facility [Member]	2013 Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
General partner interest percentage	2.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility, Name	'	'	'	'	'	'364-day revolving credit agreement	'
Credit Facility, Initiation Date	'	'	'	'	'	28-Jun-13	'
Credit Facility, Maturity Date	'	'	'	'	'	27-Jun-14	'
Credit Facility, Borrowing Capacity	'	'	'	'	'	$40,000,000	$40,000,000
Credit Facility, Letters of Credit Capacity	'	'	'	'	'	10,000,000	10,000,000
Credit Facility, Collateral	'	'	'	'	'	'Our obligations under the 2013 Credit Facility are guaranteed by Riverwalk Holdings, LLC (Riverwalk), a wholly owned subsidiary. Riverwalk pledged 1,792,918 NuStar Energy units that it owns to secure its guarantee.	'
Credit Facility, Outstanding borrowings	26,000,000	20,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility, Borrowing Availability	14,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description	'	'	'	'	'	'Interest on the 2013 Credit Facility is based upon, at our option, either an alternative base rate, plus 1.00% or a LIBOR-based rate, plus 2.00%	'
Credit Facility, Interest Rate	'	'	'	'	'	2.20%	2.20%
Credit Facility, Covenant Terms	'	'	'	'The terms of the 2013 Credit Facility require NuStar Energy to maintain, as of the end of each rolling period, which consists of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio not to exceed 5.0-to-1.0. If NuStar Energy consummates an acquisition for an aggregate net consideration of at least $50.0 million, the maximum consolidated debt coverage ratio will increase to 5.5-to-1.0 for two rolling periods.	'receive cash distributions of at least $12.5 million in respect of our ownership interests in NuStar Energy each fiscal quarter	'	'
NuStar Energy's Consolidated Debt Coverage Ratio	'4.4	'	'	'	'	'	'
Borrowings Under the Credit Facility	26,000,000	21,000,000	6,000,000	'	'	'	'
Repayment of previous credit facility	18,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Other	7,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Repayments Under the Credit Facility	$20,000,000	$17,500,000	$5,500,000	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility, Weighted-Average Interest Rate Related to Borrowings	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.10%

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES_

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	$0

NET_INCOME_LOSS_PER_UNIT_Table1

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT Table (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Basic and diluted units outstanding:	'	'	'
Weighted-average number of basic units outstanding	42,619,722	42,576,858	42,546,096
Effect of dilutive securities	0	7,809	26,521
Weighted-average number of diluted units outstanding	42,619,722	42,584,667	42,572,617

MEMBERS_EQUITY_Table_1_Details

MEMBERS' EQUITY Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	($32,022)	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	40,963	-9,357	-23,136
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	8,941	-32,022	'
Share of NuStar Energy's Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	'	'	'
AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	-8,743	-4,446	8,134
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	-674	-4,297	-12,580
Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-674	-4,297	-12,580
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	-9,417	-8,743	-4,446
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plan Adjustments, Net of Tax [Member]	'	'	'
AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	-23,279	-18,219	-7,663
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	39,596	-6,574	-11,094
Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	2,041	1,514	538
Other comprehensive income (loss)	41,637	-5,060	-10,556
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	18,358	-23,279	-18,219
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	'	'	'
AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	-32,022	-22,665	471
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments	38,922	-10,871	-23,674
Amounts reclassified to general and administrative expenses (a)	2,041	1,514	538
Other comprehensive income (loss)	40,963	-9,357	-23,136
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$8,941	($32,022)	($22,665)

MEMBERS_EQUITY_Narrative_1_Det

MEMBERS' EQUITY Narrative 1 (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Distributions (description, dates and totals)	'
Cash distributions, timing description	'Our limited liability company agreement requires that, within 50 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to the holders of record of our units on the applicable record date.

MEMBERS_EQUITY_Table_2_Details

MEMBERS' EQUITY Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Our cash distributions applicable to the period in which the distributions were earned	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash distributions per unit	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$2.18	$2.11	$1.98
Total cash distributions	$23,249	$23,231	$23,236	$23,222	$92,938	$89,860	$84,252

MEMBERS_EQUITY_Table_3_Details

MEMBERS' EQUITY Table 3 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Distribution Made to Limited Liability Company (LLC) Member [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash distributions per unit applicable to members (distribution earned)	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$2.18	$2.11	$1.98
Total cash distributions (distribution earned)	$23,249	$23,231	$23,236	$23,222	$92,938	$89,860	$84,252
Distribution date of record (distribution earned)	10-Feb-14	11-Nov-13	5-Aug-13	6-May-13	'	'	'
Distribution payment date (distribution earned)	18-Feb-14	19-Nov-13	14-Aug-13	15-May-13	'	'	'
Distribution announcement date (distribution earned)	30-Jan-14	'	'	'	'	'	'

MEMBERS_EQUITY_Narrative_2_Det

MEMBERS' EQUITY Narrative 2 (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]	'
Rights Agreement, Description	'On JulyB 19, 2006, we entered into a rights agreement with Computershare Investor Services, LLC, as amended effective February 28, 2008 and October 23, 2012 (the Rights Agreement), under which one preferred unit purchase right (a Right) is attached to each of our outstanding units. The Rights become exercisable under specified circumstances, including if any person or group (an acquiring person) becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of our outstanding units, subject to specified exceptions. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from us one one-hundredth of a unit of junior participating preferred units, seriesB I (Preferred Units) at an exercise price of $100, subject to adjustment under specified circumstances. If events specified in the Rights Agreement occur, each holder of Rights other than the acquiring person can exercise their Rights. When a holder exercises a Right, the holder will be entitled to receive units valued at a multiple of the exercise price of the Right specified in the Rights Agreement. In some cases, the holder will receive cash, property or other securities instead of units. We may redeem the Rights for $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the tenth day after a person or group becomes an acquiring person. The Rights will expire on JuneB 30, 2016, unless extended or earlier redeemed or exchanged, and are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. Preferred Units purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each Preferred Unit will be entitled to share in our distributions of available cash pro rata with the units. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Units will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per unit. Each Preferred Unit will have 100 votes, voting together with the units. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which units are exchanged, each Preferred Unit will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per unit.

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Narrati

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'
Thrift Plan, Description	'The NuStar Thrift Plan (the Thrift Plan) is a qualified employee profit-sharing plan that became effective JuneB 26, 2006. Participation in the Thrift Plan is voluntary and is open to substantially all NuStar GP, LLC employees upon their date of hire, except for part-time employees (as defined in the Thrift Plan), who become eligible upon completing one year of service (as defined in the Thrift Plan). Thrift Plan participants can contribute from 1% up to 30% of their total annual compensation to the Thrift Plan in the form of pre-tax and/or after tax employee contributions. NuStar GP, LLC makes matching contributions in an amount equal to 100% of each participantbs employee contributions up to a maximum of 6% of the participantbs total annual compensation.	'	'
Thrift Plan Matching Contributions	$5.90	$6.90	$6.50

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Narrati1

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Narrative 2 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Description	'The NuStar Pension Plan (the Pension Plan) is a qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plan that became effective JulyB 1, 2006. The Pension Plan covers substantially all of NuStar GP, LLCbs employees and generally provides eligible employees with retirement income calculated under a final average pay formula (FAP) or a cash balance formula. Employees hired before January 1, 2011 are covered under FAP, which is based on years of service and compensation during their period of service, and employees become fully vested in their benefits upon attaining five years of vesting service. Employees hired on January 1, 2011 and after are covered under the cash balance formula, which is based on age, service and interest credits, and employees become fully vested in their benefits upon attaining three years of vesting service. Effective January 1, 2014, the Pension Plan was amended to freeze the FAP benefit as of December 31, 2013, and going forward, employees will be covered under the cash balance formula.	'	'
Expenses for pension and other postretirement benefits charged to NuStar Energy	$18.20	$23.60	$13.70

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_1

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'	'
Change in benefit obligation:	'	'	'
Benefit obligation, January 1	$114,046	$78,017	'
Service cost	16,321	15,614	12,484
Interest cost	5,036	4,012	2,881
Transfer to joint venture	0	0	'
Disposition charges (a)	180	4,397	'
Plan amendments	-24,560	-295	'
Benefits paid	-7,353	-1,647	'
Participants contributions	0	0	'
Actuarial (gain) loss	-15,708	18,359	'
Curtailment (a)	-330	-4,411	'
Benefit obligation, December 31	87,632	114,046	78,017
Change in plan assets:	'	'	'
Plan assets at fair value, January 1	69,269	53,787	'
Actual return on plan assets	11,905	6,063	'
Company contributions	1,752	11,066	'
Benefits paid	-7,353	-1,647	'
Participants contributions	0	0	'
Plan assets at fair value, December 31	75,573	69,269	53,787
Reconciliation of funded status:	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets at December 31	75,573	69,269	53,787
Less: Benefit obligation at December 31	87,632	114,046	78,017
Funded status at December 31	-12,059	-44,777	'
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:	'	'	'
Accrued compensation expense	-2,333	-137	'
Long-term liabilities	-9,726	-44,640	'
Net pension liability	-12,059	-44,777	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Change in benefit obligation:	'	'	'
Benefit obligation, January 1	20,962	18,672	'
Service cost	1,171	1,258	1,040
Interest cost	940	976	888
Transfer to joint venture	-1,284	-90	'
Disposition charges (a)	0	1,284	'
Plan amendments	-11,822	-2,420	'
Benefits paid	-248	-149	'
Participants contributions	125	62	'
Actuarial (gain) loss	-2,690	2,622	'
Curtailment (a)	0	-1,253	'
Benefit obligation, December 31	7,154	20,962	18,672
Change in plan assets:	'	'	'
Plan assets at fair value, January 1	0	0	'
Actual return on plan assets	0	0	'
Company contributions	123	87	'
Benefits paid	-248	-149	'
Participants contributions	125	62	'
Plan assets at fair value, December 31	0	0	0
Reconciliation of funded status:	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets at December 31	0	0	0
Less: Benefit obligation at December 31	7,154	20,962	18,672
Funded status at December 31	-7,154	-20,962	'
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:	'	'	'
Accrued compensation expense	-141	-243	'
Long-term liabilities	-7,013	-20,719	'
Net pension liability	($7,154)	($20,962)	'

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_2

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost	$16,321	$15,614	$12,484
Interest cost	5,036	4,012	2,881
Expected return on plan assets	-4,535	-3,917	-3,617
Amortization of prior service credit	-41	-18	-18
Amortization of net loss	2,071	1,393	485
Net periodic benefit cost before other charges	18,852	17,084	12,215
Other charges (a)	847	4,397	0
Net periodic benefit cost	19,699	21,481	12,215
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost	1,171	1,258	1,040
Interest cost	940	976	888
Expected return on plan assets	0	0	0
Amortization of prior service credit	-198	0	0
Amortization of net loss	209	139	71
Net periodic benefit cost before other charges	2,122	2,373	1,999
Other charges (a)	0	1,284	0
Net periodic benefit cost	$2,122	$3,657	$1,999

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_3

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 3 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net loss reclassified into income	'	'	'
Net loss reclassified into income	$2,041	$1,514	$538
Total changes in other comprehensive (loss) income	-41,637	5,060	10,556
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net actuarial (loss) gain (a)	24,122	-11,800	-16,260
Prior service credit	24,514	295	0
Net unrealized (loss) gain arising during the year	48,636	-11,505	-16,260
Net loss reclassified into income	'	'	'
Amortization of prior service credit	-41	-18	-18
Amortization of net loss	2,071	1,393	485
Net loss reclassified into income	2,030	1,375	467
Income tax benefit (expense)	-18,053	4,269	6,064
Total changes in other comprehensive (loss) income	-32,613	5,861	9,729
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net actuarial (loss) gain (a)	2,690	-1,368	-1,433
Prior service credit	11,822	2,420	0
Net unrealized (loss) gain arising during the year	14,512	1,052	-1,433
Net loss reclassified into income	'	'	'
Amortization of prior service credit	-198	0	0
Amortization of net loss	209	139	71
Net loss reclassified into income	11	139	71
Income tax benefit (expense)	-5,499	-390	535
Total changes in other comprehensive (loss) income	($9,024)	($801)	$827

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_4

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 4 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unrecognized actuarial loss (a)	($10,283)	($36,476)	($26,069)
Prior service credit (a)	24,853	380	103
Deferred tax asset (liability)	-3,639	14,414	10,145
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	10,931	-21,682	-15,821
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unrecognized actuarial loss (a)	-2,289	-5,188	-3,959
Prior service credit (a)	14,044	2,420	0
Deferred tax asset (liability)	-4,328	1,171	1,561
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	$7,427	($1,597)	($2,398)

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Narrati2

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Narrative 3 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of unrecognized actuarial loss expected to be recognized over the next fiscal year	$0.20	'
Accumulated benefit obligation for the Pension Plans	86.9	84.6
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of unrecognized actuarial loss expected to be recognized over the next fiscal year	$0.10	'
Equity Funds [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations	65.00%	'
Fixed Income Funds [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations	35.00%	'

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_5

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 5 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	$75,573	$69,269	$53,787
The Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	75,573	69,269	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	29,817	29,593	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	45,756	39,676	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Cash equivalent securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,552	1,294	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Cash equivalent securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,552	1,294	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Cash equivalent securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Cash equivalent securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | U.S. large cap equity fund [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	45,756	39,676	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | U.S. large cap equity fund [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | U.S. large cap equity fund [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	45,756	39,676	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | U.S. large cap equity fund [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | International stock index fund [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	7,652	6,652	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | International stock index fund [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	7,652	6,652	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | International stock index fund [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | International stock index fund [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Bond market index fund [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	20,613	21,647	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Bond market index fund [Member] | Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	20,613	21,647	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Bond market index fund [Member] | Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	'
The Pension Plan [Member] | Bond market index fund [Member] | Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	$0	$0	'

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Narrati3

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Narrative 4 (Details) (Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Pension Plan contributions	$1,752,000	$11,066,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	$4,300,000	'

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_6

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 6 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	$7,129
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	5,337
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	5,833
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	6,971
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	7,392
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	49,601
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months	141
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two	168
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three	196
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four	220
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five	252
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	$1,992

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_7

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 7 (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Discount rate	5.04%	4.48%
Rate of compensation increase	3.51%	3.69%
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Discount rate	5.28%	4.51%

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_8

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 8 (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Plans (The Pension Plan, Excess Pension Plan and SERP) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Discount rate	4.48%	5.21%	5.82%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.75%	7.00%	7.50%
Rate of compensation increase	3.69%	4.05%	4.07%
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Discount rate	4.51%	5.25%	5.80%

EMPLOYEE_BENEFIT_PLANS_Table_9

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS Table 9 (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.45%	7.64%
Rate to which the cost trend rate was assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)	5.00%	5.00%
Year that the rate reached the ultimate trend rate	'2020	'2020
Effect of one percentage point increase, description	'The cap on the increase in employerbs cost is 2.5%B per year. The assumed increase in total health care cost exceeds the 2.5% indexed cap, so increasing or decreasing the health care cost trend rate by 1% does not materially change our obligation or expense for the postretirement health care plan.	'

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION_Narrati

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION Narrative 1 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Accrued compensation expense	$6,224	$10,376
The 2000 LTIP [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Unit-based compensation, number of units authorized	3,250,000	'
Unit-based compensation, number of units available to be awarded	1,517,027	'
The 2006 LTIP [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Unit-based compensation, number of units authorized	2,000,000	'
Unit-based compensation, number of units available to be awarded	1,494,177	'

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION_Table_1

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION Table 1 (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
The 2000 LTIP [Member] | Performance awards [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	38,786	33,445	27,111
Vesting	'Performance awards vest 1/3B per year if certain performance measures are met, as defined in the award agreements.	'Performance awards vest 1/3B per year if certain performance measures are met, as defined in the award agreements.	'Performance awards vest 1/3B per year if certain performance measures are met, as defined in the award agreements.
The 2000 LTIP [Member] | Restricted units, employees [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	269,182	231,855	208,195
Vesting	'1/5 per year	'1/5 per year	'1/5 per year
The 2000 LTIP [Member] | Restricted units, non-employee directors [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	8,904	8,170	6,760
Vesting	'1/3 per year	'1/3 per year	'1/3 per year
The 2000 LTIP [Member] | Restricted units, certain international employees [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	3,882	'	'
Vesting	'1/3 per year	'	'
The UIP [Member] | Restricted units, employees [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	0	15,382	14,005
Vesting	'0	'1/5 per year	'1/5 per year
The UIP [Member] | Restricted units, certain international employees [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	'	3,392	2,880
Vesting	'	'1/3 per year	'1/3 per year
The 2006 LTIP [Member] | Restricted units [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	31,803	'	'
The 2006 LTIP [Member] | Restricted units, employees [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	18,620	25,640	24,970
Vesting	'1/5 per year	'1/5 per year	'1/5 per year
The 2006 LTIP [Member] | Restricted units, non-employee directors [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted units, granted	13,183	10,601	9,987
Vesting	'1/3 per year	'1/3 per year	'1/3 per year

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION_Table_2

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-term incentive plan compensation expense charged to NuStar Energy	$7,369	$7,745	$8,521
Expenses resulting from NuStar GP Holdings awards to non-employee directors	$19	$305	$305

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION_Narrati1

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION Narrative 2 (Details) (The 2006 LTIP [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Unit options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
NSH unit options, description	'On NovemberB 16, 2007, we granted 324,100 NSH unit options at $31.55, which was our only grant of options under the 2006 LTIP.	'	'
NSH unit options, terms	'These options expire seven years from the grant date and vest in annual one-third increments beginning on NovemberB 16, 2010.	'	'
The total intrinsic value of unit options exercised during the period	$0.10	$0.10	'
NSH unit options, units exercised	11,666	11,667	0
Balance of NSH unit options outstanding	289,100	300,766	'
Restricted units [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted units	$27.87	$28.77	30.53
Total fair value of NSH restricted units that vested during the period	$1.50	$1	0.7

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION_Table_3

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION Table 3 (Details) (The 2006 LTIP [Member], Unit Options [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
The 2006 LTIP [Member] | Unit Options [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Balance of NSH unit options outstanding	289,100	300,766
Weighted-average exercise price, unit options outstanding	$31.55	'
Weighted-average remaining contractual term in years, unit options outstanding	'0 years 11 months 15 days	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, unit options outstanding	$0	'
Balance of NSH unit options exercisable	289,100	'
Weighted-average exercise price, unit options exercisable	$31.55	'
Weighted-average remaining contractual term in years, unit options exercisable	'0 years 11 months 15 days	'
Aggregate intrinsic value, unit options exercisable	$0	'

UNITBASED_COMPENSATION_Table_4

UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION Table 4 (Details) (The 2006 LTIP [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted units [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
NSH restricted units, beginning balance	84,729	'	'
NSH restricted units, granted	31,803	'	'
NSH restricted units, vested	-56,134	'	'
NSH restricted units, ending balance	60,398	84,729	'
Weighted-average grant date fair value, period start	$29.74	'	'
Weighted-average grant date fair value, granted	$27.87	$28.77	$30.53
Weighted-average grant date fair value, vested	$29.66	'	'
Weighted-average grant date fair value, period end	$28.83	$29.74	'
Restricted units, employees [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
NSH restricted units, beginning balance	65,418	'	'
NSH restricted units, granted	18,620	25,640	24,970
NSH restricted units, vested	-44,834	'	'
NSH restricted units, ending balance	39,204	65,418	'
Restricted units, non-employee directors [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
NSH restricted units, beginning balance	19,311	'	'
NSH restricted units, granted	13,183	10,601	9,987
NSH restricted units, vested	-11,300	'	'
NSH restricted units, ending balance	21,194	19,311	'

INCOME_TAXES_Table_1_Details

INCOME TAXES Table 1 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current:	'	'	'
U.S. federal	$0	$465	$129
U.S. state	-368	-42	8
Total current	-368	423	137
Deferred:	'	'	'
U.S. federal	-599	433	251
U.S. state	175	10	13
Total deferred	-424	443	264
Total income tax benefit	($792)	$866	$401

INCOME_TAXES_Narrative_1_Detai

INCOME TAXES Narrative 1 (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'
Statutory federal income tax rate	35.00%

INCOME_TAXES_Table_2_Details

INCOME TAXES Table 2 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred income tax assets:	'	'
Share/option compensation	$2,976	$4,444
Pension	4,318	15,815
Capital loss	474	270
Other state	0	1,263
Net operating loss	3,519	1,104
Foreign tax credits	44	20
Deferred income tax assets	11,331	22,916
Deferred income tax liabilities:	'	'
Investment in Riverwalk Logistics, L.P. and NuStar Energy	-233	-213
Other state	-191	0
Other employee benefits	-13,531	-1,351
Total net deferred income tax (liabilities) assets	($2,624)	$21,352

QUARTERLY_FINANCIAL_DATA_UNAUD2

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) Table (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net income (loss)	($46,703)	$12,035	$12,559	$11,075	$5,125	$19,165	($33,208)	$11,046	($11,034)	$2,128	$69,636
Basic net income (loss) per unit	($1.10)	$0.29	$0.29	$0.26	$0.12	$0.45	($0.78)	$0.26	($0.26)	$0.05	$1.64
Diluted net income (loss) per unit	($1.10)	$0.29	$0.29	$0.26	$0.12	$0.45	($0.78)	$0.26	($0.26)	$0.05	$1.64
Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55	$0.51	$0.51	$2.18	$2.11	'