Environmental Reserve and Corresponding Recovery (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Accrued liabilities	$ 1,700	$ 1,700
Non-current environmental reserves	9,480	9,827
Total environmental reserves	11,180	11,527
Accounts Receivable	436	821
Other assets (non-current)	10,062	10,374
Receivable for recovery of remediation costs	$ 10,498	$ 11,195

Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies.

+ References+ Details

Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable in twelve months or in the next operating cycle if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 43

-Section A

-Paragraph 8

-Chapter 3

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 96-1

-Paragraph 161, 163

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

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-Section 50

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13237-110859

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361293&loc=d3e6911-107765

+ Details

- Definition

Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable after twelve months or beyond the next operating cycle if longer.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and reasonably estimable amounts of recoveries from third-parties pertaining to an entity's environmental remediation obligations. An entity's balance sheet may include several assets that relate to an environmental remediation obligation. Among them are the following: a. Receivables from other potentially responsible parties that are not providing initial funding; b. anticipated recoveries from insurers; and c. anticipated recoveries from prior owners as a result of indemnification agreements.

+ References+ Details