Asset Retirement Obligations

6 Months Ended

Feb. 25, 2012

Asset Retirement Obligations [Abstract]

8. Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company recognizes asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The Company continues to depreciate, on a straight-line basis, the amount added to property, plant and equipment and recognizes accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability over the various remaining lives which range from approximately one to thirty-two years.

A reconciliation of the Company's asset retirement liability is as follows (in thousands):

	February 25, 2012
Beginning balance as of August 27, 2011	$	9,488
Accretion expense		316
Ending balance as of February 25, 2012	$	9,804

Asset retirement obligations are included in long-term accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for an asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

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