Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule Of Environmental Liabilities [TableTextBlock]

	November 30, 2013
Beginning balance as of August 31, 2013	$	19,680
Payments made for which reserves had been provided		(726	)
Insurance proceeds received		485
Interest accretion		179
Change in discount rates		(188	)
Balance as of November 30, 2013	$	19,430

Schedule Of Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Table Text Block]

	2014		2015			2016			2017			2018			Thereafter			Total
(In thousands)
Estimated costs – current dollars	$	4,918	$	2,620		$	1,887		$	865		$	797		$	12,420		$	23,507
Estimated insurance proceeds		—		(173	)		(159	)		(173	)		(159	)		(1,593	)		(2,257	)
Net anticipated costs	$	4,918	$	2,447		$	1,728		$	692		$	638		$	10,827		$	21,250
Effect of inflation																			7,234
Effect of discounting																			(9,054	)
Balance as of November 30, 2013																		$	19,430