Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,121,580	$ 10,467,770
Investment securities, available for sale	3,037,806	1,404,582
Contract receivables, net	60,653,268	61,568,443
Deferred income taxes	4,732,761	4,799,724
Income tax receivable	2,761,815	2,502,431
Other current assets	3,028,495	1,802,843
Total current assets	84,335,725	82,545,793
Property, building and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, $23,199,528 and $22,584,958, respectively	12,139,007	12,112,078
Deferred income taxes	861,123	860,499
Other assets	1,985,567	1,993,785
Total assets	99,321,422	97,512,155
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	10,104,224	11,492,602
Line of credit	14,502,034	12,309,335
Accrued payroll costs	9,526,442	7,529,728
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	453,611	488,460
Billings in excess of revenue	7,214,991	8,281,919
Other accrued liabilities	3,829,673	3,932,588
Total current liabilities	45,630,975	44,034,632
Income taxes payable	194,023	194,023
Deferred income taxes	423,324	423,324
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	87,245	102,635
Commitments and contingencies (see note #13)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized - 2,000,000 shares; no shares issued	0	0
Capital in excess of par value	19,876,191	19,751,992
Retained earnings	29,777,310	29,534,783
Accumulated other comprehensive income	874,622	711,842
Treasury stock - Class A common, 88,617 and 136,461 shares; Class B common, 64,801 shares, at cost	(1,897,032)	(1,897,032)
Total Ecology and Environment, Inc. shareholders' equity	48,675,029	48,145,523
Noncontrolling interests	4,310,826	4,612,018
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	99,321,422	97,512,155
Total shareholders' equity	52,985,855	52,757,541
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized - 6,000,000 shares; issued - 2,685,151 shares	26,851	26,851
Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized - 10,000,000 shares; issued - 1,708,574 shares	26,851	26,851
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized - 6,000,000 shares; issued - 2,685,151 shares	17,087	17,087
Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized - 10,000,000 shares; issued - 1,708,574 shares	$ 17,087	$ 17,087