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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
a.
Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. Also reflected in the consolidated financial statements is the 50% ownership in the Chinese operating joint venture, The Tianjin Green Engineering Company. This joint venture is accounted for under the equity method. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 
b.
Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions as of the date of the financial statements, which affect the reported values of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
 
 
c.
Revenue recognition
 
Substantially all of the Company's revenue is derived from environmental consulting work. The consulting revenue is principally derived from the sale of labor hours. The consulting work is performed under a mix of fixed price, cost-type, and time and material contracts. Contracts are required from all customers. Revenue is recognized as follows:

Contract Type
 
Work Type
 
Revenue Recognition Policy
         
Time and Materials
 
Consulting
 
As incurred at contract rates.
         
Fixed Price
 
Consulting
 
Percentage of completion, approximating the ratio of either total costs or Level of Effort (LOE) hours incurred to date to total estimated costs or LOE hours.
         
Cost-Type
 
Consulting
 
Costs as incurred. Fixed fee portion is recognized using percentage of completion determined by the percentage of Level Of Effort (LOE) hours incurred to total LOE hours in the respective contracts.

Substantially all of the Company's cost-type work is with federal governmental agencies and, as such, is subject to audits after contract completion. Under these cost-type contracts, provisions for adjustments to accrued revenue are recognized on



a quarterly basis and based on past audit settlement history. Government audits have been completed and final rates have been negotiated through fiscal year 2005. The Company records an allowance for contract adjustments which is recorded in other accrued liabilities principally represents a reserve for contract adjustments for the fiscal years 1996-2012.
 
 
We reduce our contract receivables and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on contracts in process by establishing an allowance for amounts that, in the future, may become uncollectible or unrealizable, respectively. We determine our estimated allowance for uncollectible amounts based on management's judgments regarding our operating performance related to the adequacy of the services performed, the status of change orders and claims, our experience settling change orders and claims and the financial condition of our clients, which may be dependent on the type of client and current economic conditions that the client may be subject to.

 
Change orders can occur when changes in scope are made after project work has begun, and can be initiated by either the Company or its clients. Claims are amounts in excess of the agreed contract price which the Company seeks to recover from a client for customer delays and / or errors or unapproved change orders that are in dispute. Costs related to change orders and claims are recognized as incurred. Revenues and profit are recognized on change orders when it is probable that the change order will be approved and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Revenues are recognized only up to the amount of costs incurred on contract claims when realization is probable, estimatable and reasonable support from the customer exists.

 
All bid and proposal and other pre-contract costs are expensed as incurred. Out of pocket expenses such as travel, meals, field supplies, and other costs billed direct to contracts are included in both revenues and cost of professional services. Sales and cost of sales at the Company's South American subsidiaries exclude tax assessments by governmental authorities, which are collected by the Company from its customers and then remitted to governmental authorities.

 
d.
Investment securities

Investment securities have been classified as available for sale and are stated at fair value. Unrealized gains or losses related to investment securities available for sale are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes in the consolidated balance sheets and statements of changes in shareholders' equity. The cost basis of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The Company had gross unrealized gains of approximately $42,000 and $24,000 at July 31, 2012 and  2011, respectively.

 
e.
Property, building and equipment, depreciation and amortization

Property, building and equipment are stated at the lower of cost or fair market value. Office furniture and all equipment are depreciated on the straight-line method for book purposes, excluding computer equipment which is depreciated on the accelerated method for book purposes, and on accelerated methods for tax purposes over the estimated useful lives of the assets (three to seven years). The headquarters building is depreciated on the straight-line method for both book and tax purposes over an estimated useful life of 32 years. Its components are depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from 7 to 15 years. The additional building and warehouse is depreciated on the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of 40 years for both book and tax purposes. Leasehold improvements are amortized for book purposes over the terms of the leases or the estimated useful lives of the assets, whichever is shorter. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures for improvements are capitalized. When property or equipment is retired or sold, any gain or loss on the transaction is reflected in the current year's earnings.
 
 
f.
Fair value of financial instruments
 
The Company's financial assets or liabilities are measured using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy.  The asset's or liability's classification within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  The Company has not elected a fair value option on any assets or liabilities.

The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

 
Level 1 Inputs - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.  Generally this includes debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded on an active exchange market (e.g., New York Stock Exchange) as well as certain U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government and agency mortgage-backed securities that are highly liquid and are actively traded in over-the-counter markets.  The Company's investment securities classified as Level 1 are comprised of mutual funds.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 2 Inputs - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.  The Company's investment securities classified as Level 2 are comprised of corporate and municipal bonds.

 
Level 3 Inputs - Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable.  The unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use.
 
The following table presents the level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured on a recurring basis.

 
Financial assets as of July 31, 2012:
 
                       
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets
                       
Investment securities available for sale
 
$
1,353,365
   
$
51,217
   
$
---
   
$
1,404,582
 

 
Financial assets as of July 31, 2011:
 
                       
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets
                       
Investment securities available for sale
 
$
1,438,286
   
$
53,173
   
$
---
   
$
1,491,459
 

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents at July 31, 2012 and 2011 were classified as level 1 and approximate fair value.  Long-term debt consists of bank loans and capitalized equipment leases. The demand loan payable consists of borrowings against the Company's line of credit for working capital requirements.  Based on the Company's assessment of the current financial market and corresponding risks associated with the debt and line of credit borrowings, management believes that the carrying amount of the liabilities at July 31, 2012 and 2011 were classified as level 2 and approximates fair value.  There were no financial instruments classified as level 3.

The availability of observable market data is monitored to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy.  Changes in economic conditions or model-based valuation techniques may require the transfer of financial instruments from one fair value level to another.  In such instances, the transfer is reported at the beginning of the reporting period.  The Company evaluated the significance of transfers between levels based upon the nature of the financial instrument.  For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2012 and 2011, there were no transfers in or out of levels 1, 2 or 3, respectively.
 
 
g.
Foreign currencies

The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at period end for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during each reporting period for results of operations. Translation adjustments are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income.  Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.  The Company recorded foreign currency transaction gains/(losses) of approximately $(403,000), $284,000 and $(60,000) for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries located in highly inflationary economies are remeasured as if the functional currency were the U.S. dollar. The remeasurement of local currencies into U.S. dollars creates transaction adjustments which are included in net income. There were no highly inflationary economy translation adjustments for fiscal years 2010- 2012.

 
h.
Income taxes

The Company follows the asset and liability approach to account for income taxes.  This approach requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities.  Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the recorded net deferred tax assets will be realized.  Since in some cases management has utilized estimates, the amount of the net deferred tax asset considered realizable could be reduced in the near term.  No provision
 
 
 
 
has been made for United States income taxes applicable to undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries as it is the intention of the Company to indefinitely reinvest those earnings in the operations of those entities.

Income tax expense includes U.S. and international income taxes, determined using the applicable statutory rates.  A deferred tax liability is recognized for all taxable temporary differences, and a deferred tax asset is recognized for all deductible temporary differences and net operating loss carryforwards.

The Company has significant deferred tax assets, resulting principally from contract reserves and accrued expenses.  The Company periodically evaluates the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets, and provides for a valuation allowance when necessary.

Additionally, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") Topic Income Taxes, prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement principles for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.   A tax position is a position in a previously filed tax return or a position expected to be taken in a future tax filing that is reflected in measuring current or deferred income tax assets and liabilities. Tax positions shall be recognized only when it is more likely than not (likelihood of greater than 50%), based on technical merits, that the position will be sustained. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not threshold should be measured using a probability weighted approach as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. Whether the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is met for a tax position, is a matter of judgment based on the individual facts and circumstances of that position evaluated in light of all available evidence.  The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in administrative and indirect operating expenses.

 
i.
Defined contribution plans

Ecology and Environment Inc. (Parent Company) has a non-contributory defined contribution plan providing deferred benefits for substantially all of the Parent Company's employees. The annual expense of the Parent Company's supplemental defined contribution plan is based on a percentage of eligible wages as authorized by the Parent Company's Board of Directors. Walsh Environmental (Walsh) has a defined contribution plan providing deferred benefits for substantially all of their employees.  Walsh contributes a percentage of eligible wages up to a maximum of 4%.
 
 
j.
Stock based compensation
 
The FASB ASC Topic Compensation requires companies to expense the value of employee stock options and similar awards. Share-based payment awards result in a cost that will be measured at fair value on the awards' grant date, based on the estimated number of awards that are expected to vest. Compensation cost for awards that vest would not be reversed if the awards expire without being exercised.

 
k.
Earnings per share (EPS)

Basic and diluted EPS is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  The Company allocates undistributed earnings between the classes on a one-to-one basis when computing earnings per share.  As a result, basic and fully diluted earnings per Class A and Class B shares are equal amounts.  See Note 11 and 15 to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
 
 
l.
Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
Comprehensive income is defined as "the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources." The term "comprehensive income" is used to describe the total net earnings plus other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income includes currency translation adjustments on foreign subsidiaries and unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities.

 
m.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets by estimating the future net cash flows (undiscounted) expected to result from the asset, including eventual disposition. If the future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the asset's carrying value and



fair value. The Company identified no events or changes in circumstances that necessitated an evaluation for an impairment of long lived assets.

 
n.
Goodwill

The total goodwill of approximately $1.2 million is subject to an annual assessment for impairment.  The Company's most recent annual impairment assessment for goodwill was completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. The results of this assessment showed that the fair values of the reporting units, using a discounted cash flow method, to which goodwill is assigned was in excess of the book values of the respective reporting units, resulting in the identification of no goodwill impairment. Goodwill is also assessed for impairment between annual assessments whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. The Company identified no events or changes in circumstances during the year that necessitated an evaluation for an impairment of goodwill.