FAIR VALUE (Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Required to Be Measured at Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		May. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities		$ 1,289,122	$ 1,289,047
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities		406,317	408,546
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017 | Level 2 | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities		406,317	408,546
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017 | Level 2 | Fair Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	[1]	427,000	438,200
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities		514,837	518,305
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018 | Level 2 | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities		514,837	518,305
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018 | Level 2 | Fair Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	[1]	535,000	567,560
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities		330,000	330,000
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023 | Level 2 | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities		330,000	330,000
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023 | Level 2 | Fair Value
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Line Items]
Financial liabilities	[1]	$ 318,302	$ 325,050

[1] The fair values of the 2017 Notes, 2018 Notes and 2023 Notes are estimated based on readily available market prices of these notes at May 31, 2015 and August 31, 2014, or similar notes with the same maturities, rating and interest rates.