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Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 28, 2005 Agreement acre | Jan. 31, 2014 | Jan. 31, 2013 | Oct. 31, 2013 | May 23, 2005 acre | Apr. 30, 2006 Timberland Holdings [Member] acre | Jan. 31, 2006 Timberland Holdings [Member] acre | Jan. 31, 2014 STA Timber [Member] | Oct. 31, 2013 STA Timber [Member] | May 31, 2005 STA Timber [Member] Monetization Notes [Member] | Jan. 31, 2014 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Jan. 31, 2013 Flexible Packaging JV [Member] | Jan. 31, 2014 Buyer SPE [Member] | Jan. 31, 2014 Trading Co. [Member] | Jan. 31, 2014 Asset Co. [Member] | Jan. 31, 2014 Global Textile [Member] | Jan. 31, 2014 Cooperage Receivables Finance BV [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of purchase and sale agreements | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Approximate acres of timberland to be sold under agreement with Plum Creek Timberland | 56,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Approximate value of sale agreement with Plum Creek Timberland | $ 90 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acres of timberland sold under the agreement |  |  |  |  | 35,000 | 5,700 | 15,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value of timberland sold under the agreement |  |  |  |  | 51.0 | 9.7 | 29.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase notes payable | 50.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of guarantee on purchase notes | 52.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain resulting from sale under agreement |  |  |  |  | 42.1 | 9.0 | 27.4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Aug. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extended date |  |  |  | Nov. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, principal outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43.3 | 43.3 | 43.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.00% | 51.00% | 49.00% | 49.00% | 0.00%
Restricted bank financial instruments under Buyer SPE |  | 50.9 |  | 50.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income of Buyer SPE |  | 0.6 | 0.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.6 | 0.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Committed capital contribution |  | 150 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commitment to obtain third party financing |  | Up to $150 million |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable interest entities outstanding advances |  | 0.6 |  | 0.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short term loans payable to NSC |  | 12.6 |  | 12.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | $ (1.1) | $ (1.3) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1.4 | $ 0.7 |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Approximate acres of timberland under agreement to sale. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 + Details
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- Definition Describes the terms of arrangements (for example, liquidity arrangements, guarantees, or other commitments) by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5728-111685 + Details
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- Definition The amount for notes payable (written promise to pay), due to related parties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph k -Subparagraph 1 -Article 4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a)(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition The difference between the value of the consideration received by the Entity on the sale or disposal and net book value of assets sold or disposed, before any tax related impact. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2941-110230 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=SL6759159-111685 + Details
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