Review: Third FGI Short Course, Denver

John Heathcote of Firestone Specialty Products answering attendee questions during the morning break.

18 October 2010 – The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) held its third short course in Denver, Colorado, on 15 October 2010 at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The short course was organized by the FGI and attended by forty-six (46) people. The excellent and timely presentations, e.g., presentations of the use of fabricated geomembranes in the BP Oil Spill and mining applications, and attendee questions and comments made the course a great success. The course covered the design, specification, testing, manufacturing, fabrication, installation, inspection, welding, and field testing of fabricated geomembranes in a variety of applications. The topics and speakers in the short course and some photos from the short course are shown below:

• FGI Introduction, Activities, and Research – Tim Stark, U. of Illinois
• Fabricated v. Field Assembled Geomembranes – Stan Slifer, Watersaver
• Geomembrane Manufacturing – Gary Kolbasuk, Raven Industries
• Fabrication & Installation – Stuart Lange, Lange Containment; John Heap, Colorado Lining
• Geomembrane Testing and Durability – Sam Allen, TRI/Environmental
• Leak Location Surveys – Daren Laine, Leak Location Services, Inc.
• Slope Stability and Geosynthetic Interface Strengths – Tim Stark, U. of Illinois
• Geomembrane Welding and Testing – Dave McLaury, DemTech Services; Chuck George, Hapco; Steve Hobbs, Leister Welding Technologies
• Floating Covers and Potable Water – Andrew Mills, Layfield Group; Bryant Jefferson, Colorado Lining
• Design and Construction of Wastewater Ponds – Ian D. Peggs, I-Corp. International
• Mining Applications – John Lupo, AMEC Consultants
• Oil Related Applications and BP Oil Spill – Tim Stark, U. of Illinois and Bill Shehane, Seaman Corp.
• Canals, Reservoirs and Irrigation Ponds – Bryant Jefferson, Colorado Lining
• Secondary Containment Applications – Stuart Lange, Lange Containment
• Case Histories – Terry Sheridan, Jeremiah Boorsma, Stuart Lange, Bryant Jefferson, John Heathcote
• Summary and Fabricated Geomembranes for Gulf Coast Cleanup – Tim Stark, U. of Illinois

Some photographs from the day’s activities:

LEFT: John Heap of Colorado Lining and Stuart Lange of Lange Containment after their successful presentation on fabrication and installation of fabricated geomembranes. RIGHT: Andrew Mills of Layfield Group discussing the various types of floating cover systems and use of fabricated geomembranes in this application.

LEFT: Daren Laine of Leak Location Services, Inc. discussing the various leak location methods that
can be used with fabricated geomembranes. RIGHT: Terry Sheridan of GeoStorage discussing the use of fabricated geomembranes in underwater stormwater management systems.

Ian D. Peggs of I-Corp International during his presentation on design and construction of
wastewater ponds.

Gary Kolbasuk of Raven Industries ending his manufacturing presentation with suggestions on
future types and applications of geomembranes.

The FGI is dedicated to advancing the use of fabricated geomembranes through education, research, and technology transfer. The FGI is a consortium of manufacturers, fabricators/installers, designers, regulators, and material suppliers of fabricated geomembranes.

For more information on the FGI, please visit www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com