Containment

Neighbors of Alby Quarry in Alton, Illinois are pleased to learn that the years of blasting they've endured may finally be at its end. A new proposal has suggested converting the quarry into a construction debris landfill. During a public meeting, the proposal was discussed. A clay liner with a geosynthetic barrier would be installed to secure the site. This might be the first instance in the US of the neighbors encouraging the construction of a landfill. Learn more here.;

In its 3Q statement, Pacific Gold Corp. reports on its progress at Black Rock Canyon Mine in Nevada, where geotextile tube changes and approval and new liner requirements have slowed production.

A lack of consistent and transparent regulations governing concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) is underscored by a report released by the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (PCIFAP) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The report is entitled Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: A Survey of State Policies. Read about this and other reports at PCIFAP's website. Learn more here.;

The global spread of the COVID-19 virus has caused events around the world to be rescheduled. The organizers of GeoU, which co-locates multiple geosynthetics short courses, are following suit....

Erosion Control magazine editor Janice Kasperson writes about the eighth annual StormCon event, which will take place in Anaheim, California, 16-20 August 2009. Six conference tracks are being offered: BMP Case Studies; Low-Impact Development (LID); Stormwater Program Management; Water-Quality Monitoring; Advanced Research Topics; and Source Control. Read more about the event in Kasperson's write-up. Learn more here.;

How do construction industry companies and associations stack up against one another in lobbying dollars? Building Green has published a list of money going to lobbying groups in Washington DC. While the money involved means that lobbyists and lawyers aren't going to be held in high regard by the average person anytime soon--favoritism is, of course, a major concern--their work is crucial to communication between industries and legislative committees. This includes bringing technologies and options to the attention of legislators. For example, the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) has worked with lobbyists to introduce geosynthetic technologies water infrastructure legislative influencers. Learn more here.;

David Albers of Bakersfield, California runs a 2,600-head dairy that uses a geosynthetic cover on its anaerobic manure digester. The methane is harvested and coverted into power. What's interesting about Albers, however, is not simply his use of the system but that he's the founder of BioEnergy Solutions. His company is using the geosynthetic systems to make large farms more environmentally valuable. Geosynthetica readers have previously seen information on BioEnergy's work with electricity company PG&E. Learn more here.;

The 2014 World Bioenergy Award has been awarded to Jörgen Sandström from Sweden. He is head of the company Addax Bioenergy in Sierra Leone, which on a commercial basis is...

The end of February saw the Global Water Footprint Standard published. Spain's government has already included water footprint assessment into policy, making it part of the process to develop river basin plans. Could the rest of Europe follow? Professor Arjen Hoekstra looks at the concepts of blue, green and grey water footprints. Learn more here.;

The Glendale Road landfill in Northampton, Massachusetts is almost full. Operators estimate that the facility will reach capacity in 2011. Residents must now decide whether or not to allow the landfill to expand into a 50-acre area. The issue, however, is not just about public comfort with increased landfill operations but about the proposed expansion area being over a recharge zone for an aquifer. The state's Department of Environmental Protection has determined that a double-liner system will provide adequate protection. Learn more here.;

The International Geosynthetics Society's (IGS) Technical Committee on Barrier Systems (TC-B) has launched a project Taskforce "Regulations" to gather an international database and resource detailing the regulations influencing the selection and utilisation of geomembranes and geosynthetic clay liners in all aspects of engineering and construction. This specific task is part of the TCB terms of references for the period 2010-2014. Your insights into the regulations that impact your state/province and national/regional interaction are strongly encouraged. Read more.

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) is holding its first-ever photo competition. Members should keep an eye on the deadline date: 1 February 2010. This initiative comes just ahead of the planned April 2010 launch of the redesigned IGS website and May 2010's major, quadrennial IGS conference: 9ICG. The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, Brazil (near São Paulo).

International geosynthetics manufacturer GSE has revised its planned initial public offering (IPO) of stock. The company had intended to offer shares in mid-December, but was one of three companies to pullback from an IPO that month in the tepid investment environment. The new IPO terms, just filed, announced a 7 million share offering at an expected $8-10/share price. Roughly $63 million is expected to be raised. This offering will make GSE one of the only geosynthetics companies with publicly traded shares. It will also announce the return of the company to being publicly traded after years of private equity ownership. Learn more here.;

By Chris Kelsey – The geosynthetics field has lost one of its earliest adopters and consistent champions, engineer André Rollin, M.Sc.A., Ph.D., FEIC, FCSME (1941 – 2017). André passed...

When GeoAmericas 2016 convenes in Miami, April 10 - 13, it will feature a robust retaining walls program. The related short courses, panel discussions, training lectures, and retaining walls program...

The Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS) in collaboration with the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH/CNC) and the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) will host GéoMontréal 2013, the 66th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and the 11th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference. The conference will be held at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 29 September – 3 October 2013. The theme for GéoMontréal 2013 is “Geoscience for Sustainability.” Abstracts are due: February 1

The boundary between the growing cities of Brampton and Caledon in Ontario, Canada is Mayfield Road. It connects major highways, and to keep pace with road capacity needs the area has been undergoing a multi-year Mayfield Road widening project. Two geomembrane-lined stormwater retention ponds are being built to protect nearby wetlands and kettle lakes. Learn more here.;

A US House of Representatives panel has signed off on a bill allocating $882 million for a public-works project intended to overhaul the Trinity River waterfront in downtown Dallas. The cash -- almost double the amount originally set aside for the improvements -- would be used to raise levees, implement new erosion-control measures, and build or rehabilitate several pump stations. Learn more here.;

The Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) is very pleased to announce the details for a very unique facility tour in Southern Ontario and New York State to visit various waste management facilities. There will be seven facilities on the tour representing new and innovative technologies and/or management practices. The tour will take place 29 and 30 September 2009. Read more about it.

Legislation Builds Upon Bicameral, Bipartisan Work from Last Congress, Identifies Common Ground to Move Forward – Environment and the Economy Subcommittee to Vote on Legislation This Week WASHINGTON, DC –...

The National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs (NAAMLP) has issued a call for papers ahead of its 32nd annual conference. NAAMLP 2010 will be held 19-22 September 2010 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This year’s conference theme is "Their Legacy, Our Heritage, Everyone’s Future." Subjects include brownfields, acid mine drainage, stream restoration and so much more. The event will be held in conjunction with Interstate Technical Group on Abandoned Underground Mines. Download the call for papers in PDF here.

Raven Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:RAVN) is expanding its fabrication services eastward. The company has announced a site in Waynesboro, Virginia. The new location supports Raven’s Engineered Films Division in providing faster...

In South Africa, the "Dustbowl" traders along a much-needed lagoon access-road reinforcement project are suffering. Jo-Ann Bekker's story notes the significant decline in cheese sales during construction. But the upgrades are vital: gabion support on the embankments to protect against slip failure. Turbidity curtains have also been installed to contain disturbed clay that is mixing into the lagoon. With any luck, the dustbowl trading station will be free of obstructions soon and normal sales will resume. Learn more here.;

The home page of ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics now includes registration information for the next meeting, 8-11 June 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The current schedule includes the second meeting on geocells, reinforced geomembrane seams, asperity height, GCL design guidance, and much much more. Read the full schedule and keep up on D35 news at the committee website. Learn more here.;

On November 17, the next webinar in Solmax’s series of deeper-level geosynthetics discussions continues with presentation on “Enhancing Quality Assurance with Conductive Geomembranes.” The free session will be...