Containment

Warm island life can be admirable…but landfilling issues are usually costlier. In the US territory of Guam, the proposed new double-liner cell system for a much-needed 141-acre site is a difficult pill to swallow. Guam reluctance to adopt federally mandated environmental controls led to the waste collection and disposal network being put in receivership. The receiver estimates $113 million is needed to construct and operate the new site. But once the plan is put in place, Guam will finally have a modern landfill capable of supporting its population safely. Learn more here.;

The Nordic region’s mining firms and technology suppliers have not escaped the chill winds that swept through the world’s financial and trading centers. But neither have they stopped key investment programs. Mining Journal's European editor, Kyran Casteel, reports on iron ore, gold silver and other mining activity in Scandinavia. Learn more here.;

Editor’s Introduction: This coal seam gas article was first published 20 July 2016 on Geosynthetica. We re-release it here in honor of the author, Fred Gassner, being awarded Honorary...

The Benton County Landfill in Blairstown, Iowa has been slowed in attempts to move into a new cell before winter. Sudden snow has threatened to derail essential excavation work ahead of the installation of a 200-foot by 400-foot geomembrane installation. The $250,000 project has been financed through a loan. Learn more here.;

Rowad International Geosynthetics has updated its HDPE and LLDPE geomembrane data. Rowad manufacturers to GRI standards and is active internationally. Learn more here.;

Landfill engineering has advanced significantly over the past 35 years. Geosynthetic lining, capping, and final cover systems have had a lot to do with the tremendous success landfill operators...

Geosynthetica’s Manufacturing & Innovation Series continues with AGRU CleanSeam™, a simple concept but a unique solution to further improve geomembrane installation quality. A LEADING EDGE Certain geomembrane types must be seamed...

Hollis Cole, President Geomembrane Technologies Inc., announced the addition of Mike Lever, to the GTI team. This new position, Design and Technical Sales Engineer, allows GTI to place greater emphasis on servicing North American customers. Based in Lexington, South Carolina, USA, Mr. Lever comes to GTI with over 10 years experience in cover systems, plus strong professional and academic credentials (B.Sc.Eng., P.Eng.). His background in the membrane cover market complements the strong technical abilities of existing staff at GTI.

The Geo-Institute of ASCE's annual congress offers an exceptional opportunity to interact with the international geotechnical engineering community on some of the most pressing topics. Geo-Congress 2012 will be held in Oakland, California 25-29 March 2012. The theme of the event is "State of the Art and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering" and some noted engineers with a geosynthetics background (Craig Benson and David Daniel) will deliver two of the three big lectures: the Ralph B. Peck and Karl Terzaghi Lectures.

Waterproof Membranes 2008 is almost here! The event takes place in Cologne, Germany from 3-5 November. Companies from all over the world will gather to discuss the latest in geotechnical and architectural waterproofing technologies. Tunnels, greenroofs and membrane durability studies are key to this year's event. Will you be there? The latest conference announcement notes attendees will include Colbond, Dow (which acquired Stevens Geomembrane), GSE, Agru, and many others. Chris Kelsey will also be there covering the event for geosynthetica.net. If your company will have a representative there, please let Chris know so he can be sure to include your firm in the conference coverage.

Ian Peggs writes from Dubai: "Day 2, now, from Dubai and SKZ's 2nd International Conference on Geosynthetics Middle East. About 85 registrants in total are here. A couple of geosynthetica underwriters spoke early on with Oliver Detert (Huesker) presenting interesting research test data on geogrid-reinforced bridge abutments Ivica Ducik of Colbond discussing interesting multifunction applications of Enkamat S-based composites with a primary function of sound and vibration control." Read more.

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has announced a worldwide call for requests-for-proposals (RFPs) focusing on "innovative" geosynthetics research and development projects. This will be the second class of awardees in the GSI Fellowship series, the having been awarded in 2008. Multiple awards of up to $10,000 per year will be given. Each is renewable, pending an annual written report, to a total amount of $25,000 per student. Read the call from Jamie Koerner and Robert Koerner.

As workers battle the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and officials attempt to decontaminate a clam boat that dredged up old munitions containing mustard gas, a Texas Tech University researcher said his product Fibertect® can handle both dirty jobs. Seshadri Ramkumar, an associate professor of nonwoven technologies, said the Texas Tech-created nonwoven cotton carbon absorbent wipe can clean up crude oil and adsorb toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon vapors reportedly sickening oil spill clean-up crew members.

Sika grew in all Regions in the first half-year of 2010 in terms adjusted for exchange rates. In emerging markets, double-digit growth rates were achieved throughout. With material costs initially still low and those for personnel reduced, operating profit increased considerably. For the second half-year the company anticipates sustained growth with rising material costs. In the first half-year of 2010, Group sales growth in local currency terms amounted to 6.7%. This includes an acquisition effect of 1.9%. Exchange rate fluctuations bore a negative effect of -1.1%, so that in comparison with the first half year of the year prior sales in Swiss francs grew by 5.6% from CHF 1982.9 million to CHF 2094.3 million.

An oil and gas industry group on Monday withdrew its objection to a rule that requires drilling pad pit liners to be disposed in certified landfill sites. The industry will instead shift its focus to working with local governments to find ways to get landfills certified so they can accept pit liners, said Stan Dempsey, president of the Colorado Petroleum Association. Learn more here.;

The 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics will be held 21 – 25 September 2014 in Berlin, Germany. This quadrennial global event from the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) will be...

Following the dramatic failure of the Kingston, Tennessee wet-coal-ash storage pond, the US federal government initiated a survey of its many similar facilities. The survey details are available. Many of the 584 facilities are more than 30 years old. A 1999 survey by the EPA found that only about one quarter of these structures were lined. Since the Kingston disaster, considerable movements have been made in state legislatures to mandate the use of containment liners, just as they are required for the waste management field. Read more in this article at Solve Climate's blog. Learn more here.;

A team of University of Delaware engineering students has taken top honors in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Geo-Challenge Student Competition on Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall Construction. Held at GeoFlorida 2010 on February 23, the competition required teams of students to design and construct a scaled-down model of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall in which dry sand reinforced with paper is retained behind a paper wall that has been constructed in a plywood form. Read more from Diane Kukich.

Jennifer Hildebrand will lead the Internatinoal Erosion Control Association's (IECA) next free webinar event, "Construction Inspection Techniques That Really Work." This webinar will look at inspection programs that really do work! The focus will be both from the perspective of the inspector for a regulatory agency and the inspector who may be inspecting their own sites. It is worth 1 PDH. Learn more here.;

American Environmental Group Ltd. (AEG) announces the hiring of Chuck Van Houten to AEG's Geosynthetic Project Management group. An industry veteran, Chuck adds another 16 years of geosynthetics experience to AEG's core expert staff. Chuck will be working out of AEG's Houston office location. Read more.

Since 1986, Biobarrier® has been the product of choice for re-directing tree and shrub roots from walls, sidewalks, foundations and landscapes. Biobarrier Root Control System is placed in a trench between roots and the area to be protected and is guaranteed for 15 years. “ When we introduced Biobarrier, it was a different kind of product for the market,” said Jerry Dunaway, Biobarrier sales manager. “It still is unlike anything else. We think it is also the most effective and cost-efficient method of inhibiting root growth. For example, it generally costs about $900 to replace 15 linear feet of 4-foot-wide sidewalk. Using Biobarrier along that same stretch of sidewalk costs less than $50.”

Geosynthetica Latin America’s editor Natalia Rodado caught up with Dr. Julio Ferreira (TRI Ambiental, Brazil) during GeosPeru 2017. In the interview that followed, they discussed the growth...

Tensar is appointing Mala Nanda as Vice President and General Manager Asia Pacific, in a company move which emphasizes its commitment to the area. Based in Shanghai, Mala Nanda has exceptional experience in the construction supply sector, particularly her impressive progress with Owens Corning since 1994, latterly becoming General Manager, Asia Pacific South and winning company awards. Her brief tenure there included developing and investing in the Indian sub-continent, and developing the Australian market.

Montreal (Qc) – Solmax, a world leader in manufacturing PE geomembranes and developing fluid containment and transportation solutions, is proud to announce its support for Antoine Valois-Fortier, Canadian Judoka and bronze...

Thanks to President Obama’s recently announced National Export Initiative, now may be a good time to expand your business globally. The program aims to increase financing and other support to small businesses and, ultimately, double the amount of exports over the next five years. Anne Field's article at Open Forum provides a number of resource ideas. Learn more here.;