Containment

Daniele Cazzuffi (CESI SpA – Milano, Italy and also IGS Past President) has been unanimously elected as Chairman of the European Committee for Standardization on Geosynthetics (CEN TC 189) for a period of three years, 2012–2014. The vote was held during January 2012 as postal ballot among all standardization bodies of the 27 countries belonging to CEN. The mandate of CEN TC 189 is to develop standardized test methods for the overall characterization of geosynthetics and mainly to elaborate the harmonized European standards for the various fields of geosynthetics applications. He is the first elected chair from outside of Belgium and the Netherlands.

In Charleston, West Virginia, an emergency plan has been approved to keep a road from collapsing into the Kanawha River. The US Army Corps of Engineers is assisting the project to install geosynthetic reinforcement and soil protection along Kanawha Boulevard. Riprap will also be installed in an erosion control zone. Learn more here.;

The Reno Gazette-Journal (RGJ) has posted an article from extension education and associate professor Loretta Singletary on the subject of "Nonpoint source pollutants associated with Nevada agriculture." She offers a general breakdown of the threats, uses of best management practices (BMPs), total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), and other affiliated matters. Learn more here.;

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Geo-Institute is proud to announce that Rob Schweinfurth became the G-I's new director on 1 July 2010. Rob brings more than 29 years of professional experience in several geo-technical disciplines, as well as hydrogeology, environmental geology, water quality, and sustainability. His experience spans a broad organizational spectrum including non-for-profit associations, industry, government agencies, consulting firms, and association volunteer leadership. Rob can be reached at +1 703 295 6015 or rschweinfurth@asce.org.

It’s Tuesday and attendees and exhibitors are arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah for the biennial Geosynthetics conference. Geosynthetics 2009, managed by the Roseville, Minnesota-based Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), is being held under the theme “Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering,” two subjects key to Western states like Utah. Geosynthetica is a cooperating organization for this year’s event. We’re proud to be part of this seminal gathering for North America’s geosynthetics practice. Reports from the conference will be published daily (Wednesday – Friday, February 25-27) and a wrap-up will be published next week.

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) invites students to submit papers on topics related to dam and levee safety, including engineering, geology, hydrology, hydraulics, environmental & agricultural sciences, design, construction, risk, hazard mitigation, emergency management, floods, floodplain management, case studies, security, policy issues & more. ASDSO will award up to $1500 in prizes. Winners will present their papers at Dam Safety 2010, ASDSO's Annual National Conference, to be held in Seattle, 19-23 September 2010.

In May, when participants from around the world arrive in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil for the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG), they'll have many hotel beachfront hotel options. The conference organizers have announced that a local travel agency has arranged for special rates at more than just the conference hotel, the Sofitel Jequitimar Hotel. Attendees may also choose from several hotels located at the beaches of Enseada and Pernambuco. Read more and guarantee your best rate no matter where you stay during 9ICG.

Ten years ago, the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) Board established the GSI Fellows program. Since then, the institute has provided an exceptional level of support to student-centered research and development projects...

The world's largest waterproofing and roofing group is forming. GAF, which has an extensive roofing membrane portfolio, has acquired ICOPAL Group, which is globally involved in roofing, waterproofing, and civil...

Shri Satyaprakash Singh, a regional manager (Polymer Business unit) at Reliance Industries Ltd., delivered an address on "Geosynthetics: Opportunities Ahead" during the mid-November Texcellence 2009 event in Ahmedabad, India. His presentation from the event is available for download to registered users of India-based textile website Fibre2Fashion. Learn more here. Learn more here.;

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) will hold its 2012 Design-Build for Water/Wastewater conference and exhibition in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area 23-25 April 2012. The conference has grown steadily in recent years, including record attendance in 2011. DBIA is accepting abstracts for presentations through 10 October 2011. Visit the Call for Presentations page on the event website and submit your proposal online. Learn more here.;

In 2008, Oregon-based BTL moved into a cavernous new facility--one that can finally meet its project demands. This is the second facility expansion move for BTL in only a few years. One project that underscores the advantages of the new headquarters is the 105,000 sq. ft. single-panel of 20-mil geomembrane that the company fabricated for a pond liner project in Wisconsin. Read the case study here.

Western Environmental Liner, an online supplier of custom fabricated pond liners, PVC liners,pit liners, field liners, canal liners and polypropylene liners, has announced they are expanding their operations by adding an additional factory. The company has decided to expand by purchasing a new factory across the street from their main factory in Tolleson, AZ. The new factory is 65,000 square feet which is being equipped with state of the art welding machinery to allow for quick execution of all orders placed. Read more.

NAUE, a leading international manufacturer of geosynthetics and engineering services provider, seeks to add a sales engineer to its expanding Malaysia and Southeast Asia operations. The company has a...

Big announcements keep coming for CQA Solutions. The company has added veteran John Beeman as its Head of Business Development. This announcement follows last month's release of a new,...

Hong Kong's NENT Landfill features a reinforced fill slope, highlighted by a 35m-high, 340m-long embankment that bridges two hilltops. This dynamic construction has enabled the site to properly plan for future waste burial needs in an area that features one of the world's most densely populated cities and most difficult availability for new land on which to construct. This unique embankment design is engineered for stability on both the west and east sides as a standing embankment and for the overall stability as the waste is deposited against the west face. Learn more about this innovative project and its geogrid reinforcement.

Many experts say the days of the local dump are gone--and that may be a good thing for the environment. It's increasingly common to send trash away, and to store it in modern landfills with geosynthetic lining systems. A look at the case in Northern California. Learn more here.;

In a letter to engineers using geosynthetics and instructors, students and researchers working with them on the college and university level, Dr. Robert Koerner of the Geosynthetic Institute writes on the publication of the 6th Edition of his Designing with Geosynthetics text. Dr. Koerner's letter includes discussion of the financial realties of textbook publishing, the difficulties of on-demand publishing, and the stunningly economical nature of e-publishing.

The Indian government is making a couple of moves to improve its nation's aquaculture industry by compelling better practice. Shrimp farms have until April 1 to register officially with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) or they will not be eligible to export their goods. Also, shrimp farmers will be required to submit antibiotic-free certification from the ELISA labs approved by the Marine Products Export Development Authority. MPEDA reports that less than half of the 17,000 shrimp farms have registered with the CAA. Learn more here.;

It is seldom that one finds wick drains mentioned in the popular media, but the Southeast Missourian has "unearthed" them for its readers. The $180 million widening project of US Highway 67 has involved significant soil consolidation in parts of Missouri. One zone has used 1,200 wick drains to dry out a zone enough to safely construct an elevated road. The area had experienced flooding over the road as recently as 2002. Learn more here.;

From 1963 - 1977, Maxey Flats in Kentucky accepted nuclear waste for disposal. Since 1977, the site has been an on-going cleanup and monitoring site. A geomembrane cap was installed to prevent further incursion of water after 900,000 gallons of leachate was extracted, and a final cap is planned. Today, the site is considered much safer and is welcoming visitors to observe and learn about the environmental controls. Learn more here.;

Organizers for GéoMontréal 2013 have announced that the deadline for submission of abstracts has been extended to February 1. The conference will be held at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada 29 September - 3 October 2013. Organized by the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS) in collaboration with the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH/CNC) and the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), GeoMontreal provides an exceptional opportunity to interact with the North American geotechnical community. The geosynthetics field should play a strong role in this 66th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, with the theme "Geoscience for Sustainability." Learn more on the event website. Learn more here.;

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) South African Chapter, the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), has published its latest newsletter. This issue features a lead article from Jonathan Shamrock (Jones & Wagener) on the significant changes coming to the country's waste management facility design regulations. Geosynthetics will play a key role in new designs, but with increased use comes the potentially increased risk of interface failure planes and heightened communication needs in the project cycle. Also of note in the issue: Peter Davies provides a barrier systems information archive recommendation, shale gas extraction is addressed, the winner of the IGS/GIGSA student award is announced, Edoardo Zannoni takes a stab at specifications, and Belinda Mills & Brendon Jewaskiewitz (Envitech Solutions (Pty) Ltd) write on "Geosynthetic Lining System Design versus Practical Installation: Lessons Learned." Read these articles and more in GIGSA's newsletter (PDF).

For three decades, the Stauffer Chemical facility in Tarpon Springs, Florida manufactured and processed an array of hazardous and radioactive materials. The site was closed in 1981 but slag piles have remained. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it anticipates beginning cleanup of the 130-acre site in early to mid 2009. Two geosynthetic-capped mounds will be constructed, one on 18.5 acres and the other on 29 acres. Learn more here.;

Ian Peggs writes from Dubai: "One resin manufacturer, a geomembrane manufacturer, a design engineering representative, and a liner installer attended and participated in lively discussion during the day-long post-conference workshop on HDPE geomembrane. These workshop participants came from Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates and the workshop was led by Dr. Ian D. Peggs (I-CORP). Key topics included liner leak statistics, consequences of leakage, action leakage rates, finding the responsible leaks, and estimating the remaining exposed geomembrane lifetime." Read more.