Containment

The second day of Waterproof Membranes 2008 proved to be crowded with activity. We ventured into deeper (waterproofed) waters with a long but welcomed day of presentations; afterwhich we were treated to a fine, friendly dinner across from Cologne's iconic cathedral. Read the report on Day 2's papers and happenings. Learn more here.;

TenCate Geosynthetics has taken home the top prize in the Geosynthetic Projects category of the 2008 International Achievement Awards (IAA). The winning entries in the IAAs were announced in late October during the Industrial Fabrics Association International's (IFAI) annual conference, which was held this year in Charlotte, North Carolina. IFAI conducts the IAAs each year. TenCate's winning project comes from British Columbia, Canada, where an 85m stretch of road passed between two lakes over some rather swampy terrain. Over a 30-year period the road had settled nearly 2m. TenCate's geotextile reinforced soil (GRS) expertised helped stabilize the situation and preserve a fish passageway between the waters. Read more about the project at TenCate's IAA entry page. Learn more here.;

Though it seems counter-intuitive, the presence of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) may increase nearby property values. At least, that is the finding in three counties in Indiana. A regulated livestock operation (RLO) within one mile of a non-town residence increased sale price by $12,700. It isn't all rosy, of course. Dairy cattle were found to reduce property values; but beef cattle increased values. Learn more here.;

A San Jose-based BioFuelBox Corp. plans to take biowaste normally dumped in landfills and convert the waste into biodiesel. Roughly 350 billion gallons of diesel are used each year; only about 450 million gallons of that are biodiesel. The company’s initial focus is on fats, oils and greases extracted from wastewater. An agreement with a major meat-producing company in Arkansas has been announced. Learn more here.;

In 1980, only 9 percent of global fish consumption came from aquaculture. Today, that number is 43 percent. In Scotland, aquaculture has actually overtaken sheep and pork to become the second-largest meat-producing sector, with a value of approximately £400 million ($630 million). The largest sector in Scotland is beef, with a value of £467 million ($730 million). Salmon consumption in Great Britain has risen 22 percent in the past two years. It's yet-another story that confirms the huge growth potential in aquaculture for ocean-base and inland hatcheries--particularly in Western nations. Learn more here.;

Aquaculture output in the Philippines continues to rise steadily. Tiger prawns and shrimp farming are major drivers of what has become the nation's second largest foreign exchange earner. Aquaculture accounts for roughly $100 million of revenue per year. Shrimp farm production is often maximized through the installation of lined pits. Learn more here.;

The Prince William Landfill in Virginia has won two awards. The first was awarded at the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) conference in Tampa, Florida (WASTECON) and was for landfill management. The second was from the Chamber of Commerce, which recognized the landfill with the Innovative Business Practice of the Year award. The facility uses a liner and monitoring system well in excess of local regulations. Learn more here.;

Two weeks ago, Michigan State University (MSU) announced that it would pursue the development of turnkey projects for waste-to-energy (WTE) solutions on small and medium-sized farms. Much of the news (and research and development funds) about WTE technology tends to focus on very large farms, such as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). MSU seeks to expand the WTE sector through its Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center. Learn more here.;

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed a new rule last week that aims to curtail runoff from animal waste lagoons--but what effect will the new rule really have? Ag Week looks a closer look at a policy which, as the writer notes, seems to put the fox in charge of the henhouse. Learn more here.;

The shoreline in Port Elizabeth, South Africa was damaged in a September storm of breakers, but local authorities insist the damage will be repair--and the shoreline greatly improved--by December. A geotextile-based erosion control plan is being put in place. Learn more here.;

In the town of The Blue Mountains in southwestern Ontario, a request has been filed with the Ministry of Environment to expand the landfill site by 100,000 cubic meters. The site is estimated to have three or four years of space left in it. The facility would like to create 25 years of space. The case for expansion includes the installation of more advanced, modern leachate and drainage management technologies and landfill liners. Learn more here.;

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.;

The International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) membership voted to re-elect Becky Gauthier to the 2009 Board of Directors. Joining Gauthier to the 2009 Board of Directors are new board members Phil Handley and Rick Morse. Read more in the release.

On the eve of GreenBuild 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts, 18 November 2008, a business reception will be held at the Liberty Hotel. Organizers invite you to take part in this opportunity to network with more than 50 Canadian companies, associations and agencies that are international leaders in green building and energy efficiency. To register or if you have questions, please contact Erin Daily by email. Arrangements for this special networking event must be made by 14 November 2008. Learn more here.;

On 13 and 14 November 2008, Rick Thiel, P.E., will conduct a workshop titled "Design of Waste Containment Liner and Final Closure Systems" in Philadelphia. This American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) training opportunity is for those who work with municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, hazardous waste landfills, superfund sites, industrial landfills, mine tailing closures, or mining heap leachpads. Comprehensive coverage of the latest technology is covered. Learn how to design waste containment liner systems and final closure systems. Design and failure examples throughout. Read more and download the brochure at the following link. Learn more here.;

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has announced some short courses. The current offerings include: Geosynthetics in Waste Containment Liner and Cover Design. The course will be offered 8 December 2008 and 9 March 2009 ** Quality Control / Quality Assurance of Geosynthetics Installation. The course will be offered 9 December 2008 and 10 March 2009. ** Examinations for Inspector Certification. This certification exam will be offered 10 December 2008 and 11 March 2009. For more information, please download the short course brochure (PDF).

Australia-based Nylex, which among other products manufactures geomembranes, has announced it will revise its 2009 earnings estimates due to the current market turmoil. The civil engineering aspects of Nylex are not the culprit, though. The adverse conditions impacting the company stem largely from cutbacks in global automotive production, into which Nylex sells some products, and the declining value of the Australian dollar in the world market. Learn more here.;

GZA GeoEnvironmental has appointment Dan Stapleton, P.E., a principal to the company's Nuclear Practice. Stapleton will work as a technical lead for the New England-centered company. Part of his background involves the study of geosynthetics at Drexel University. We congratulate Dan on his new position. Learn more here.;

Approximately 50 km southeast of Melbourne you'll find the Brookland Greens, a developing area in which residents now fear for gas explosions from the landfill. The waste facility approved as recently as 1996 but side liners were not required. As such, gas has migrated laterally, and lacking proper venting controls, the site has become quite dangerous. Making matters worse, a Victorian council approved home construction as close as 200 meters from the active landfill zone--ignoring the previous rule that no homes be constructed within 500 meters of both active and inactive, capped waste cells. Learn more here.;

After significant pressure from area residents and farmers, the South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. (SCE&G) has announced that it will add a geosynthetic liner to its proposed 140-acre ash landfill southeast of Columbia. The waste disposal facility is to be constructed in order to bury the by-products new pollution controls established at a coal-fired power plant. As this case shows, greater interest in "clean coal" technology may lead to better environmental controls (particularly for groundwater protection) for private industry waste facilities. Learn more here.;

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule helping to protect the nation’s water quality by requiring concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to safely manage manure. EPA estimates CAFO regulations will prevent 56 million pounds of phosphorus, 110 million pounds of nitrogen, and 2 billion pounds of sediment from entering streams, lakes, and other waters annually. Read more in the release.

The town of Barrie in Ontario, Canada is digging into its past--literally. The old landfills is being "mined" for recyclables. The old waste is removed, inspected, recyclables are taken out, and the waste-to-be-reburied is sent to a modern, lined facility. This process produces new volume not only through removing waste but through improved compaction. It's estimated that a full decade of space is being created. The first global conference on waste mining just took place in London in October. Learn more here.;

David Frost, who serves as a professor of civil engineering at Georgia Tech's Savannah campus, is working hard to change the popular perception that Georiga Tech's Atlanta campus is the only one to know. Frost, who serves as the Savannah campus' director and as a Georgia Tech vice provost, has been investigating the interaction of soil behavior and geomembrane texture (or smoothness) for the past 12 years. Read more at Media Newswire. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) online voting for Board of Directors positions is open through November 1. Login with your membership ID and cast your vote to help shape IECA's future. Learn more here.;

At the Gala des Affaires de Drummondville (Quebec) on 1 November, the Drummond Chamber of Commerce and Industry recognized the knowledge and achievements of the Drummond RMC (Regional County Municupality) business community. SOPREMA earned two top award. First up was recognized with a Napoléon Award in the "Manufacturing Enterprise with 75 or more employees." And then: the much-coveted "Prix Distinction" was awarded to SOPREMA. The award is the Drummond RMC's award for Enterprise of the Year. Geosynthetica warmly congratulates the company on these well-deserved achievements. Learn more here.;