Containment

The US EPA will host a free Construction General Permit (CGP) Webcast on Tuesday, May 24 from 1:00 to 3:00pm Eastern to discuss the proposed CGP. There will be time dedicated to answering questions posed from the webcast participants. To register for this free webcast, go to www.epa.gov/npdes/training. Public comment period ends May 25 on the extension of the 2008 CGP to January 31, 2012. Learn more here.;

A 10-acre landfill near Greenville, South Carolina is part of a long-awaited remedy to clean PCBs from Lake Hartwell. Dredging of 450,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment will begin soon. The lining system installation is being completed right now as is site erosion control work. With its hilltop location, the tight timeline, and the unusually difficult weather, one project engineer has noted that it may become well-covered in publications as an exemplary PCB management project. Learn more here.;

Northwest Linings and Geotextile Products, Inc. seeks a Project Manager for Kent, WA location. Candidate must have a 4-year degree, 3 years of geosynthetics construction management experience, and an earthworks background including the reading of blue prints, specifications, and submittal processing. Learn more.

Michael Baker Corporation (NYSE Amex:BKR) announced today that it has acquired RBF Consulting (RBF), a 540-person engineering, planning, surveying and environmental services firm based in Irvine, California. RBF significantly expands Baker's presence in the Western U.S. transportation, civil and environmental infrastructure markets and, through its water resources experience and expertise, provides a platform for Baker to build a national water and wastewater practice. The terms of the transaction were a total consideration of $50 million, of which approximately $45.7 million was paid in cash and approximately $4.3 million was paid in Baker common stock.

North Brook Farms in Auburn, New York recycles new rubber shoe soles that fail inspection. The largest supply of these comes to the farm from a military distributor. North Brook then grinds up the rubber and stuffs it into geotextile mats which are sold to farms for animal bedding. The young company's orders are starting to come from overseas, including a two-million pound order from Ireland. Learn more here.;

The Irish Times published a story of an eight-year-old, Clodagh McIntyre, who won an award for a drawing she submitted to a fisheries-sponsored coloring contest. McIntyre's drawing depicts fish struggling with lagarosiphon major, an invasive weed that has plagued Irish waters for the past five years. Geotextile matting is being studied as a possible solution to smothering the weed. Learn more here.;

In Nevada, lawmakers in the state house have passed ACR 32, a bill to demand that Congress repair the canal. When the canal suffered a breach last year that led to nearly 600 homes flooded. The US Bureau of Reclamation has been unable to date to decide on a long-term repair solution. Geosynthetics are certainly a possibility. The Bureau has previously conducted a 10-year study on canal performance with geosynthetic lining and found significantly supportive data for geosynthetic adoption. Learn more here.;

New from ASTM International: "Contaminated Sediments: Sustainable Management and Remediation" edited by Rosa Galvez and Mark Dyer. The book contains 23 peer-reviewed papers on the latest global information on environmentally sound solutions to the sustainable management and remediation of contaminated sediments. Includes several interesting case studies for important projects being conducted in Ireland, Scotland, Malaysia, Turkey, Japan, Canada, and the USA. Learn more here.;

With the aid of MultiView, Inc., the Society of Plastics Engineers has launched a new iPhone app: SPE Mobile. The app is designed to help SPE keep its members connected to the association anytime, anywhere through one convenient portal. App functions include industry product and service searches, weekly news, SPE event information, SPE store and membership information, and easy access to the SPE website.

Waterproof Membranes 2008 is underway. It's the second in what is anticipated to be a longer-term series organized by Applied Market Information (AMI). And there was something about the program for Waterproof Membranes 2008 that really caught our eye. Key subjects this year include green roofing, sustainability, membrane durability and geotechnical applications. Others in the geosynthetics industry and related construction industries have seen this too, as our first night at the event revealed. Read the report from the opening night's reception. Learn more here.;

CIWM now has an online trade directory. Is your business recycling waste or resource management? CIWM's Green Pages online trade directory can boost your business by putting you in touch with like-minded companies. Registration is free, or you can participate at three varying levels of payment. Learn more here.;

The strong registration for the August webinar on "Design Considerations for Coal Combustion Residual Landfills" has prompted a second session to be arranged. On September 14 at 10:00 am CDT, Chris Athanassopoulos, P.E. (CETCO) and John Seymour, P.E. (Geosyntec) will present an encore presentation of their one-hour webinar on the current state of practice related to geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) chemical compatibility and present research on new GCLs with improved chemical resistance to coal combustion residuals (CCRS). Design considerations for vertical/lateral expansions over CCR ponds and landfills will also be covered. Registration is free. Topics: CLs for CCR Containment; Advances in Design of Landfills over CCR Ponds and Landfills Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association and the Southeast Chapter of IECA are sponsoring a one-day workshop in Nashville, TN on October 15th. This event is the first of several "roadshow" tours where IECA presents quality education from a national, state and local perspective. The content is area specific and address issues related to stormwater management that effect all who coordinate and manage stormwater programs. Learn more here.;

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics is reaching a major milestone. During the January Committee Week gathering in Houston, Texas, the Committee will mark its 30th anniversary with a...

When the levee system that protects the NOLA region's shores began to be constructed roughly 80 years ago, they halted a natural process of silting that protected some of the coastal ecosystem. Today, with rising ocean levels, the shoreline lacks the natural protection it once had when silt was allowed to build up. A new 50-year, $50 billion master plan in Louisiana proposes to cut into or remove some levees--which are currently being built higher--and allow silt build up and some flooding. This massive restoration plan will dramatically impact some communities, actually removing their protection from floods. Read more in an engaging article from the Los Angeles Times. Learn more here.;

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has invested tens of thousands of dollars in its engineering research over the years, both in-house and with its GSI Fellowships program. The latter endeavor...

The Texas Legislature is considering a bill that will eliminate dam safety regulation for over ninety-four percent of the dams in the state. Amendment 21 to House Bill 2694, passed by the House of Representatives on 19 April 2011, will exempt all dams that store less than 1000 acre feet. This will eliminate all public safety requirements for 7013 of the 6631 total dams presently under the regulatory authority including701 high hazard potential dams and 744 significant hazard potential dams.

Solmax will be present at the PIOGA 2013 Eastern Oil & Gas Conference and Trade Show held at the Monroeville Convention Center in Pennsylvania from 27-28 August 2013. The event...

During the recent ASTM International Committee Week meetings in Indianapolis (12-14 June 2013), George Koerner, Ph.D., P.E., CQA of the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) was honored with the "Award of...

The Missouri River continues to threaten Midwestern states, and residents and the Army Corps of Engineers are working together to shore up or build levees. Corps officials have informed residents that they will be unleashing water from five dams to ease pressure on these reservoirs -- at a rate twice that of previous record releases. This will mean the river will rise in several areas and will top at least 11 levees. Learn more here.;

The city of Tempe, Arizona is dealing with the failure of an inflatable dam, first installed in 1999, that failed this month. The dam was specified to last 30 years, but when the desert conditions seemed to be deteriorating the structure faster, the city and manufacturer entered into a new agreement. Following that agreement, the manufacturer exited the inflatable dams market. Now the city is unsure of where repair costs will come from. Learn more here.;

During EuroGeo 6, Dr. Ian D. Peggs, P.E., P.Eng chaired a special panel discussion on geomembrane wrinkles, bridging, uplift, and ballasting. The recorded session featured panelists Paul Guinard (SOPREMA),...

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced a new standard, D7703: "Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Water Lance System." Electrical leak location methods are an effective and proven quality assurance measure to locate previously undetected leaks and check the integrity of a liner. Learn more here.;

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – HUESKER inc., an international manufacturer of geosynthetics, is proud to announce the addition of Lilma "Lilly" Schimmel, MSCE, P.E., to its US-based staff. Schimmel's hiring represents...

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials will be returning to Perry County, Ala. on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 for a public forum at the Uniontown City Hall Auditorium to update residents about the current operation of removing coal ash from the Emory River near the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Kingston removal site in Roane County, Tenn., and placing it into the Arrowhead Landfill in Perry County. Read more.