Containment

The term "Film Tearing Bond (FTB)" for qualifying welded geomembrane seams essentially disappeared from the waste containment sector several years ago, but it still remains in the potable water sector. Ian Peggs, I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, authors a tech note proposing "that we forever banish FTB."

The Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District, Indiana, is giving a tour on December 5 of a farm with heavy use animal traffic zones. Part of the tour will demonstrate the benefits of installing geotextiles in the heaviest traffic spots. Read about it in the Times-Mail. Learn more here.;

Ian Peggs, I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, asks the question "Does geoelectric leak location work?" His answer? "Yes."

Engepol is pleased to announce the addition of their new black and white color geomembrane in our product line. This black and white color geomembrane enables easy and fast damage detection in the site. It was created to attend the client requirements to different applications i.e. storage reservoirs, shrimp farm, aquaculture. The Engepol geomembranes are manufactured from prime high molecular weight resins and were developed to be used under hard chemical and physical conditions in lining of solid waste sites, mines, and any fluid and solid containment applications. Tenemos el gusto de anunciar la introducción de la nuestra geomembrana color blanco y negro en nuestra línea de productos. Esta geomembrana color blanco y negro permite una rápida y facil detección de daños en el sitio. Esto producto fué creado para atender los requirimientos de nuestros clientes para diferentes aplicaciones como por ejemplo reservorios,camaroneras,acuicultura. Las geomembranas Engepol son fabricadas con resinas virgenes y desarolladas para uso en condiciones quimicas y fisicas severas en proyectos de relleno sanitario, minerias e en cualquier aplicacion de contenimiento de fluidos y solidos.

The Environmental News Network (ENN) reports that the world faces less of a water shortage than it does proper water system management. This includes a need to fix leaking pipes and to utilize containment technologies such as barriers for conserving water in canals and reservoirs. Poor management means that 40 to 60 percent of water fails to reach the intended consumers. Learn more here.;

Nonwovens Industry's 37th Annual Guide lists suppliers and producers of nonwovens around the globe in one comprehensive listing. Learn more here.;

"When asked what voltage setting was used to perform spark testing on a pipe penetration weld the operator said “Dunno, I just turned it to the max as stated in the instructions”! This is just the right way to miss leaks, as happened..." Ian Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL takes a look at what is occurring during spark testing.

The October/November 2006 issue of Technical Textiles International magazine will contain the annual Buyer's Guide to the Industry. Thousands of issues are distributed around the world and at all of the major events in 2007, making this a unique opportunity to promote your organization's products and services worldwide. There is no cost for a qualifying editorial entry...deadline is 1 September, 2006. Learn more here.;

David D'Souza, writing for the Goa, India-based Herald, discusses modern, double-lined landfill design but in plain language. He explains the importance of geosynthetic systems, including drainage and containment, and he does it all with easily understandable comparisons, such as geomembrane liners and bathtubs. His succinctly answered questions and plain language demonstrate one way engineers might better engage the public on critical waste designs. Read the article at the link below. Learn more here.;

Studies from Europe are finding that municipal landfills can safely incorporate debris that has been contaminated by chemical weapons, such as sarin, mustard gas and VX. Questions about burying hazardous debris arose following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the railways in Spain and London's subway. Researchers found that modern geosynthetic-lined landfills will provide the necessary containment and groundwater protection. Learn more here.;

According to JEC Group, nonwoven geotextiles are expected to be in great demand in India as nearly 10,000 km of coastal roads are planned. Also, significant waterway connection projects are planned for India, which may require or benefit greatly from other geosynthetic stabilization and containment technologies. Learn more here.;

The Trojan Nuclear Power Plant cooling tower in Kalama, Oregon, came down with the aid of 2,792 pounds of dynamite. Geotextile fabric, wrapped around key blast points, contained the spread of concrete debris. It was one the demolition firm's largest and most advanced projects. The demolition details can be found at The Columbian news site. A video link is available too. Learn more here.;

According to Iceland Review, borehole samples in Iceland indicate that gold may be mined there. Studies are on-going as to whether the gold content in the rock is significant enough to justify and pay for the processing. Geosynthetic containment systems have become vital to controlling mining-related pollution while creating efficiencies in the processing system: product is not lost. Learn more here.;

ASCE G-I Geosynthetics committee is soliciting papers for a mini symposium during GeoDenver 07 under the following theme: Geosynthetics in Cyclic, Seismic, and Dynamic Applications: Lesson Learned. If interested , please forward brief abstract (100 words in PDF format) to Mo Gabr, gabr@eos.ncsu.edu by April 17 2006. Geosynthetic materials are used in many difficult geological conditions as a tool for cost effective design and enhanced construction. While applications in various industry sectors are at different stages of development, documented case histories on the use of geosynthetics in cyclic, seismic, and dynamic projects are rare. This mini symposium entitled "Geosynthetics in Cyclic, Seismic, and Dynamic Applications: Lesson Learned" aims to encompass several (may be 2-4) sessions describing lessons learned when incorporating geosynthetics in such applications. The cyclic, seismic, and dynamic cases include machine and traffic, earthquakes, explosives, wave, and impact loading with reinforcement, drainage, and containment application. As such, examples with a focus on design or performance case histories are (loading being cyclic, seismic, and/or dynamic): i. Dams and Liquefaction ii. Seismic Stability of Mining Impoundments ii. Walls and Slopes iii. Water Storage Reservoirs and Waste Containment Facilities iv. Structures subjected to Wave Loading including Shorelines v. Machine Foundation vi. Bridge Foundation vii. Instrumented Pavement Sections viii. Other Applications. Learn more here.;

Water and solid waste management are engineering concerns for which Solmax International has provided considerable experience and solutions. They are also concerns of any business's operations. Solmax's 2006-2007 environmental plan provides firm, noteworthy targets for how the company produces the materials that are so vital to municipal infrastructures. Learn more here.;

A report from BCC Research indicates that the hazardous waste remediation market will expand to $16.6 billion by 2011. Technologies for containment, separation and recycling offer considerable growth. Read BCC's press release for more information. Learn more here.;

The Freedonia Group's latest study on the geosynthetics market forecasts a 4% growth between 2006 and 2011 with the greatest expansion being in waste management and erosion control. Learn more here.;

George and Bob Koerner offer an overview and intitial feedback on the state of CQA and GSI's Inspector Certification Program (GCI-ICP).

One of the primary functions of a geotextile is protection, such as for a geomembrane. The strength of the fabric has brought it to another realm for protection, though: demolition. Geotextiles are wrapped around key blast points at demolition sites to contain the outward throw of debris, as demonstrated by a project in Oregon. Learn more here.;

The Business Standard, an English-language publication in India, reports that water management is set to become a boom field. With the country's industrial and municipal infrastructures expanding quickly, modernization is inevitable and necessary. Canal, reservoir and industrial containment linings are just some of the products in need. Learn more here.;

The number of permits issued for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) lags the number of approved operations, sometimes by a considerable margin. For example, in Wisconsin, a single CAFO permit covers 55 sites controlled by a corporation that specializes in turkey production. Prior to 2002, the state had issued permits for each site. This change in permitting means that the reported number of permitted operations fails to give an accurate picture of how fast the CAFO market, with its more severe waste management and runoff control needs, has expanded. CAFOs are large operations for beef, poultry, dairy, and pork production, generally raising more than 1000 animals on a single site. In California, some dairies have more than 3000 cows, and the amount of exposed waste has led to the dairy-rich San Joaquin Valley posting air-quality ratings as poor as Los Angeles' and Houston's. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state regulatory agencies are particularly concerned with waste management and runoff control on barn-confined and open lot operations. (Pasture-grazing operations do not present the same immediate threats.) Still, CAFOs are the trend, even for former small farms as they struggle to compete. Needs in the industry: Better waste lagoon design, waste liners, lagoon containment covers (tied to methane harvesting systems) and runoff control methods affiliated with NPDES. Many CAFOs must file for National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System (NPDES) permits.

Published by Thomas Telford, the latest issue of Geosynthetics International (volume 12 issue 6) contains six technical papers.

Ian Peggs has written a tech note about the consistency and specification of textured geomembrane, a concern expressed at the recent GRI-19 conference by both a geomembrane manufacturer (Boyd Ramsey, GSE) and a CQA firm (Mark Sieracke, STS) - the general consensus being that asperity height is not sufficient to assure adequate interface shear properties.

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 first Pan American geosynthetics conference and exhibition to be held in 2008 in Cancun, Mexico. As the first regional conference organized by IFAI and IGS, GeoAmericas 2008 will promote new applications for geosynthetics, provide a forum for geosynthetics engineering, and serve as the marketplace for the promotion of geosynthetic products in the Americas. The preliminary announcement can be found at the "continued" link below.