Containment

The New Mexico Environment Department reports that two-thirds of the state's 150 dairies are contaminating groundwater with excess nitrogen from cattle excrement. Learn more here.;

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered more permanent solutions be found for the rememdiation of the Cass Lake Superfund site near Bemidji, Minnesota. Temporary solutions, such as contaminated soil removal, have been performed; but long-term corrections are needed. A feasibility study is planned to be released next year. Learn more here.;

The Interstate Technical Group on Abandoned Underground Mines (ITGAUM) is issuing a call for papers to be presented at its 8th Biennial Workshop. The workshop is scheduled for 21-24 September 2010 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Abstracts are due by 7 May 2010. Learn more.

Start the week with the latest in the geoengineering world. Here's the GeoWire conversation for the week of July 20. WORK SMARTER. BIG PROJECTS We talk a lot about how 2020...

Terrafix Geosynthetics, Inc. offers Triton® Stormwater Chamber Solutions, a high-strength, lightweight, comprehensive underground stormwater chamber management solution that effectively addresses the maintenance issues associated with underground systems. The potential LEEDs credits that can be achieved from using the Triton chamber system include: Sustainable sites (5 credits), Water efficiency (5 credits), Materials and resources (4 credits), Innovation and design process (4 credits), and Carbon neutrality (3 credits). Learn more here.;

Geo-Frontiers 2011 brings together the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) Geo-Institute, the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), and the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI). REGISTER by February 21 to get the best rates for Geo-Frontiers 2011 (www.geofrontiers11.com). Learn more here.;

A 2.5-million-gallon oil-pumping station is moving forth in western McHenry County, Illinois near the city of Woodstock. County officials had tried to halt the project, which is part of a pipeline delivering oil from Western Canada all the way to Northwest Indiana. An agreement to install geosynthetic secondary containment is one of the reasons objection to the project has waned. Learn more here.;

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell testified in favor of a national infrastructure bank before a House committee Thursday. "It is obvious that existing revenue sources and methods are inadequate to address our vast infrastructure needs," said Rendell. The national infrastructure bank would help finance transportation and public-works projects across the U.S. Learn more here.;

TenCate™ is pleased to announce the appointment of Lancer Textiles as Master Distributor for the Industrial Fabrics division effective immediately. Lancer Textiles' role as Master Distributor will be to service those TenCate™ customers that may not be able to meet the minimum order quantity requirement, who typically buy small quantities, who order infrequently and to fulfill special converting needs and requests, such as slitting, re-rolling, etc.

A recently completed study by Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Natural Resources has increased the understanding of air emissions and odors on larger-sized livestock farms, and lays the groundwork for future studies in this important area. Among the study's recommendations: "Installation of new manure storage lagoons would benefit greatly from an impermeable cover which can reduce odors by 100 percent" and "Existing manure storage lagoons would benefit from a permeable cover which can reduce odor by about 70 percent."

Monsanto, a multinational agriculture company, has reached a settlement with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and landowners over PCB contamination in Big Spring Creek outside of Lewistown. FWP sought $10.5 million, in addition to punitive damages. The two sides have settled on Monsanto paying FWP $5 million. Learn more here.;

GSE Environmental's "Geosynthetics for Success" Technical Seminar Series returns with two dates in August and another in October. These events bring top-tier speakers together on major engineering topics, new technologies, new designs and more. For attendees, it is an opportunity not only to learn about the latest regulations and engineering approaches but advances in geosynthetic technologies that are helping make some applications possible and others more economical and sustainable. Professional development credits are also available for attendees. In August, the technical seminar series will arrive in Australia, first in Perth (August 7) and then in Brisbane (August 9). In October, the seminar returns to the USA for a session in Chantilly, Virgina. Learn more.

Despite slowing demand in the US, the mining and metals sector is expected to remain strong for Eurpoean groups, reports Thomson Financal Network. Demand in China and India will help keep mining commodities prices--iincluding gold, copper and silver--high. Those prices also influence new developments, and they'll require significant environmental controls, such as leach pad liners. Learn more here.;

On April 7, GSE will host a "Geosynthetics 4 Success" technical seminar in Orlando, Florida. This dynamic seminar will address the latest developments in geosynthetics and the use of geosynthetics in solid waste, hazardous waste, liquid and coal ash containment. In addition to presenters from GSE, guest experts will include JP Giroud, Don Hullings and Richard Brachman. Learn more here.;

The former limestone quarry in Batavia, Illinois has been leaking 250,000 gallons per day despite the thick soil and clay layers beneath the 43,000 square foot swimming area. Removal of a Fox River dam has changed the hydrostatic pressure acting on the site and lowered water levels, thus increasing the leakage. Engineers from AECOM recommended installation of a geomembrane liner; that proposal has been approved with a $134,000 contract. Learn more here.;

Ian Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL has submitted a 23-point design note on fuel tank secondary containment design. Of particular interest is the considerations that one must make when using geomembranes. Construction quality assurance (CQA) through electrical integrity surveys is encouraged...but it's successful only if the design is executed properly.

Federal officials have approved Monsanto Co.'s plans to expand mining operations in southeast Idaho's phosphate patch after concluding that a $30 million liner and drainage system would adequately protect nearby streams and rivers from selenium and other harmful minerals. The geosynthetic lining system was key to the project's approval. Learn more here.;

A new study linking chemicals in the Bonaparte River in British Columbia, Canada to leachate in the Cache Creek landfill is being debated, but many officials remain unconvinced. Several independent engineering studies performed on the landfill over the years have failed to find problems with leachate escapement; but some strong similarities in the landfill's leachate and Bonaparte River contaminants have been found. One consultant--who has not actually studied the landfill--has speculated that wrinkles in the liner and methods used to wrap the leachate pumps have resulted in holes in the liner. Learn more here.;

The town of Marion, Massachusetts has a nitrogen level building in its bay equivalent to leakage from 1900 homes; yet, the town has only 1700 homes. Citizens and engineers cite the old wastewater plants inefficiency. It is leaking into the harbor. Lining of the WWTP ponds with a geosynthetic barrier seems imminent. City officials are currently debating the issue, costs, and possible WWTP lagoon redesign with liners. Learn more here.;

Pop over to ESCN.tv for a chance to win a full registration to the EC09 conference in Reno, Nevada! ESCN's "I'm A Survivor" contest will award two full registrations to the event (to be held 9-12 February 2009) plus three nights of lodging at the Atlantis Casino Resort. Feeling lucky? Stop by ESCN.tv today. Learn more here.;

Layfield Environmental Containment is pleased to announce the employment of Mr. Alex Gersch as Business Development Manager based out of Adelaide, South Australia. Alex brings a wealth of experience...

The City Council in Aiken, South Carolina is considering construction of a new retention or detention pond on a roughly 5.5-acre plot of land that takes drainage from two roads and to head off flooding of an area of the city. The city must decide upon either a dry detention pond that would focus on infiltration back into groundwater or a retention pond that would utilize a liner or partial liner and keep a steady level of water in the pond (approx. 3 feet) with a design capacity of 6 to 8 foot depth. The latter approach would enable development of the pond's surrounding area for trails and park land. Learn more here.;

No new landfills have been started from scratch in Southern California in 30 years. Gregory Canyon is a 1,770-acre site located approximately three miles east of Interstate 15 and two miles southwest of the Pala Indian Reservation. The project was initiated in 1989 by lead developer Richard Chase. In 1994 and 2004, voters overwhelmingly approved the construction of Gregory landfill. But the debate over the landfill continued despite the support. Is now the time for the site to finally be put into use? Learn more here.;

In 2015, Geosynthetica wrote about the expanding US market of Titan Environmental. The Canada-founded entity grew substantially in its first decade, moving quickly from a small team focused on...

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 announced the release of the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments (Toolkit). The Toolkit was developed collaboratively by the Agency's Regional Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Division and Water Protection Division and Pollution Prevention Office, with support from the EPA Green Building and Smart Growth Programs, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response's Innovations Workgroup, and many external partners. The Toolkit is designed to assist local governments in identifying and removing permitting barriers to sustainable design and green building practices.