Containment

For the first quarter of 2011, AMCOL International Corporation (NYSE: ACO) nearly doubled its diluted earnings per share attributable to its shareholders to $0.38 per share versus $0.20 per share in the prior year's quarter. Net sales increased 27.1% to $222.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, compared to $175.0 million for the 2010 period. AMCOL is the parent company of geosynthetics manufacturer CETCO.

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) Endowment for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research presents the Paul L. Busch Award each year at WEFTEC. The award carries with it a $100,000 grant and recognizes outstanding individuals or teams who are conducting ground-breaking research that will lead to practical solutions to water quality problems. Nominations are due by 1 June 2010. Learn more here.;

Layfield has commissioned the world's largest combined geotextile sewing and geomembrane welding production line. With this line, dubbed the GeoFab 5X, Layfield has significantly scaled up its plant conversion capabilities...

Novozymes, a global bioinnovation company based in Denmark, and Dacheng Group, a major starch processing company based in China, announces an agreement to make plastics from agricultural waste. The two companies have agreed to expand their cooperation in developing biochemicals derived from biomass and to promote the industrialization of plant-based glycol. Glycols are biochemicals used in household cleaning products, cosmetics, and used as building blocks for making polyesters and plastics.

Mining is a vital activity for modern life. The metals, minerals, and other raw materials extracted enable the production and success of many (if not most) of the goods...

Massachusetts' Plum Island now has artificial dunes supported by geotextile bags. The dunes have been installed to protect structures on the island after considerable erosion. Officials have even installed fences to protect the dunes. Members of the Plum Island Taxpayers Association (PITA) are anticipating that the US Army Corps of Engineers will approve a plan to dredge the Merrimack River and deposit the lionshare of dredged sand on Plum Island for beach renourishment. Learn more here.;

The North American Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS North America) has established an Excellence in Service Award to recognize members who have shown outstanding leadership and dedication...

Tri-Tech Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIT), a leading solutions provider to China's water resources, municipal wastewater and industrial pollution control markets, announced today the appointment of Bernstein and Pinchuk LLP, an independent member of the BDO Seidman Alliance, to serve as the company's independent auditing firm, effective 23 April 2010.

The Middle East will be a leading producer and exporter of plastic resins within the next five years, with polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) capacity in the region slated to more than double by 2015. The Middle East plastics industry is expected to grow 30 percent a year. This phenomenal growth rate, and the consequent further investment and industrial development opportunities presented have prompted the organization of the First GPCA Plastics Summit, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai on 14-16 June 2010.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson is scheduled to lead the U.S. delegation to the Group of Eight Environment Ministers Meeting held this year in Siracusa, Italy. This marks her first international trip as EPA Administrator. Administrator Jackson will represent the United States among Environment Ministers from the Group of Eight (Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Russia) as well as 12 additional Environment Ministers and leaders of international organizations from around the world. Read more.

Fremont, Ohio's Mayor Terry Overmyer has publicly stated that the area's long-discussed reservoir and combined sewer overflow projects are top priorities in 2011. The reservoir project has been delayed for years by disputes with a contractor, the discovery of some karst, and design amendments. Geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners, and geotextiles are now part of the safer design. Phase I is expected to be completed by spring of 2012. Learn more here.;

On the northern end of the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, the world's largest natural gas conversion facility is being constructed. Many challenges present themselves at this site, however: the high temperatures of the environment, the high temperature of environmentally aggressive liquids that must be contained on site, the sandy substrate, and much more. On the geosynthetic side of things, engineers have been challenged by the selection of geomembranes that will survive in the environment and meet the project's overall environmental sustainability goals. The found their answer in ethylene interpolymer alloy (EIA)-enhanced geomembranes. The expertise of Solmax International and LG Chem have combined to make the site a success. Roughly 160,000 sq. m of geomembrane have been installed by Arabian Environmental Construction (AEC). Work will be on-going through 2009.

More than 40 civil and geotechnical engineering professors from across the US and Canada gathered in Austin, Texas in late July to take part in the Educate the Educators™...

Raven, an expert manufacturer of geomembranes, announces the release of their new geomembrane website: www.RavenGeo.com. The new site includes a significant expansion in geomembrane application, product data, and affiliated information. Raven's site includes product resources right at your fingertips, along with featured menu items, such as Liner and Sandbag Calculators, to easily determine approximate material sizes and quantities for your projects. Read more about the website's offerings, from technical resources to product testing information to interactive elements.

In the latest issue of Erosion Control magazine, regular contributor Carol Brzozowski writes on flood control, streambank restoration, and creating public space. Among the experts she interviews is Fiberweb's Brian Whitaker, who shares thoughts on important design considerations.

ASTM is seeking nominations for the ASTM President's Leadership Award. The ASTM President’s Leadership Award was established by the ASTM Board of Directors in 2007 to recognize extraordinary leadership within the first five years of an individual’s association with ASTM International. Deadline: 1 February 2010. Learn more here.;

Applied Market Information (AMI) has released the brochure for Polyolefins Additives 2009, the 2nd international conference on Polyolefin Additives. The event will be held at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany from 30 March - 1 April 2009. Adding value and enhancing performance are key functions of additives for polyolefins. The chemical industry is constantly aiming to produce better products and this conference brings together experts in plastics and additives to discuss the latest developments. Download your copy today.

On 19 March 2014, a new series of webinars from the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) will debut. Tentatively scheduled to be quarterly installments, NAGS and the Geosynthetics Division...

The Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner's Office has published a Best Management Practices handbook (January 2010) to provide some minimum requirements to control water quality impacts in vineyard and related agricultural operations. The guide is intended only for Sonoma County growers' use. The 30-page document includes sections on drainage, erosion control, road management, and site development. Download a free-copy (PDF 7.62 MB) to see how this California wine-growing county is tackling sediment and erosion control issues.

By Dr. Robert M. Koerner, P.E. - On Wednesday, December 11, from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm (Eastern), the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will continue its monthly webinar series. The...

Western Environmental Liner, an online supplier of custom fabricated pond liners, PVC liners, pit liners, field liners, canal liners and polypropylene liners,has been recommending reinforced products over un-reinforced products for most common applications. Their reinforced polyethylene also known as the Aqua seriesconsists of a very strong high density polyethylene scrim coated with a low density polyethylene coating. Western Environmental Liner's Aqua series consists of the best woven coated reinforced polyethylene available in the market today. The Aqua series has excellent tear and good u.v. resistance, excellent for long term applications. These products often make for a perfect pond liner.

Rowad International Geosynthetics has updated its HDPE and LLDPE geomembrane data. Rowad manufacturers to GRI standards and is active internationally. Learn more here.;

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold an informational meeting and a public hearing Wednesday on Arcelor Mittal’s proposal to open a new solid waste landfill at its Burns Harbor plant. The landfill would consist of about 75 acres and would accept wastewater treatment plant sludge, blast furnace filter cake, basic oxygen furnace filter cake/sludge, coke oven dust, coal, coke, grinding sludge, rubble debris, and burnt lime. Learn more here.;

The Quad Cities (Illinois and Iowa) seem to be moving away from traditional sand bags for flood defenses. The Cities are located along the Mississippi River and are annually concerned with flood risk. The city of Davenport has now made an investment in Hesco bastions, which are collapsable, reusable geotextile-lined wire forms that can be filled with sand. In addition to use as flood defenses, they have also been used for military personnel defense against blast and munitions. Learn more here.;

The Forest Service has pushed back its plans again, and now says it will release an environmental analysis of the proposed Rosemont Mine in the second quarter of 2010, about a year later than it originally planned. The Forest Service also plans now to make a decision on the mine during the last three months of 2010--up to six months later than an earlier planned decision date of July 2010. Learn more here.;