Containment

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.;

GSE Lining Technology, LLC, GSE -0.42% the leading global manufacturer and provider of geosynthetic lining products and services, announced today the launch of its rebranded identity as GSE Environmental. Following its recent listing to the New York Stock Exchange on Feb. 10, this rebrand reflects the company's transition from a multi-regional company to a truly global organization.

When the historic Citadel sought to renovate its alumni parking lot, the project presented two engineering challenges: first, the client wanted a low-maintenance, environmentally friendly alternative to the existing surface (macadem pavement), which had developed alligator cracking and potholes; second, the client needed to protect a nearby saltwater marsh from pollutants in stormwater runoff. There was not enough time or space to construct a conventional stormwater detention pond. In this project profile, Greg Northcutt writes about how a Geopave porous pavement system made the project possible.

In a March 2012 release, American Excelsior's Kurt Kelsey and Vilas County, Wisconsin's Lake Conservation Specialist Mariquita Sheehan take a look at how imported sources of coir may be causing significant environmental damage, particularly at their source of production and preparation. From an environmental conservation perspective, it raises some questions on carbon footprint management and responsible global conservation approaches.

American Excelsior Company announced the addition of Loren Weeks to the position of Territory Manager for the company's Erosion Control Division. Loren will be responsible for sales and distribution management for the states of Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. American Excelsior Company is a national manufacturer of erosion and sediment control products and produces a number of branded products including Curlex® erosion control blankets, Recyclex® turf reinforcement mats.

When a BP oil rig suffered a catastrophic accident and released an enormous volume of oil into the eco-sensitive Gulf of Mexico, one of the primary tools used to contain and combat the spill both on the water and along shorelines was absorbent oil booms. Millions of linear feet of EarthKnit knitted tubes from Supertex, Inc. were used to help these booms succeed. Read about it on the EarthKnit website. Learn more here.;

Supertex, Inc., a diverse manufacturer of erosion control, geosynthetic, and environmental protection materials (such as absorbent oil booms), is Geosynthetica's latest silver sponsor. Learn more about the company's extensive experience and material capabilities at http://www.supertex-inc.com. Learn more here.;

Deloitte Canada and the Financial Post have named Solmax International one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies in its annual evaluation. "It is with great pride that we acknowledge this achievement," the company writes, "and openly share this announcement with our partners, clients and employees." Hundreds of companies were part of the evaluation process. The award for Solmax is doubly welcomed as the company is celebrating its 30th anniversary and continued international growth.

Low & Bonar PLC, an international performance materials group, has announced the acquisition of Xeroflor International GmbH ("Xeroflor"). Low & Bonar's company Colbond is heavily involved in various aspects of green roofs, and Xeroflor's pre-vegetated mat technology offers a strong complement to Colbond's business. High profile examples of Xeroflor roofs are at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Canada, the Ford Motor Company's truck assembly plant in Michigan, the Aldi logistics centre in St. Augustin, Germany and the Kastrup power plant in Denmark.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has determined that the lack of a pond liner led to the coal ash spill and bluff collapse at a We Energies facility along the shore of Lake Michigan last October 31. The DNR's report referred to the lack of a liner as a "significant factor" in the power plant's containment failure. The agency believes the company violated solid waste regulations when it built a pond in and above a coal ash landfill on the site. A $5,000 daily fine may be assessed, and, as the paper reports, it could theoretically be applied retroactively to the pond's construction three years ago. Learn more here.;

A link to a discussion forum on horse paddock construction with geotextiles, porous pavers/blocks, and other techniques. Numerous links to small site photos are included. Learn more here.;

GSE Lining Technology is investing roughly $5 million in an expansion of its facility in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. The move, expected to be completed by May, will add 24 more jobs to the site. GSE's Williamsburg County facility produces a range of materials, such as geotextiles and geocomposites. The expansion will enable the production of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), according to an article at SCNow.com. Learn more here.;

Since 1977, the time of the first geosynthetics conference in Paris, geosynthetics have emerged as exciting engineering materials in a wide array of civil engineering applications, e.g., transportation, geotechnical, geoenvironmental, hydraulics, and private development. To provide a deeper understanding of this subject matter, author Robert M. Koerner presents Designing with Geosynthetics - 6th Edition, which contains two volumes, released through Xlibris.

TenCate Geosynthetics introduces TenCate MiraSlope® design solutions software for Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) applications. This easy to use software program of TenCate will assist engineers in determining the reinforcement requirements for reinforced soil slopes and walls.

Germany-based polymeric materials machine manufacturing firm KraussMaffei Berstorff reports that LCC Polytar, a plastics processing subsidiary of Russian giant Gazprom, will install a polyolefin sheeting line at its Salavat Production Plant. The single extruder line will initially produce up to 2.5m-wide, 40mm-thick sheeting, including geosynthetics (such as for waterproofing applications). The KraussMaffei line retains the capacity to be retrofitted with multi-layer oriented coextrusion technologies too.

NOTE: This is an abbreviated version of the full Ten Cate press release. We have included the introductory notes and the primary details on the Geosynthetics & Grass division's performance. A link to the full release in PDF is also provided.

Organizers fo Venice 2012, the 4th International Symposium on Energy from Biomass and Waste, remind interested participants that the closing date for abstract submission is 29 February 2012. Anaerobic digestion, climate change, case studies and developing countries are just some of the topics that will be explored. The event will take place 12-15 November 2012 on the island of San Servalo in Venice, Italy. It is organized by the International Waste Working Group (IWWG). Learn more. Learn more here.;

The U.S. needs to spend more than $1 trillion between now and 2035 to upgrade its aging water system, if pipes are replaced at the end of their useful lives, according to a report by the American Water Works Association. "Postponing infrastructure investment in the near-term would raise the overall cost and increase the likelihood of water main breaks and other infrastructure failures," the report noted. The ASCE has reported that $9.4 billion per year needs to be invested between now and 2020. Learn more here.;

RemTech Expo 2012, the most specialized event in Italy dedicated to remediation technologies and territory requalification, takes place at the Ferrara Exhibition and Conferences Centre from 19 to 21 September 2012. The conference has regularly incorporated geosynthetics in its discussions, and this year's event features a prominent role for former International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) president Daniele Cazzuffi. Mr. Cazzuffi (who was recently named chair of CEN TC 189 on Geosynthetics) is serving as the Scientific Committee coordinator. Learn more about RemTech 2012.

By decree of the President of the French Republic dated 20 February 2012, Roger Genet has been appointed president of Irstea, the National Institute for Environmental and Agricultural Science and Research. The new identity has been created to more clearly assert "the organisation's positioning at the heart of environmental research in France on issues related to water, environmental risk management, environmental technologies and sustainable land development." Irstea has historically utilized geosynthetics in various applications and studies. International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) Council Member Dr. Nathalie Touze-Foltz is a researcher at Irstea.

Stay up-to-date on AgSTAR News and Technical Documents via the EPA AgSTAR Program's Newsroom. Learn more here.;

Tazewell, Tenn., is a small town situated on the northern slope of Wallen Ridge in the Appalachians. Fiberweb's Brian Whitaker writes on how the construction of a highway bypass near the community caused a significant sediment threat to the area's natural springs. To alleviate concern and meet increasing regulatory scrutiny, the project team opted to use a 3-D geotextile geocelluar system to filter stormwater runoff and keep sediment out of the springs. Tests conducted by the site's consultants found that the nonwoven geotextile-based geocell units achieved an average daily turbidity limit of 280 NTUs. Runoff from a typical construction site measures tens of thousands of NTUs. Read about this site success story.

The Company confirms that its Annual General Meeting will be held on 29 March 2012 at The Cumberland Hotel, Great Cumberland Place, London, W1C 1LZ, commencing at midday. A notice convening that meeting has today been posted to shareholders (and submitted to the National Storage Mechanism) together with a copy of the Company's Annual Report for the year ended 30 November 2011. In accordance with section 311A of the Companies Act 2006, certain information concerning the AGM is given on the Company's website at www.lowandbonar.com.

Gorantla Geosynthetics Private Limited (Chennai) has launched a new website, www.geomembranes-geotextiles.com. The company is a major manufacturer and supplier of geosynthetic products in India. The new website aims to be more comprehensive and user-friendly, offering a host of detailed product information, contact information, and presentations.

Raven Engineered Films Division has released its new website (www.RavenEFD.com) with an improved venue for easy navigation and enhanced user experience. Utilizing customer feedback, we have reconstructed our complex site into a simplified user-friendly environment that maintains the comprehensive product information our users expect in a dynamic layout that is easily navigated. Learn more.