Nanotechnology and Geosynthetics Evolve Together
Industries around the world have danced with nanotechnology for years, trying to create commercially scalable materials, such as with the addition of graphene to enhance a product's performance. Geosynthetics...
D35 Turning Attention to Geocells – Special Meeting Scheduled
The winter meeting for ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics will include a couple special events. The first of which is a Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) / D35 joint workshop on durability. The second of which is an exploratory meeting on geocell standardization. This is a fascinating opportunity. Geocell products have been used successfully for a variety of applications for decades. However, many regulators, specifiers and users have found significant market variability with regard to product characterization, market specifications and product quality. The range of geocellular system products is expanding every year. In this important inaugural meeting, all interested individuals will be invited to attend and contribute to the discussion of potential D35 standardization efforts.
PE Liners in Unconventional Gas Industries
By Mathieu Cornellier - Natural gas extraction from shale formations has grown exponentially in the past few years in the United States, and all signs show that this trend...
CAFOs Improve Property Value?
Though it seems counter-intuitive, the presence of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) may increase nearby property values. At least, that is the finding in three counties in Indiana. A regulated livestock operation (RLO) within one mile of a non-town residence increased sale price by $12,700. It isn't all rosy, of course. Dairy cattle were found to reduce property values; but beef cattle increased values.
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Leonides Rules Forthcoming
Dutch-owned concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have been popping up all over the United States. Communities are quickly having to settle upon the appropriate stormwater regulations. In Leonides Township, Michigan, a new Dutch-owned cattle operation is to learn its stormwater rules shortly. Currently, the operation proposes to detain "dirty water"--including manure runoff--in three large geosynthetic-lined retention ponds.
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AMI: Global PE Market Changing Dramatically Due to Shale Gas
26 February 2014 – According to a recently published study by leading industry consultants, Applied Market Information Ltd (AMI Consulting), among the factors that will significantly impact the growth of...
Republic Moving Further Into Northern California
Republic may soon take over the Mecham Road landfill in Sonoma County. The company has a proposal on the table to purchase the site contingent upon the landfill's continued use by area residents. Costs would scarcely change, and Republic would be in a much better position to construct future cells with the expertise and proper lining and drainage management technologies that otherwise come with a price tag most municipalities and counties have difficulty approving funds for.
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IECA Announces Winner of Presenter of the Year for 2012
The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced that Barry Fagan, PE/PLS, CPESC, is being recognized with the 2012 Presenter of the Year Award for the second consecutive year. This award recognizes an outstanding presenter who demonstrates excellence in presentation skills, educational delivery and content preparation. The winner is determined through the review of presenter evaluations received at IECA's annual conference and expo.
Unclear in Iowa
Not much is very clear about Iowa's waste cell design and operation rules; at least, that seems to be the case in a Radio Iowa article about the current dispute over proposed rule changes--particularly in regards to liner requirements. The article author has neglected to include specifics of the dispute. What is certain is this: even landfill operators and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) representatives are in agreement that the rules are not clear. Iowa has a rule prohibiting tougher regulations than federal standards. But does this apply to old landfills that, in a way, had been grandfathered into current code under rules designed to fit them into a new regulatory scheme?
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Two Courses from PGI
The PVC Geomembrane Institute (PGI) is offering two new sessions of its "Constructing with GCLs and PVC Geomembranes" day-long short course. Sessions will be held June 17 in Columbus, Ohio and June 19 in Cambridge, Ontario. For more information, see the downloadable registration document.
IECA Courses at Environmental Connection 2015
Each year at the International Erosion Control Association's (IECA Region One) annual conference, Environmental Connection, there is an option to come a day early and take one of many...
Palo Verde Work Earns AEG Supplier Award
American Environmental Group, Ltd. (AEG) was recognized by Arizona Public Service (APS) as an Outstanding Business Partner and received the 2013 Supplier of Year Award for their outstanding work...
Cattle Expansion Near North Platte
The Holfaster brothers, new owners of the Beer Creek Ranch near North Platte, Nebraska, are seeking a permit to expand their operations to accommodate between 3500 and 5250 cattle head. Neighbors are ambivalent about the plan for the site only five miles from the town; but the Holfasters hope to sell residents on their design by talking about the liner system that will be used in a new, roughly $600,000 manure lagoon.
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Geo-Congress 2013: Abstracts Due 17 April 2012
The 2013 Geo-Congress from ASCE's Geo-Institute be held 3-7 March 2013 in San Diego, California. The broad theme of the 2013 Geo-Congress has been announced as the "Stability and Performance of Slopes and Embankments," a theme that encompasses all aspects of the geo-profession--and one that certainly utilizes geosynthetics. Learn more about the conference and submit your abstract by 17 April 2012.
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Geo-Frontiers 2011 Early Registration Deadline: Feb 21
takes place 13-16 March 2011 in Dallas, Texas. This seminal event includes multiple short Geo-Frontiers 2011 courses, 90 sessions within 10 technical tracks, student programs, networking events, awards programs, and the Geosynthetic Institute's GRI-24 conference, as well as four highly regarded plenary sessions: H. Bolton Seed Lecture, Peck Lecture, Terzaghi Lecture, and the Mercer Lecture. In addition to the educational component of Geo-Frontiers the event will feature an exhibit hall with over 120 geotechnical products and services exhibitors. Geosynthetica encourages its readers to take advantage of the early registration offer. The deadline for early registration is February 21. Learn more and register at the Geo-Froniters 2011 home page.
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Waste Age – December 2009
The December 2009 issue of Waste Age is available online.
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GSE Environmental Introduces Next Generation Capping System
GSE Environmental is enjoying a very active year. In February, the company was awarded a patent for its CoalDrain geocomposite, which is designed specifically for work with coal...
Benson and Daniel to Deliver Key Lectures at Geo-Congress 2012
The Geo-Institute of ASCE's annual congress offers an exceptional opportunity to interact with the international geotechnical engineering community on some of the most pressing topics. Geo-Congress 2012 will be held in Oakland, California 25-29 March 2012. The theme of the event is "State of the Art and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering" and some noted engineers with a geosynthetics background (Craig Benson and David Daniel) will deliver two of the three big lectures: the Ralph B. Peck and Karl Terzaghi Lectures.
Update: CETCO in Libya
An update, now, on CETCO's growing presence in the Middle East. We posted news last fall on CETCO Oilfield Services move into the Libyan market, and an update has emerged. The company has signed a deal with the Libyan services agent company APSCOP (Althuraya Petroleum Services and Supplies) to provide water treatment services to the Libyan oil and gas industry. CETCO's other divisions include lining and waterproofing technologies, such as geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) and geomembranes.
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PCB Landfill Near Greenville Almost Ready
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.
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New GARD Guide tackles acid drainage
The International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP)--an organization of international mining companies--is dedicated to reducing liabilities associated with sulphide mine materials such as acid draiange. INAP is now promoting its Global Acid Rock Drainage (GARD) Guide, which was launched at the Eighth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage held in Skelleftea, Sweden. The guide describes proven techniques for characterization, prediction, monitoring, treatment, prevention, and management of drainage produced by sulphide mineral oxidation, called "acid rock drainage" (ARD). Learn more.
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Fly by Day and Night
A massive fly ash landfill is to be located along a river in Connecticut. The proposal is causing considerable debate. The fly ash will come from garbage-to-energy plants--which themselves are supposed to alleviate landfill pressures. State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials are now working to educate the public on the advanced liner and drainage system planned for the site.
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Geosynthetics CQA Week Training Online in December
The long-running geosynthetics CQA Week training courses from TRI Environmental return 7 - 11 December 2020 in an online format. This marks the second time this year that the...
Apex Receives Permit in Ohio
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has given the go-ahead for Apex to expand its landfill that has space in both Jefferson and Harrison Counties. The EPA issued Apex Environmental LLC a final solid waste permit-to-install and final air permit-to-install for the company's proposed landfill expansion. This includes vertical expansion. However, Apex Environmental LLC will retain the existing 4-to-1 grade on the northern slope of the landfill. This means that the buried waste under 12 acres of the northern slope will not receive any new waste and will not need to be uncovered, preventing some potential odors.
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Countrywide Update: Cap Ordered
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered a dual clay and geosynthetic cap be installed on the beleaguered Stark County, Ohio landfill. The Countrywide facility has suffered from underground fires for the past couple years. The solution to cap the site was ordered on Friday, April 11.
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