Containment

geosynthetica publishes a number of Tech Docs every year. These come from our underwriters, engineers in the field, and from us. Take for example Dr. Ian D. Peggs' short piece on geomembrane installation designs with ice. Search the Tech Doc database for other articles, or go directly to our TechComposites page where documents are bundled by topic for your convenience. You can access these in the rollover of the Technical Documents button above.

Lifeguards patrolling Europe's first artificial surf reef in Dorset are appealing for inexperienced surfers to talk to them before trying it out. The wave size has apparently thrown many newcomers. The surf reef - built by New Zealand-based ASR to enhance waves - is predicted to bring £10m into Bournemouth every year. It was created to improve surfing conditions using 55 sand-filled "geotextile bags" which are 225m (740ft) out to sea and and is part of an £11m regeneration of the seafront. Learn more here.;

Solmax International has announced updates to the technical datasheets for its textured geomembranes (high-density and linear low-density polyethylene). All products from 40 mils and up will now grant a minimum of 15 mils asperity height. Solmax is also pleased to announce the creation of its new rough textured (RT) series, offering a minimum of 20 mils asperity height. Learn more about these products at the company's website. Learn more here.;

The winners of the New Zealand-based National Bank Young Farmer of the Year contest have been announced. Twenty-nine-year-old Tim O'Sullivan, who also operates Canterbury Environmental Liners, was one of the seven awardees. Within its product line, Canterbury distribures Firestone lining materials. O'Sullivan has successfully combined a dairy operations background with his geosynthetic lining business. Congratulations on the award, Tim! Learn more here.;

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) has announced the winners of its 2008-2009 scholarships. Congratulations are in order for Garrett Graybill, Brian Carlton, Rachel Ernst and Joe Tom on their deserved recognition. Read more about their work and the 2009-2010 call for nominations.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is offering a new benefit for members: Expert Chats. The first offering of this online-hosted, interactive event will be held 29 May 2009 from 2:00-3:00 pm (MDT). Phil Handley, REM, CPESC, of the San Antonio Water System will serve as the first expert in the informal chat series. (Continued.)

The waters of the Schurenbach, a stream near Essen, Germany, formerly ran underground from the foot of an old coal slag heap (the Schurenbachhalde). As part of a land...

The New Jersey-based newspaper, the Star Ledger, has posted an interesting video story about landfill construction. The 3-minute, 20-second video takes viewers from initial transfer and burial operations back to construction, including video of an active geosynthetic installation. Leachate collection and management and methane harvesting are also touched upon in the report. Watch it online. Learn more here.;

TCL2010--the International Conference on Textile Laminating and Coating--will be held 4-5 November 2010 in Cannes, France. Please note that these are new dates for the event. The theme of the gathering, which will be held at the Novotel Montfleury, will be "An Industry Moving Forward - Focus on the future. A call for papers has been issued. Read about the sessions here.

The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG) has extended its Call for Papers to 15 January 2009. Abstracts are sought on key topics such as drainage, mining, durability and long-term performance, transportation, hydraulic applications, new products and much more. The 9ICG will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil, under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Learn more here.;

Applied Market Information (AMI) has announced a date change for its Plastics Industry Strategy Seminar 2010. The event will be held in Brussels, Beglium on May 20 (instead of the originally scheduled May 13). The discussion will focus on understanding the future shape of the plastics industry, and the way in which plastics processors will have to adjust to the rapidly changing world. AMI has revised all its forecasts and trend analysis on a worldwide basis. This data will be presented exclusively to attendees at Plastics Industry Strategy Seminar 2010. Learn more here.;

The 3rd Pan-American Conference on Geosynthetics (GeoAmericas 2016) convenes in Miami, Florida April 10 – 13 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. This is the first time the event...

It has come to our attention that there have been some significant Rapid Crack Propagation (RCP) stress-cracking (SC) failures of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes in Asia. These failures seem to reproduce the RCP "shattering" failures experienced in North America in the late 1980s. Failures of this sort have seldom been found since the 1980s. Extensive research and testing in North America and Europe have provided the geomembrane manufacturing industry the tools to eliminate these problems. Until these new cases from Asia came to light, failures like this had not been occurring. Read more in Ian Peggs's article.

Tens of thousands of miles of aging sewer and water treatment systems need extensive repairs and upgrades that could cost New York billions in the next two decades, an expensive undertaking even with the help of federal stimulus funding, according to state officials. New York's Department of Environmental Conservation found sewage-treatment infrastructure around the state is aging out and in need of an estimated $36.2 billion in repairs over the next 20 years. A similar state Health Department study estimated that drinking water infrastructure is in need of approximately $38 billion in repairs over 20 years. Read more in the Washington Post. Learn more here.;

In Cumberland County, Tennessee, a company has proposed using coal ash in the reclamation and beneficial reuse of a 300-acre former mining site on Smith Mountain. A public hearing has taken place during which residents expressed considerable concerns. Tennessee, as many readers know, is where more than 5 million cubic yards of coal ash spilled when a Kingston-based facility's ash pond failed last December. The proposed project on Smith Mountain would use liners, samples of which were shown at the hearing. More is expected from the County Commission after its June 15 meeting. Learn more here.;

A lawsuit filed by the Yakama Nation and Heart of America Northwest Research Center in Washington State. The low-level radiation in waste needs to be covered, the edge of the proposed cap it has been discovered would likely extend beyond the site's 100 leased acres. A new approach will be needed. Learn more here.;

You can still save up to 50% on your conference costs for the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG). The conference is offering its very early-bird rates through 10 October 2009. Add to it the early booking discount for hotel, and those who take advantage of registering now will save more than $700. The 9ICG will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil, under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Please register as soon as possible. Learn more here.;

For a landfill closure project in Massachusetts, Covanta Energy put an end to constant slope repair with a stable, cost-effective, geosynthetic closure technology. By Agru America and...

CETCO Lining Technologies Group announces the addition of prefabricated PVC panels to its portfolio of products for engineered liner systems for waste and liquid containment applications…

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.;

Congratulations are due to David E. Daniel, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, NAE, University of Texas at Dallas. Prof. Daniel has been recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) OPAL Awards for his excellence in advancing civil engineering education. Established in 1999, these prestigious awards recognize and honor outstanding civil engineering leaders whose lifetime accomplishments and achievements have made significant differences in one of five categories. Prof. Daniel has long been associated with geosynthetic research and education. The awards will be presented in a special ceremony on 25 March 2010 at the Renaissance Hotel Washington.

Agriculture has grown rapidly, and not just as a critical piece of Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP); the sector accounts for 24 percent of GDP. It's also the country's primary driver for export revenue (30 percent). These numbers have encouraged greater expansion, but that's coming with expected problems: animal waste pollution, extreme fertilizer runoff, irrigation conveyance problems, untreated waste entering streams, and many more. Better oversight and engineering is needed for continued, safe expansion. Learn more here.;

IECA's annual conference and expo, Environmental Connection, is the world's largest soil and water event. Environmental Connection is the industry's gathering place for developing business relationships, learning new ways...

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has experienced dramatic membership growth since the kick-off meeting held on 26 February 2009 in Salt Lake City. (The meeting was held in conjunction with the Geosynthetics 2009 conference.) Andrew Mills has headed the membership recruitment efforts for FGI. As a result of Mr. Mills' efforts, 15 companies have joined at the manufacturing membership level; six companies have joined at the fabricator/installer membership level; and five companies have joined at the associate level membership. Read more in the release.

Temporary dams can offer a cost effective solution for a number of situations, including flood management and emergency repair work. In a February posting on the website of International Water Power and Dam Construction, the editors take a look at some of the options available on the market. Learn more here.;