Containment

Seats are booking fast for the 3rd International Geosynthetics Middle East 2010. Looking at the current bookings so far, this event will be the largest conference on Geosynthetics in the Middle East organised by SKZ Germany. Under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Municipality, the event is taking place from 9-10 November 2010 in Abu Dhabi, UAE and will provide a highly attractive platform for international geotechnical and environmental specialists to exchange their knowledge and experience on geosynthetic related topics.

The AMI conference on Waterproof Membranes looks at the trends and technical developments in the international roofing and geomembrane industry. It takes place from 30 November-2 December 2010 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany. Learn more and register.

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB) common stock begins trading today on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LYB for Class A ordinary shares and LYB.B for Class B ordinary shares. "Today LyondellBasell begins writing yet another chapter in our history--as a New York Stock Exchange-listed company," said LyondellBasell Chief Executive Officer Jim Gallogly. "The dedication and commitment of our employees worldwide has enabled us to create a new LyondellBasell, one of the world's premier chemical companies. Having our shares listed on the NYSE provides investors with a more liquid and transparent mechanism to own our stock."

The American Public Works Association (APWA) 2011 Sustainability Conference has extended abstract presentation proposals through 31 October 2010. General topics of interest include low impact development, sustainable best practices, success stories in sustainability, and much more. The event will be held 27-29 June 2011 in Portland, Oregon. Learn more and submit a proposal electronically. Learn more here.;

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) held its third short course in Denver, Colorado, on 15 October 2010 at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The short course was organized by the FGI and attended by forty-six (46) people. The excellent and timely presentations, e.g., presentations of the use of fabricated geomembranes in the BP Oil Spill and mining applications, and attendee questions and comments made the course a great success. The course covered the design, specification, testing, manufacturing, fabrication, installation, inspection, welding, and field testing of fabricated geomembranes in a variety of applications. Read more.

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) has provided significant leadership in public discussions on the future of US coal ash facility construction rules. With current discussion regarding whether facilities might be governed under Subtitle C or D regulations, GMA has spoken at public gatherings and submitted formal comments and documents whenever the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called for input. The latest comments regarding the storage of Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs) were submitted 14 October 2010. We encourage readers to follow this developing story and the important work GMA is carrying out. Learn more here.;

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a 16-page document titled "Partnership for Sustainable Communities" to highlight the past year's interaction with communities regarding brownfields transformations. The agency is allocating more than $4 million in the next round of funding to help communities identify new uses for contaminated and remediated land, such as converting these previously unusable zones into renewable power-generating fields. Read the document here. Learn more here.;

The 19th North American Waste-to-Energy Conference (NAWTEC) will take place 16-18 May 2011. This event is co-sponsored by major organizations such as SWANA. Topics sought for the event include "Advancing Waste To Energy through Research and Technology," "Waste To Energy: Sustainable Green Power and Waste Management" (including case studies, ash management, carbon footprints), and "Improving WTE Plant Operations." Learn more at NAWTEC's website, and submit your abstract electronically by 12 November 2010. Learn more here.;

TRI/Environmental invites you to join its expert staff and guest instructors for an excellent week of construction quality assurance (CQA) training that will focus on geomembrane liner integrity surveys, QA/QC of geosynthetics installation (geotextiles, geomembranes, geogrids, etc.), QA/QC of compacted clay and geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) installation, and optional certification exams. CQA Week will be held in Austin, Texas at the TRI campus 6-10 December 2010.

After the 7-day China National Holiday, WestmoonInt (HK) Co., Ltd has resumed its normal work, providing overseas customers high-quality synthetic rubber from China-based CSM and neoprene rubber manufacturers and CR series rubbers. The company reports that chlorosulphinated polyethylene (CSM) is in short supply, due to huge overseas demand; but that its CSM manufacturer is opening a second production line to meet these demands. The new CSM line is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

With 6 months until the beginning of the INDEX11 global nonwovens exhibition, EDANA, the association representing the nonwovens and related industries has announced the categories for the prestigious INDEX11 awards for innovative achievements in nonwovens. The awards are open to any EDANA member company or exhibitor at INDEX11. From 2 November 2010, companies can download an application form from www.edana.org, which must then be completed and returned with samples and supporting details (as applicable) to EDANA before the 15 January 2011.

StormCon, the world's largest conference on stormwater pollution prevention, is seeking abstracts for the 10th annual conference, which will be held 21 - 25 August 2011 in Anaheim, California. Tracks include BMP Case Studies; Green Infrastructure; Stormwater Program Management; Water-Quality Monitoring; Advanced Research Topics; Erosion and Sediment Control; and Industrial Stormwater Management. The deadline abstract submission is Tuesday, 14 December 2010. Learn more here.;

Westmoonint Corporation., Ltd‘s English site officially opened in August first, 2010, which is designed for oversea customers to purchase our Hypalon and neoprene rubber, and PPR pipe, fitting, valve and welding machine tools. Westmoonint Corporation., Ltd was incorporated in April 2008, specializing in manufacturing PPR Pipe, fitting, valve, and welding machine tools. Our plant is located in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. For diversifying its development and penetrating into the polymer industry, Westmoonint has become the exclusive exporting agent of a Chinese hypalon rubber manufacturer, providing, for example, hypalon-45, which is used in the production of waterproofing membranes. Learn more here.;

Though it has been established at the new office for a good amount of time, the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) would like to remind interested parties to be sure and update their address books. ICOLD's new central office in Paris is located at, and updated phone and fax numbers are, as follows: ICOLD, 61 avenue KLÉBER 75116 Paris - France; +33 1 47 04 17 80, fax +33 1 53 75 18 22. Learn more here.;

The Mountain States Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is seeking nominations for its 2010 Project Awards. Three projects will be selected for presentation at the 2010 MSC Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado at the luncheon on 8 December 2010. Nominations are due November 5. Conference attendees will vote at the conclusion of the presentations to determine the outcome. The project receiving the most votes will receive the "2010 MSC IECA Project Excellence Award." Learn more here.;

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $470,000 to tribal Indians in Oklahoma and New Mexico. The project will enable the tribes to develop and manage environmental programs in their perspective regions. Four different tribes received funding. The Pueblo of Picuris and Nambe tribes from New Mexico were awarded $120,000. In Oklahoma, the Otoe-Missouria tribe received $120,000 and the Apache tribe $110,000. Pueblo of Picuris and Apache are affiliated with Oklahoma. The projects will also include grant writing, quality assurance documentation, environmental training and community outreach and cleanups.

A festive ceremony on 8 October 2010 marked Sika's official celebration of the company's 100-year jubilee. In 1910 Kaspar Winkler launched the product Sika 1 with his newly founded firm; Sika 1 made mortar waterproof. Just eight years later the company achieved its breakthrough when the Swiss Federal Railway relied on Sika 1 to seal the newly electrified Gotthard Tunnel against ingress of water. Read more about the company's historical development and modern role as a leader in polymeric materials technologies, including waterproofing membranes.

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK30563, "Test Method for Determining Integrity of Seams Produced Using Thermo-Fusion Methods for Reinforced Geomembranes by the Grab Method." There is no current standard test method for this test since it was removed from an ASTM guide. Learn more here.;

Victoria, Australia's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Victoria) has revised its landfill guidelines. "Best Practice Environmental Management - Siting, Design, Operation and Rehabilitation of Landfills" (Landfill BPEM) is used by EPA, industry and others in relation to works approval applications and compliance activity. Applicants for a works approval or licence for a landfill must meet the objectives and required outcomes set out in the Landfill BPEM. EPA Victoria has further considered the requirement for geomembranes used in landfill cover. The Landfill BPEM (Appendix D) has been revised to provide further clarification that a geomembrane thickness of 1 mm could be selected, provided that extreme care is taken during installation to avoid any damage. Learn more here.;

The Erosion Control Technology Council, after two years of work and deliberations, has recently approved and published a comprehensive specification and application chart for hydraulic erosion control products. This specification is the product of consensus amongst the leading manufacturers of HECPs in the industry, and is designed to satisfy the needs of engineers, designers, hydro-seeding contractors and other end-users of these products. Formatted to be used in its entirety or easily modified as necessary by the end-user, this specification provides expert guidance from product classification and selection to product mixing and installation.

The US Army Corp of Engineers and the City of New Orleans are progressing on plans to remediate the safe water level in multiple canals. The work will allow the city's sewage department to manage stormwater but pumping more it into canals without fear of surpassing canal safety levels. Allow another two to three feet of water into the canals' safety level will require berm reconstruction, levee raising, deep soil mixing and other methods. Some canals are sited atop sand layers and will require much more work to stabilize against higher water levels. Learn more here.;

Registration is now open on-line for the 14th National Brownfields Conference, scheduled for 3-5 April 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Co-sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International City/County Management Association, the conference is the largest, most comprehensive conference in the nation focused on cleaning up and redeveloping abandoned, underutilized, and potentially contaminated properties.

Registration is now open for Environmental Connection 2011 (EC11), the next annual conference of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). Don't miss your chance to attend industry-leading education sessions, take advantage of the extensive networking opportunities, and see technologies and service providers in the largest expo of its kind. It's the world's largest soil and water event, and it's taking place 20-23 February 2011 in Orlando, Florida. Register by 10 December 2010 to receive the early-bird registration rate. Learn more here.;

The Maxey Flats Superfund site in Kentucky was opened this past week as part of a biennial open house. Guides allowed visitors to see the security of geomembrane cap over the old radioactive waste dump. From 1960 to 1978, the site had accepted toxic materials. The 60-acre cell's cap will receive a clean soil cover. Acquiring appropriate soil and establishing vegetation are immediate needs. Site officials report some animal damage (coyotes) with the currently exposed cap. Learn more here.;

When the Germany-based organization SKZ first brought its renowned "Lifetime of Geosynthetics" seminar to the United Arab Emirates in 2008, it may have been tough to envision it becoming more than just a seminar filling a void in the region's professional development opportunities. This year, the event--3rd International Conference on Geosynthetics Middle East--marks its gathering with strong international and domestic support, including the patronage of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City. The impressive program has been announced. Read more.