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Engineered Linings, Cape Town, South Africa recently asked geosynthetica.net how prevalent was the practice of owners purchasing their own geosynthetic materials and then contracting an installer to install them, as opposed to the installer being requested to both supply and install the materials. To address this concern, Du Toit Viljoen mentioned that Peter Hardie had prepared a brief note to facility owners to indicate why they (EL) felt the single source option should be preferred. We asked if they would send us a copy of the note to publish with the aim of initiating some discussion.

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics is currently developing a proposed new standard that covers the test procedure for evaluating the effectiveness of prefabricated vertical drains to enhance the consolidation of soils under specified conditions. The proposed standard, WK13402, Test Method for Large Scale Consolidation Test for Prefabricated Vertical Drains, is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D35.03 on Permeability and Filtration. “For geotechnical engineers that are very familiar with sand drains as a means of accelerating consolidation of soft foundation soils, WK13402 will provide a means of evaluating how prefabricated vertical drains perform in relation to a sand drain,” says L. David Suits, a member of the task group developing the standard and executive director, North American Geosynthetics Society. Suits notes that the proposed standard will be most useful to engineers who are designing structures or embankments over soft foundation walls. For further technical information, contact L. David Suits, North American Geosynthetics Society, Albany, N.Y. (phone: 518/869-2917; Nagsdirector@aol.com). Committee D35 will meet June 27-29, 2007, at the June Committee in Norfolk, Va. For membership or meeting information, contact Christine Sierk, manager, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9728; csierk@astm.org). Committee D35 is one of 139 ASTM technical standards-writing committees. Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM standards are accepted and used in R&D, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.

At school construction sites near Philadelphia, crews have discovered site soils are wetter than expected. This has led to a few obvious problems (sinking retaining wall, cracked floor). To head off future problems, the base at one site is being set lower and nonpermeable geosynthetics are being installed. Learn more here.;

The modernizing of the Cayman Islands' road infrastructure continues. Geosynthetic materials are being used to allow construction atop thick layers of peat. The first road projects are opening to traffic. Read the latest in the Caymanian Compass. Learn more here.;

L. David Suits, Managing Director of the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), has a new e-mail address: NAGSdirector@aol.com. For more information on NAGS membership and activities, please visit the society's home page. Learn more here.;

Nonwovens Industry's 37th Annual Guide lists suppliers and producers of nonwovens around the globe in one comprehensive listing. Learn more here.;

A New Jersey developer has received a $763,500 fine for not controlling sediment runoff from a construction site. The developer had previously received 18 warnings. Properly used, silt fencing, turbidity curtains, and other geotextile products can prevent many of the conditions that lead to these hefty fines. Read about the developer's troubles in the Mt. Olive Chronicle (link below) and the Daily Record (cut and paste the following link into your browser http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060721/COMMUNITIES34/609210310/1203/NEWS01 ). Learn more here.;

S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2006, was voice-vote approved by the Senate on 21 July. An estimated $12 billion worth of environmental restoration, flood control, navigation, dam, and levee construction projects is planned by the USACE. Read the full report on the ASCE web site. Learn more here.;

Geogrids and geotextile filter fabric are being brought in to repair the recurring paving problems on Homer, Alaska's Skyline Drive. Mudholes, pitting and rutting are a few of the problems the construction team looks to solve. Read the article online. Learn more here.;

"Low bid" and "best bid" do not have to be antonymous concepts. In many situations, the construction and maintenance costs of a road may be reduced and its life extended when geogrids are selected as one of the construction materials. Read Chris Kelsey's article from the latest CE News. Learn more here.;

For decades, the state of Oregon used mine tailings for road and rail beds, reservoir construction, residential driveway paving, and much more. Little was known about the long-term health and pollution problems that might be associated with the tailings, which contained traces of heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury. Today, the old mines are being cleaned and the contaminated soil encapsulated with geosynthetics and buried. Contaminated soils remain in the towns, though. Oregon is not alone. Soon, many cities may need to recover and safely rebury the mine tailings once thought to be safe. Read about Oregon's experience in the Register-Guard. Learn more here.;

Larry Washaw, AMCOL president and chief executive officer states that significant "growth in our Lining Technology, Building Materials and Oilfield Services Groups” is due to "high demand for our oil related services and a strong, early European construction market." AMCOL is the parent company of CETCO.

ASTM International was recognized with the Certificate of Appreciation for Achievement in Trade for its work with Vietnam in helping that country adopt international standards in the areas of petroleum, aviation fuels, gasoline, nondestructive testing, road construction, roofing materials, and coal. Learn more here.;

The Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC) develops and updates fair and objective standard documents that represent the latest and best thinking in contractual relations between all parties involved in engineering design and construction projects. ASCE is offering a 10% discount on all EJCDC Contract Documents purchased online when you enter code EC489 in the promotion code field during check out. Learn more here.;

Newszap.com, an independent news collective, reports that the Arrowhead Lakes Homeowners Association, Arizona, reminds its residents that proper dock and retaining wall maintenance translates to a healthy lake liner--and it prevents potentially huge repair costs if the lake's lining is damaged due to general homeowner negligence. Like many new developments, man-made lakes are central to the community's higher property value and higher quality of life. Neglected lakeshore walls and docks could lead to a cracking of the concrete cover over the liner in the critical zone where it contacts the shore. This is the sort of awareness that the Geosynthetics Risk Management and Loss Control Program is promoting throughout the insurance and construction industries. To read the article on the HOA discussions, please go to the "continued" link below. For more information on the Geosynthetics Risk Management Program, go to https://www.geosynthetica.net/news/GRMLCPExecSum.pdf for the Executive Summary, or call geosynthetica.net at 561 655 2060 to request a copy of the Geosynthetics Risk Management and Loss Control Program White Paper. Learn more here.;

The January/February issue of Soil Erosion & Hydroseeding asks readers to "Know Your BMP" (see article at the "continued" link below. geosynthetica.net's underwriters offer many BMP-approved erosion and sediment control solutions. See them on the Products and Services page, https://www.geosynthetica.net/ProductsServices.asp. Learn more here.;

We are pleased to announce that Lara Peggs has become Lara Costa, following her marrage on 13 January 2006 to Ray Costa. Lara's email address will remain lara@geosynthetica.net

GRI has produced White Paper Number 7 on Geosynthetic Accreditation Institute-Laboratory Accreditation Program (GAI-LAP) and White Paper Number 8 on Construction Quality Assurance-Inspectors Certification Program (CQA-ICP). Learn more here.;

The Tensar Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of technology-driven site solutions, has a new owner – and new, unprecedented capabilities to take its business worldwide. Effective October 31, the Company and its four subsidiaries – Tensar Earth Technologies, Tensar Polytechnologies, Geopier Foundation Company and North American Green – were acquired by the global investment group Arcapita Inc. The Company had been owned since 2000 by Denver, Colorado-based KRG Capital Partners. Minority owners remain American Capital Strategies Ltd., AIG Global Investment Corporation and the Tensar management team. The total transaction value approached $385 million.

This page includes: Change of Conference Dates; Featured Lectures; Special Sessions; Geotechnical Special Publications; Abstract Stats; and the Preliminary Conference Program.

geosynthetica.net Underwriter, Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. (GSE), a leading global provider of geosynthetic lining solutions, products and services headquartered in Houston, Texas is pleased to announce an agreement with Synthetic Aggregate Systems, LLC (SAS) headquartered in Havre De Grace, Maryland for the distribution of GSE geosynthetic products into the Civil Construction market. The agreement with SAS, that combines their detailed technical and experienced engineering practices with the innovation of GSE’s products, is expected to result in new product opportunities and technologies for our existing and new customer base. SAS, headed by Peter Ianniello, CEO & Founder will introduce technologies that complement or replace natural materials (sand, stone, and gravel) with geosynthetic materials in civil applications to reduce overall construction costs while increasing project performance. A brochure describing SAS Products and Services can be found at the "continued" link below.

The Landfill 2005 programme features the first Mercer Lecture in Africa, "Contribution of Geosynthetics to the Geotechnical Aspects of Waste and Liquid Containment," presented By Dr. J.P. Giroud. To view the abstract, please go to the "continued" link below.

TRI is offering their two one-day courses again in May. CQC/CQA of Geosynthetic Lining Systems and CQC/CQA of GCL and Cover Systems / Drainage Design and Specifications will be tailored to the Savannah River Project, but will include core elements of TRI's routine curriculum associated with geosynthetic materials, specifications and field installation construction quality assurance.

A geomembrane fabricator/installer is trying to find a source of reinforced metallocene-catalysed PE geomembrane. Are there any, now that Serrot no longer exists and their equipment has been sold to a roofing membrane manufacturer? Flag in Italy? Please contact lara@geosynthetica.net.

TRI and I-CORP have come together again as T-CLIC to present the third in the series of Leak Integrity Survey (LIS) courses, held 22-23 April 2005.