Mining

The latest issue of GIGSA News from the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa is available. This issue includes stories on geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), GIGSA Award Winners, a GeoAfrica 2009 report, liquid geosynthetics, GCLs in landfill applications, what not to do with GCLs, and indext testing. GIGSA is the South Africa Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Read the issue in PDF here.

The Board of Directors of AMCOL International Corporation has appointed Ryan F. McKendrick to the position of Chief Operating Officer of AMCOL effective 1 January 2010. Mr. McKendrick has been with the company for a total of 25 years. For the last 11 years he has led AMCOL's Environmental segment, including serving as President of CETCO. The Board of Directors of AMCOL has appointed Bob Trauger to replace Ryan as head of AMCOL's Environmental segment and serve as President of CETCO. Mr. Trauger has been with CETCO since 1991, most recently serving as Vice President, Engineering and International Development. Learn more.

500,000 engineering and manufacturing workers will be needed in the coming eight years to satisfy demand in the transport, construction, aerospace and defence industries, according to EngineeringUK. Learn more here.;

A system of infrastructure accounting is urgently needed to keep track of what is needed and where, accordint to the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). Learn more here.;

Qatar’s petrochemical industry crosses a major milestone with the inauguration of a world-scale linear low-density polyethylene plant – Qatofin - at Mesaieed. The country is set to become a major exporter of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with Qatofin gearing up production at its Mesaieed facility. Learn more here.;

While ethanol production was hailed as a cure to American dependence on Middle East oil, Congressional demands on ethanol production now seem to greatly outpace demand and fuel use. The economic decline has severely impacted ground shipping, commuting and personal travel. Despite many successful ethanol operations up and running and others planned--many of which use geosynthetics for on-site wastewater management and gas harvesting--production is expected to slow significantly. Learn more here.;

A proposed Monsanto Co. phosphate mine slated to produce ingredients for Roundup weedkiller generated nearly 7,000 public comments, including from a former U.S. Interior secretary who urges its approval and the Environmental Protection Agency, which wants additional pollution safeguards. The Bureau of Land Management will review the comments to see if a plan for the Blackfoot Bridge Mine released earlier this year merits changes. Final approval of the mine could come by next summer. Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) may be part of a $25 million liner system to contain runoff from on-site piles. Learn more here.;

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) ANTEC® 2010 conference will explore topics of critical importance for improving the environmental sustainability of plastics. The 2010 installment will include some new technology forums on issues of sustainability. Among them: "Polymer Applications for Clean Environments." This session includes discussion of geomembrane utilization. The event will take place 16-20 May 2010 in Orlando, Florida. Read more.

Rick Mills writes on acid mine drainage, the need for strong environmental controls, and the importance of mining and mineral extraction to Canada's economy. Learn more here.;

Canada-based architectural firm ADI Ltd has left the ADI Group to join with Trow Global. The deal leaves ADI Group with ADI Systems Inc and Geomembrane Technologies. While ADI Ltd's decision is to leave, the company will maintain a strong relationship with its former ADI Group sister companies. No layoffs have been part of this change nor are any planned. Learn more here.;

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has opened exhibit booth space sales for Geo-Frontiers 2011 (13-16 March 2011, Dallas, Texas). The event brings together IFAI, the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Geo-Institute (GI) to co-organize this second Geo-Frontiers, the first of which was held in 2005. View the floor plan for exhibit space here. Learn more here.;

The ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics meeting in San Antonio, 27-29 January 2010, will feature important new events: Geocell Standardization Exploratory Meeting; Shear Strength Test Result Interpretation; Subgrade Reinforcement; and a Workshop on Geosynthetic Material Durability: Field and Laboratory Experiences. Learn more about these special events.

The Forest Service has pushed back its plans again, and now says it will release an environmental analysis of the proposed Rosemont Mine in the second quarter of 2010, about a year later than it originally planned. The Forest Service also plans now to make a decision on the mine during the last three months of 2010--up to six months later than an earlier planned decision date of July 2010. Learn more here.;

The Parker Centre has recognised the collaborative research efforts of the Centre's "Impacts of Mineralogy on Hydrometallurgy" project team and the PhD research of former student Dr Geoffrey Carter. The "Impacts of Mineralogy on Hydrometallurgy" project, involving researchers from CSIRO and Curtin University of Technology, has been awarded the 2009 Parker Centre Award for Research Collaboration. The award acknowledges the most effective team collaboration within the Centre in a CRC Program-funded research project during the preceding year. The award comes with a $5000 prize to be shared between the team. Learn more here.;

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. Learn more here.;

After years of research and field observations, Agru America Inc. has developed and released ClosureTurf, an innovative capping system that combines the outstanding barrier characteristics of structured geomembranes and the natural look and long-term exposure performance of today's artificial turf. ClosureTurf is ideal for the immediate closure operations and potential beneficial reuse of mining, industrial and municipal solid waste (MSW) burial sites.

A plan is in place now to clean up the San Mateo Uranium Mine in San Mateo, New Mexico. The US Forestry Service is heading up the remediation work. After an environmental and cost analysis, a decision has been made to consolidate on-site waste rock and cover it with a geomembrane cap system. Learn more here.;

The value of construction in emerging countries will more than double in the next 11 years according to Global Construction 2020, a new report from Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics. Global construction output is expected to increase +70% overall, with mature countries' output rising +35%, compared to the +110% rise forecast in the developing world. Learn more here.;

The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG) Brazil - 2010 will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss highly technical and scientific geosynthetics issues and their solutions. A primary objective of the conference is to present the most recent developments, improvements and new technologies from the international geosynthetics community. The IGS Brasil (Brazilian Association of Geosynthetics) and ABMS (Brazilian Association of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering) will organize the conference under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) in association with the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and with the support of the ABINT (Brazilian Association of Nonwoven and Technical Textiles). Read more.

Few countries are as blessed with energy resources as Brazil. Hydroelectric plants on its river systems provide approximately 85 per cent of its electricity. It is the world’s second biggest producer of biofuels, after the US. It has great potential for new, renewable energy sources such as biomass and wind power. And recent discoveries of what promise to be huge oil fields off its coast seem certain to make it one of the world’s biggest oil-producing nations. In spite of this, Brazil has struggled to secure cheap and reliable energy supplies. Read more in the Financial Times. Learn more here.;

A Cheyenne refinery says it plans to fight the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's nearly $7 million fine levied in late September for allegedly dumping hazardous waste into a pond designed to hold storm water. The EPA cited the company for having an inadequate liner. But company spokeswoman Kristine Boyd has said Frontier Oil Corp. has spent $15 million to improve the pond this year. Learn more here.;

The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG) is offering its very early-bird registration rate through 22 November 2009. Those who take advantage of registering now will save up to 20% on the conference. 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.;

The director of the CSIRO’s Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship, Dr Peter Lilly, has outlined his vision on science and technology development for the Australian mining industry by 2030. In his keynote address at the 6th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards on November 11, Lilly said the future prosperity of the industry would rely on investments in technology. This includes mining in close proximity to cities, in-situ heap leaching advances, utilization of traditional waste streams for beneficial uses, and much more. Learn more here.;

Ian Peggs writes from Dubai: "One resin manufacturer, a geomembrane manufacturer, a design engineering representative, and a liner installer attended and participated in lively discussion during the day-long post-conference workshop on HDPE geomembrane. These workshop participants came from Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates and the workshop was led by Dr. Ian D. Peggs (I-CORP). Key topics included liner leak statistics, consequences of leakage, action leakage rates, finding the responsible leaks, and estimating the remaining exposed geomembrane lifetime." Read more.

The new National Policy Statement (NPS) - which is subject to public consultation - sets out the broad need for additional ports capacity in the United Kingdom up to 2030 and beyond, taking such things as freight demand forecasts and the economic benefits of ports into account. The document builds on existing Government policy, which is that the need for ports capacity can best be met with an efficient and competitive industry working in a free-market environment. This new document also includes wider Government objectives for sustainable development, covering issues such as climate change considerations and the wider environmental impact of port development. Read more.