Mining

TenCate™ Geosynthetics introduces Mirafi® MiraGreen™ D for site drainage applications for engineers and architects committed to designing environmentally sound projects. Mirafi® MiraGreen™ D is a nonwoven drainage geotextile comprised of 30% (LEED calculated) recycled content. TenCate™ has developed, through extensive research, a uniquely reliable product that reduces dependence on virgin petroleum based resins. Read more in the release.

The Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) has a number of interesting, international events and deadlines coming up. Geosynthetics may play a significant role in a number of the mining discussions facilitated by ACG. Also, the Centre has now developed individual websites for more of its events, making the key information easier to come by. Further, ACG is associated with numerous other events around the world. Read a breakdown of the forthcoming events.

Cell-Tek Geocellular Confinement Systems are made with 100% recycled HDPE strips that are expanded to form honeycomb-shaped geocellular grid. The grid is filled with gravel, soil or aggregate. Though these systems have been commonly used in construction and landscaping for load support, earth retention, erosion control, channel revetment and slope protection, we're now finding them used in green roofs.

Tensar International recently installed a magnetic fuel treatment system from Maxsys to one of their gas-fired, steam-raising boilers. Tensar is a global leader in geogrid manufacturing. The energy efficiency improvement project has reportedly cut gas consumption by 5.78%--a considerable financial savings in the manufacturing process and an admirable environmental benefit. Also, extensive analysis by the Blackburn-United Kingdom facility's chief engineer has found that boiler efficiency has improved by 5.46%. Read more about the energy efficient production method in the release.

Applied Market Information (AMI) will host "The Middle East Plastics Industry Strategy Seminar" on 19 October 2009 in Cologne, Germany. This event has been offered twice already in 2009. This next session is your final chance in 2009 to take part. With an estimated 15 million tons of additional polymerization capacity coming on line in the Middle East in the next three years, the region stands to become a major plastics processing center. Will geosynthetics be part of this boom in production? How will the Middle East's growth affect global markets? The one-day seminar aims to tackle these subjects. Download the PDF brochure. Learn more here.;

Solmax International announced that all European customers will now benefit from a 7-day grace period free-of-charge for on-site deliveries (DDP). All fees due to merchandise pick up delays will be covered by Solmax for up to 7 days for deliveries transiting via Liverpool, South Hampton, Anvers, le Havre and Hamburg port. Read more about this benefit. Learn more here.;

Pipe and Profile Extrusion is a bimonthly digital magazine from Applied Market Information (AMI), a leading provider of market intelligence and events for the global extrusion markets. The magazine is distributed electronically to the producers of plastic pipes, tubes and profiles around the world. Access to the magazine is free-of-charge and readers can download pages as PDFs for printing, storage and sharing. Read the issue online today. Learn more here.;

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the compliance date for all facilities and established a new compliance date for farms subject to the oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) regulations. This final rule is part of EPA's multi-phased strategy to address concerns with the SPCC regulation. Specifically, this SPCC rule amendment extends the dates by which the owner or operator of an SPCC regulated facility or farm must prepare or amend and implement an SPCC plan to 10 November 2010.

Creating a new company called Tuberias Tigre-ADS Limitada will combine ADS corrugated pipe and Tigre's mining, solid wall pipe to expand sales of both products in South America. The financial arrangements of the new joint venture were not disclosed.

TenCate™ is pleased to announce the appointment of Lancer Textiles as Master Distributor for the Industrial Fabrics division effective immediately. Lancer Textiles' role as Master Distributor will be to service those TenCate™ customers that may not be able to meet the minimum order quantity requirement, who typically buy small quantities, who order infrequently and to fulfill special converting needs and requests, such as slitting, re-rolling, etc.

Tensar International recently installed a magnetic fuel treatment system from Maxsys to one of their gas-fired, steam-raising boilers. The project has reported cut gas consumption by 5.78%--a considerable financial savings in the manufacturing process and an admirable environmental benefit. Also, extensive analysis by the Blackburn-United Kingdom facility's chief engineer has found that boiler efficiency has improved by 5.46%. Read more in the release.

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.;

ProcessingTalk has published a recap of the 6-7 May 2009 event "Plastics in Underground Pipes 2009," which was held in Orlando, Florida. The conference was orchestrated by Applied Market Information (AMI), organizers of numberous global plastics events such as the forthcoming Waterproof Membranes 2009 event in Germany. Read ProcessingTalk's recap. Learn more here.;

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was in charge of the unlined, Kingston, Tennessee coal ash storage facility when it broke in December 2008 and released more than 5 million cubic yards of coal ash across a couple hundred acres. Cleanup is expected to cost well more than $600 million. Currently, TVA is construction a gypsum storage pond, but the plans call for only a clay liner. Local officials are pushing for a geosynthetic lining system. Learn more here.;

The government of India and INDA, a nonwovens industry association, are teaming up to organize nonwovens and geotextile workshops. The aim is to improve the technical textile knowledge base in the country. Learn more here.;

Geosynthetics magazine editor Ron Bygness has passed along a photo from his recent visit to Korea, where he visited companies, testing laboratories, and university classes. He promises a more detailed outline of the trip will be published in the next issue of Geosynthetics. Read a summary of the soon-to-be-published issue and view the photo in full size. Also, geosynthetica invites you to share your work site and travel images with our readers. Contact chris@geosynthetica.net for more information.

Like most segments of our global economies, professional associations and societies have suffered during the current downturn. Civil engineering and affiliated professional associations have certainly not been spared. But the work they do is important to our collective work. We encourage you to take a moment to check on the status of your memberships and to renew them if you find they've lapsed. (Continued.)

The chair of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) Thailand Chapter, Dennes Bergado, has issued a call for abstracts for December's International Symposium on "Geotechnical Engineering, Ground Improvement, and Geosynthetics for Sustainable Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change including Global Warming. The event will be held 3-4 December 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. A draft copy of the brochure is available here in PDF. The conference welcomes your abstracts and any interested speaker suggestions.

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), announces the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners, to be held at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany 15-16 September 2010. Abstract and papers for oral or poster presentations are invited on the following topics: Application / case studies (Landfills, Canals, Reservoirs / Dams, Transportation Infrastructure) • Durability / Lifetime • Laboratory testing • Performance (Cation exchange, Desiccation, Experience from excavation • Regulations / Approvals. Abstracts must be submitted via e-mail to: gbr-c2k10@skz.de no later than 30 September 2009. View the flyer in PDF.

The following is a letter sent by Andrew M. Aho, executive director of GMA, to GMA members, regarding the proposed separation geosynthetics study. geosynthetica encourages its readers to contact GMA for more information on how you can help; and we encourage you to send a letter to applicable state and federal officials in support of this important study. Links to sample letters are provided in the article.

During the week of 10 May 2009 the T-CLIC liner integrity survey and assessment (LISA) course was taken on the road to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Nine people from Atlantic Lining, Elliot Construction, and Jaques-Whitford (now Stantec) attended the one-day classroom session, a one-day hands-on session in three test cells, two days of "production surveys," and a 90-minute written test presented by Dr. Ian D. Peggs. (Continued.)

Hong Kong-based Earthmate Geosynthetics has announced that testing conducted by the independent laboratory FITI Korea has certified its Enviromate Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL). FITI's laboratory has been approved by the Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI). Earthmate's GCLs have been tested striclty according to ASTM Standards. View the test results at Earthmate's website. Learn more here.;

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a challenge made by NAUE that questions whether certain claims in a brochure published by Tensar International could be substantiated. The brochure, "TriAx: A Revolution in Geogrid Technology," detailed the properties and performance advantages of Tensar TriAx geogrids. Within the information in this brochure, Tensar talks about the research that has evolved into a "revolutionary change from a rectangular to a triangular grid aperture." It goes on to say: "This was a revolution in geogrids technology with significant, new improved benefits over the biaxial geogrids." (Continued.)

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics' Sam Allen and George Koerner remind readers that proposals are welcomed for the Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) / ASTM Workshop on "Geosynthetic Material Durability: Field and Laboratory Experiences," to be held 29 January 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. This important, new workshop will immediately follow the two days of D35's winter meetings. The four segments of the workshop will focus on long-term field experiences; accelerated weathering studies; polymers and additives packages; and a panel discussion. Abstracts for presentations will be accepted through 30 September 2009. Read more about the event.

TenCate™ Geosynthetics has designed a brochure focusing on high performance geotextiles for haul roads. These include Mirafi® HP-Series woven geotextiles, comprised of high tenacity polypropylene yarns. One of the primary uses of geosynthetics has been and remains the stabilization of subgrades for haul roads. Almost every construction project has a need for a geosynthetically-stabilized aggregate, from access roads to construction entrance roads, to staging areas, and to working platforms. (Continued.)