Special Series

The state of Tennessee has had enough with costly waterway and stormwater system pollution that stems from poor development practices. Last year the state vowed to get tough with repeat offenders. It is. The attorney general and Department of Environment and Conservation has renewed its suit against a developer accused of polluting 15 sites. Learn more here.;

Globalization has presented a number of challenges to Canadian industries. One way nations stay competitive is through innovation. In Quebec, $400,000 has been allocated for scholarships, research partnerships and similar ventures that will push innovation in textile segments. This includes geosynthetics. Learn more here.;

We have just been informed of a hotel renovation to begin May 1, 2007 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel. The hotel will remain open and the restaurant and meeting space will not be affected; however, the guest rooms will be renovated a floor at a time. Renovations will occur between 8:00 am - 6:00pm. The inventory of guest rooms will be reduced and alternate accommodations have been reserved for ASTM to avoid the construction inconvenience and shortfall of guest rooms. Rooms are still available at the Radisson Hotel which is 7 -8 blocks from the Marriott and Sheraton Hotels (Rates $94 and shuttle service is available during peak meeting hours). Shuttle schedules will be available at the Radisson Hotel for your convenience. Call 757-627-5555 - Group Promotional Code: ASTM3. Rooms have also been reserved at a LUXURY Hotel - The Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel. This is a very nice upscale hotel across the river from the Sheraton - a 10 minute ferry ride. We will also have a shuttle bus during peak meeting hours for attendees that do not wish to ride the ferry. The ferry stop is very close to both hotels, and a short walk to the Marriott. The Renaissance Hotel will honor the Sheraton's rate of $135. Shuttle schedules and ferry passes will be available at the Renaissance Hotel. The cut-off date for making reservations at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel is May 17th, or when the ASTM block of rooms is filled. Call 1-888-839-1775 or 757-673-3000 and identify yourself as attending the ASTM Meeting on June 24-29, 2007. Reservations made at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott are not affected. IMPORTANT: If you presently have a reservation at the Sheraton and prefer to relocate to the Radisson or Renaissance hotels, attendees will not be charged a cancellation fee. However, if you still prefer the convenience of staying in the hotel where your meetings are assigned, the Sheraton still has available rooms at this time. A complimentary continental breakfast will be in the ASTM Registration Area each morning for all attendees with meetings at the Sheraton to help compensate for the construction inconveniences. If you make new reservations, remember to cancel your reservation at the Sheraton by calling 800-325-3535 to avoid having two reservations. Visit the ASTM website for updates on overflow room availability. When the Radisson and Renaissance Hotels are sold out - we will update our website with alternate hotel suggestions. If you have any questions on the hotel choices - please contact the following ASTM staff: Monica Mobley, mmobley@astm.org, 610-832-9702; Cathi Friend, cfriend@astm.org, 610-832-9703; Betty Schultz, bschultz@astm.org, 610-832-9701.

Stay up-to-date with all of the latest developments in polyurethane foams with Rapra's Polyurethane Foams Bulletin. Newly created, this bulletin aims to keep you informed about all of the latest developments in PU foams in all forms, not only with research developments, but also with key market and company information. If you sign up for this new bulletin before 15th June '07 you will be entitled to a 10% discount. Learn more here.;

Looking for geotextiles? Fiberweb Typar geotextile data has just been added to the ASTM-ready geotextile products section of geosindex.com. Get all the information on permittivity, tensile strength, and much more. Learn more here.;

Hosted by Centre for Technical Textiles, University of Leeds, EDANA’s third edition of the Nonwovens Research Academy (NRA) on 29th -30th March 2007 brought together 114 students and industry R&D experts from 17 countries, representing 36 companies and 22 research centres.

GIGSA is hosting a series of reports back on the 8th International Conference on Geosynthetics that was held late last year in Yokohama, Japan. 12 South African delegates attended including a Regulator, Consulting Engineers, Contractors and Suppliers. Several speakers representing this cross-section have agreed to share some information and present their views of the conference to the South African Industry. Learn more here.;

PGI has teamed up with CETCO in offering a new short courses titled "Constructing with GCLs and PVC Geomembranes" on May 23rd, 2007 in Seattle at the U.S. EPA Park Place Building and on May 24th, 2007 in Portland at the Portland World Trade Center. These courses focuses on how GCLs and PVC geomembranes can be used together as a composite liner. Learn more here.;

Concrete mats and geotextile underlayment from Propex were utilized by the US Army Corp of Engineers in a watershed improvement project near Houston. The channel lining work helps protect the fast-growing area from flood events. Read the case study. Learn more here.;

Erosion along an aluminum waste pollution in Newark, Ohio's Licking River will require a $2.8 million stabilization scheme. Planners expect to use 17,000 tons of stone, 6,550 square yards of geotextile, and new granular fill and topsoil to rebuild and firm up the bank. Learn more here.;

Defiance County, Ohio's landfill expansion is moving forth. Bids were requested, and more than $1 million separates the first and third contractor bids. In line with state environmental rules, modern geosynthetic lining systems and affilated leachate control technologies will be used. Read more. Learn more here.;

The cleanup of the Fox River in Wisconsin continues as part of the $500 million correction of PCB contamination. The project has already used a considerable amount of geosynthetics for dredging, treatment and disposal. The next phase involves the dredging of 150,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils. Learn more here.;

The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Norway is hiring a full or associate professor in its Arctic Infrastructure and Geotechnical Engineering program. One area of ongoing research is studying the performance of geosynthetics in arctic climates. The announcement. Learn more here.;

The Alberta Research Council (ARC) is working with farmers to create a bigger market for agricultural fiber use in bio-plastics and other resin-injected composites. One of the material markets they hope to influence is the geotextile market. Read more. Learn more here.;

A closed and capped landfill in Laconia, New Hampshire may have had its cover breached by the recent nor'easter that pummeled the East Coast with significant rain fall. A similar storm in 2005 damaged the landfill cap. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disputed the city on remediation costs from that storm damage. Further repairs may now be needed. Inspection awaits. Learn more here.;

With world seafood supplies dwindling and questions being raised about the environmental problems caused by modern, mass fishing strategies, aquacultural companies are finding a market. Marvesta Shrimp Farms in Hurlock, Maryland is one such company. And with their lined tanks, they're farming healthy shrimp indoors. Learn more here.;

In Fairfield, Connecticut, Blackrock Realty is preparing to convert a section of contaminated soil along Ash Creek into a major development with a train stop, 800,000 square feet of office space, a 185-room Hilton hotel, fitness center, retail building and wetlands. Initial cleanup and contaminated soil cap preparation begins this July. Learn more here.;

Colbond's EnkamatPlus is a tough, reusable geotextile matting product that has been used as a sport sideline mat, batting practice mat, and in similar applications. The city of Asheville, North Carolina has adopted rolls of it for use as a protective cover over a field during an open-air concert. Download the case study. Learn more here.;

Rudolph Bonaparte, president and CEO of Geosyntec Consultants, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for contributions to geoengineering with geosynthetics, the design of landfill waste-containment systems, and leadership in geotechnical engineering practice. For a complete list of the 64 new members and nine foreign associates elected to the NAE, please click the link below. Learn more here.;

According to the latest report from AMI Consulting, the European masterbatch industry is still the largest in the world both in terms of production and demand. Learn more here.;

Engineering News Records has posted a very useful article on greenroof benefits, including the stunning fact that systems can reduce stormwater runoff by up to 94%. The article leans heavily upon the two-year study published by Magnusson Klemencic Associates in Seattle and includes numerous supporting graphics. Learn more here.;

The US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, has awarded $433,700 to the Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority (NACA) to design regional wastewater treatment facilities for cities in the Osage Basin. The project will provide centralized sewage treatment to communities and unincorporated areas experiencing substantial growth and which previously have relied only on septic tanks. Learn more here.;

Looking for geogrids? geosindex.com has interactive tables with geosynthetic data for products such as geogrids. The link will take you to the ASTM specification-ready geogrids page. Click on the fields in the yellow box to add them to your search criteria. For example, review creep limited strength values or aperture size. Questions? Contact us. We are happy to help. Learn more here.;

From the New Jersey Herald: New Jersey-based Ag Choice formed in August 2006 to convert animal, food and manure waste to compost. A late step in the process is covering the turned compost with geotextile, beneath which the compost finishes. In less than half of a year, Ag Choice converted more than 80 tons of food waste and 700 cubic yards of manure. Learn more here.;

Grants available to spur innovation: Highways for LIFE (HfL) will award multiple grants under the Technology Partnerships Program. The solicitation opened on March 2, 2007, with a closing date on May 2, 2007. The program anticipates as many as 12 awards at the $200,000 funding level and 3 awards at the $500,000 funding level...cont'd 04/09/07 Learn more here.;