Special Series

Another effort is being made to get General Electric to cleanup a silty, PCB-contaminated section of the Hudson River. The pollution goes back to decades of GE's operations along the waterway. When--if--cleanup begins, dredging operations with protective turbidity curtains, dewatering bags, and contaminated water and soil collection and treatment zones will be needed. Learn more here.;

The PVC Geomembrane Institute (PGI) is pleased to offer “Constructing with GCLs and PVC Geomembranes,” its popular short course, on two dates in the Northwest. The course, offered May 23, 2007 in Seattle, WA, and May 24, 2007 in Portland, OR, will be presented by Timothy D. Stark, and Chris Athanassopoulos, P.E. Course participants are eligible for 0.8 CEUs from the University of Illinois. Those involved with the design, construction, operation and closure of landfills, lagoons, ponds, decorative applications, and corrective action activities at closed sites are encouraged to attend this course. Participants will gain a broad knowledge of what is required to properly design, specify and construct liner and/or cover systems with GCLs and PVC geomembranes. This course also will include discussion of the latest information on GCLs including hydraulic equivalence, specifications, testing, and installation. The PVC geomembrane information will cover manufacturing, formulation, fabrication, shipping, installation, long-term performance, interface strengths and slope stability, wedge welding, air channel testing of field PVC seams, and updated ASTM testing of PVC geomembranes. The PGI 1104 Specification and the associated ASTM testing will be discussed for use of PVC geomembranes in a variety of environmental applications. Because this course is limited to 35 participants per day, PGI encourages early registration. The registration fee of $100 for Seattle or $95.00 for Portland, includes 1 full day instruction, short course notes, refreshments and lunch. Participants also will receive 0.8 CEUs from the University of Illinois. Government personnel and students are eligible for discounted admission. Advanced registration is required and the registration deadline is May 16, 2007. Timothy D. Stark is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an expertise in Geotechnical Engineering and has been teaching, researching, and consulting on geosynthetics, stability of manmade slopes, and design of waste containment facilities for over 15 years. Chris Athanassopoulos, P.E., is the Technical Support Engineer for CETCO. He received a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1997. Athanassopoulos has been with CETCO for the past year, working on various design, testing, and manufacturing aspects of GCLs. Prior to joining CETCO, Athanassopoulos worked for seven years at the Parsons Corporation as a project engineer and project manager, involved with site investigations and remedial designs at numerous petroleum, chemical and landfill sites. PGI and its membership, dedicated to advancing the use of PVC geomembranes, aids engineers in specifying PVC for environmental applications. For additional information about this course, visit the PGI website at the link below or contact Frank Konvalinka, PGI, at +1-217-333-3929. Learn more here.;

March 22 is World Water Day and this year water scarcity and proper resource management is a major talking point. At the World Bank's website, a great deal of information is available regarding critical zones, trends in development, needed projects, bid calls, and much more. One place more developments might start is through designing in more canal and reservoir liners and covers to reduce seepage and evaporation. Learn more here.;

The 4th European Geosynthetics Conference will take place 7-10 Sept 2008 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The event is being organized by the UK chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) under the auspices of the IGS. Abstracts are due 30 August 2007. Learn more here.;

The deadline for paper abstracts for Waterproof Membranes 2007 is May 25. The event intends to highlight "Trends and Technical Developments in the International Industry" and will be held November 26-28 in Cologne, Germany. For more information, visit the conference website. Note: geosynthetica.net is a cooperating organization for the conference. Learn more here.;

Repsol YPF is opening a polyolefin R & D plant in Tarragona, Spain. One of the technology areas the facility will address is the creation of polypropylene and polyethylene geotextile products. Learn more here.;

Beverly, Massachusetts' well-used Innocenti Park is undergoing a difficult cleanup that will require a geosynthetic cover in various zones. Tests early this year discovered lead and other contaminants in the park's soils and beneath the neighboring youth center. Read about it in the Salem News. Learn more here.;

Intertape Polymer Group has announced its fourth quarter and year-end 2006 earnings. Intertape develops and manufactures specialized polyolefin plastics and other products through its North American and European facilities. The year 2006 saw a number of business adjustments by the company in reaction to marketplace changes and to position itself for 2007's opportunities. Learn more here.;

Propex offers a free stormwater quality BMP manual to help in BMP selection and approval. For more information or to register to receive a free copy, visit the manual's web page. Learn more here.;

Abstracts for Geosynthetics Asia 2008 papers are due 31 May 2007. The English-language event, co-orangized by the Chinese Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), will take place in Shanghai in June 2008 and include tracks for general geosynthetics information, testing and standards, reinforcement, transportation, hydraulic structures and much more. For information, please visit the conference website. Learn more here.;

For the January/Februrary issue of Canadian Environmental Protection, Eric Blond (SAGEOS) and Guy Elie (Solmax) wrote a succinct piece on "Interface shear-strength properties of textured polyethylene geomembranes." A copy is now available via Solmax's website. Learn more here.;

The Hawaiian city of Waipahu needs to find closure--with a landfill. The 49-acre site was used as a landfill for roughly 30 years and has sat in wait of official closure since 1991. A geomembrane cap is needed. City officials are debating whether the site might then be converted for recreational use. Learn more here.;

The banks of the Tombigbee River waterway are experiencing severe erosion. It's now even threatening homes that have been moved for flood protection. Residents are currently in a dispute with the US Army Corp of Engineers over whether the erosion is natural or a result of a Corps waterway project. Regardless, serious bank protection solutions are needed - and soon. Learn more here.;

The Brazilian Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) - IGS Brasil - is co-sponsoring the joint Regeo 2007 and Geossinteticos 2007 conferences, 18 - 21 June 2007 in Recife, Brazil. For more information, please visit the conference Web site. (Note: Site available only in Portuguese.) Learn more here.;

As world regions wrestle with water resource conservation and management, the Tulelake Irrigation District canal lining project from Firestone stands as one of the many testaments to the wisdom of installing geosynthetic liners in increasingly arid regions. Download the case study here. Learn more here.;

While Kelli Best-Oliver's blog column for Green Options misses the mark regarding landfill liners and perhaps better suggests the thinness of information the public is being given about landfill design, it's an effort nonetheless to influence people to think more deeply about what they throw away and what that waste may lead to. Learn more here.;

Colbond, an international manufacturer of geosynthetics and other specialty materials, is expanding its Asheville, North Carolina nonwovens facility. Nonwovens Industry reports that the expansion will create 20 jobs and add $7million worth of equipment. Much of the expansion will further support Colbond's geosynthetic production. Learn more here.;

Delft University of Technology and the Dutch Geotextile Society (NGO) have organized an English-language course titled Geosynthetics in Civil Engineering. The training will be presented over a number of days at TU Delft's campus: April 13, 20 and 27; May 11 and 25; and June 8. Packages available for 3-6 days participation. For more information go to the course web page at the link below.. Learn more here.;

Marty Molino has been named Laboratory Manager at GeoTesting Express / GeoComp's Atlanta office. geosynthetica.net congratulates Molino on his appointment. Learn more here.;

Colbond has unveiled EnkaRetain & Drain, a LEED-ready product for green roof and planter applications. The nonwoven filter on the EnkaDrain 3000R core holds 10 times its weight in water, giving plant roots time to absorb the water. Excess water passes into the core and drains away. For more, read the release. Learn more here.;

The International Geosynthetics Society has added its 28th chapter. The International Geosynthetics Society – Philippines was established with the aim to review and update expertise and knowledge in geosynthetics in the civil engineering profession and provide opportunities for civil engineers learn new ways and to develop an open mind to changes. See their chapter officers and find the link to visit their new website by going to the "continued" link below. Learn more here.;

Known for its high winds, severe storms and intense summer heat, eastern Colorado presented some challenges for the project of capping waste residue from coal slurry ponds at Pawnee Power Station, a power plant located in Brush, Colorado.

Construction prices for the first quarter of 2007 are forecast to show a 1.59% increase over the fourth quarter of 2006 as available work remains plentiful and skilled labor remains limited in the commercial construction market, according to Turner Construction. The increase would represent the smallest quarter-to-quarter percentage increase in the index since the first quarter of 2004. Learn more here.;

The Army Corps of Engineers is due to release a comprehensive study in April describing the safety of New Orleans' levee systems and offering guidance in repair and in moving homes and businesses out of harm's way. Read about it in the Times-Picayune. 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.;