Special Series

Best of Thermoplastic Elastomers Conference 2005: Novel Ethylene/Alpha-Olefin Copolymer - Polypropylene Blends for Automotive Thermoformed Sheeting Applications. The hour-long presentation occurs on April 13, 2006 (New York 11am / Los Angeles 8am / London 4pm / Paris 5pm). Learn more here.;

As reported by Nonwovens Industry online, Basell has purchased Akzo Nobel's Polymerization Catalysts & Components business on March 31. The business, which includes catalyst manufacturing and other assets in Edison, NJ, had revenues of nearly $60 million in 2005. Learn more here.;

Hundreds of Native American artifacts have been discovered on a future park site in New Rochelle, New York. As development operations continue, the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) is placing geotextile fabric over the sensitive archaeological zones to protect the objects from pressure, soil mixing and damage during construction. Read about it in the Journal News. Learn more here.;

Several geo-items are on sale for the month of April at the IFAI Bookstore: 75% off Cold Regions Impact on Civil Works Geosynthetics in Subsurface Drainage Geomembranes & the Control of Expansive Soil The Site Calculations Pocket Reference 50% off Erosion & Sediment Control Technology Standards ASTM Standards 5th Edition CD-ROM Advanced Landfill Liner Systems 40% off Geotechnical Engineering of Landfills. Learn more here.;

Mining waste containing ferric oxide-rich ochre had discolored a river for a town in Germany. The slow-to-dry sludge waste has been particularly difficult to treat and transport, especially with new landfill restrictions. Researchers from the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, England, have designed a method to cleanse the waste; and they start with specially designed geotextile bags. Read the short article from Innovations Report. Learn more here.;

Geosynthetic manufacturer Emas Kiara, based in Malaysia, is increasing production by nearly five fold. The company has purchased new equipment to enable high quality polypropylene fiber production such as might be used in nonwoven products. Nearly one-fourth of the company's current revenue is in export markets, primarily in Asia and Australasia. Learn more here.;

In April 2006, Geosynthetics magazine, formerly GFR, will publish its second issue under the new name. Following the tradition of GFR, the magazine continues to feature articles dealing with topics that include roads, stabilization, erosion control, water treatment, landscape, green roofs and agriculture. The design of the magazine has also changed, styled with a more open, clean look to make the articles easily accessible to the reader. The design of Geosynthetics was intended to fulfill several needs. As the official magazine of the Geosynthetics Materials Association (GMA), a division of IFAI, every effort was made to create a stronger correlation between the magazine and GMA. The encircling swoosh in the nameplate of Geosynthetics is the same element used in the GMA logo. The logo design element is repeated in other GMA services, including GMA Techline, the Geosynthetics Bookstore and the Geosynthetics 2007 conference. Geosynthetics will continue to be the official publication of the biennial Geosynthetics conference series that began in 1987. The next conference, Geosynthetics 2007, will be held January 16-19 in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.geoshow.info. “We look forward to the ever-evolving dialogue with our readers, our writers, and the organizations whose members provide the essential funding and events that help us grow,” says Susan Niemi, Editorial Director, IFAI. “As always, the magazine’s content will rely on the involvement, advice and contributions of its readers.” Readership continues to grow among engineers, contractors, landscape architects, site owners and government regulators. For more information, visit the "continued" link below. The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is a not-for-profit trade association whose member companies represent the international specialty fabrics marketplace. IFAI is the largest, most comprehensive trade association serving this industry, and provides many products, services and programs through its magazines, bookstore, information services and conferences. For more information about IFAI, please visit www.ifai.com. Learn more here.;

The Call for Papers ( https://www.geosynthetica.net/calendar/Geo07_Call4Papers.pdf ) and the Call for Short Courses ( https://www.geosynthetica.net/calendar/Geo07_call4courses2.pdf ) for the Geosynthetics 2007 Conference have extended deadlines. All abstracts will be accepted up to April 17th. Go to the "continued" link below to go to the conference web site. Learn more here.;

The latest version of GRI Test Method GM 13 incudes Revision 7, made on February 20, 2006. It added Note 6 on Asperity Height clarification with respect to shear strength. Note 6 is as follows: The minimum average value of asperity height does not represent an expected value of interface shear strength. Shear strength associated with geomembranes is both site-specific and productspecific and should be determined by direct shear testing using ASTM D5321/ASTM D6243 as prescribed. This testing should be included in the particular site’s CQA conformance testing protocol for the geosynthetic materials involved, or formally waived by the Design Engineer, with concurrence from the Owner prior to the deployment of the geosynthetic materials. For the full text of GRI Test Method GM 13, please go to the "continued" link below. Learn more here.;

Top Stories for the week on escn.tv include: - Menards faces EPA administrative order for damaging stream - IECA's Accepting Abstracts for 2007 Technical Program - ECTC creates educational RECP installation DVD - "In The Spotlite" - Foresight Products - Tip Of The Week - John McCullah takes a look at Compost Socks. Learn more here.;

Changes within the industry such as the publication of GCL-3 [Standard Specification for Test Methods, Required Properties, and Testing Frequencies of Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs)], and recent updates to GRI GM 13/17 have caused GSE to make several literature revisions.

The meeting and registration information for the ASTM June Committee Week (June 11-16, 2006) in Toronto, Canada is available on the ASTM web site found at the "continued" link below. Learn more here.;

IAGI (International Association of Geosynthetic Installers) will present during a panel discussion at the Solid Waste/Recycling Conference and Trade Show. This event, organized by the Federation of New York Solid Waste Associations (the Federation), will take place May 7-10 at the Sagamore, Bolton Landing, New York on Lake George. The panel discussion, “Emerging Concepts for Landfill Construction Quality,” will be offered at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 10, and will include presentations by Robert Phaneuf, PE, NYS DEC, Albany, N.Y.; Robert M. Koerner, Ph.D., PE, Geosynthetic Institute, Folsom, Pa.; and Carl Apicella, IAGI. This discussion will be useful to landfill owners and operators, construction contractors, geosynthetic material installers, design engineers and regulators alike who are interested in learning more about the importance of quality construction practices. Discussion participants will receive 1.5 professional development hours. During this session, IAGI Board Member Carl Apicella, American Environmental Group LTD, Richfield, Ohio, will discuss the details of IAGI’s two programs designed to raise the level of professionalism and improve the quality of geosynthetic installations– the Certified Welding Technician program and the Approved Installation Contractor program. His part of the discussion is titled “IAGI Develops Programs to Assist Engineers and Regulators.” IAGI developed the Certified Welding Technician program to test the skills and knowledge of geomembrane welders who install geomembrane barriers as part of landfill liners and final cover systems and wastewater treatment facilities. The voluntary Approved Installation Contractor program sets a minimum level of standards for installation companies to meet to become an Approved Installer. Apicella will inform engineers and regulators about the advantages of requiring that the contractors who work on the landfill sites employ Certified Welding Technicians and participate in the Approved Installation Contractor program. Phaneuf will present on “The Need for Improved Landfill Construction Quality – a Regulatory Response.” Dr. Koerner’s part of the discussion will focus on the “Geosynthetic Institute’s New Certification Program for Landfill CQA Inspectors.” An annual event for the Federation, the Solid Waste/Recycling Conference and Trade Show attracts the largest gathering of public and private sector recycling and solid waste professionals to its technical programs and the trade show will feature 100 exhibitors. “Our conference strikes a balance,” said Russel Rutkowski, conference chair. “The technical program encompasses all aspects of solid waste, the format is conducive to networking with colleagues, and it’s all held on an island in New York’s beautiful Adirondacks! There’s no better way to sharpen your professional skills.” The Conference and Trade Show will be held at The Sagamore, one of New York’s premier hotels. It’s situated on its own 80-acre island and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information on the Federation’s Solid Waste/Recycling Conference & Trade Show, visit the "continued" link below. Learn more here.;

Lynn Classical High School in Lynn, Massachusettes, is sinking into the ground six years after being built on a foundation which was put on a slab of concrete over a capped landfill. Learn more here.;

The latest online broadcast from the Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN) is available. Highlights from this week include the Minnesota Erosion Control Association's (MECA) show and Tensar's expansion. ESCN.tv is owned by Land and Water magazine. Watch this week's news brief. Learn more here.;

Propex Fabrics has officially named Joseph Dana its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 20 March 2006. Dana joined Propex in January when the company acquired SI Geosolutions. Learn more here.;

ASTM is pleased to announce two new tools that are available to assist in administration of work items and standards maintenance. Both new tools will be located on your MyASTM/MyCommittees page, where you go to access minutes, ballots, schedules etc. Incidentally, you may now directly access the login page for this location by going to the "continued" link below. You may want to add this to your browser favorites list. In your MyASTM/MyCommittees page, My Work Items is located in the navigation bar on the left side of the page. This is a link to a consolidated list of those work items on which you are a member. For work items where you are the technical contact, the work item number is displayed in red. Standards Tracking enables an enhanced view of your standards jurisdiction list that includes the status of each standard along with needed action and links to any current work item. The list may be displayed in standards designation order or in order of year date so that you may more easily prioritize needed actions. This list will be especially useful by providing needed information when planning for ballot submittals, upcoming meeting agendas, and for the status of subcommittee standards. We believe that these new tools will greatly assist you by offering expedient access to your work items and standards maintenance. We hope that you find these tools to be useful. As always, we welcome your feedback. If you have any difficulties or comments as you access the Standards Tracking and My Work Items tools, please contact your staff manager or Kathie Morgan (610-832-9721 or kmorgan@astm.org ). Alternatively, you may call a Technical Support Representative. For technical assistance over the phone, contact 1-800-262-1373 (USA & Canada) or 610-832-9578 (International). Thank you for your active participation in ASTM. Learn more here.;

As reported on Technical-Textiles.net: From its head office in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Consoltex Inc, a manufacturer of woven fabrics, announced on 8 March 2006 that its stock has been acquired by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc. Learn more here.;

Writing for the State Journal (West Virginia), Pam Kasey covers the economics in proper landfill management, from engineering to operations and closure. Municipalities and counties that understand the benefits of a landfill (not just its necessity) seem to perform better economically in other areas too… Learn more here.;

Dubai's tourist-drawing, 70 km long shoreline has been prone to erosion. Old control methods led to disruptive tides and sand deposits. The Jumeirah Beach restoration project aims to correct these ills, and its intermediate phase has utilitzed geotextile bags for waterfront stability. Read the article in ITP Business. Learn more here.;

Wisconsin's Fox River is contaminated with PCBs from old paper mill operations. Some river sediment zones are polluted enough that capping has been seen as the safest, lowest cost cleanup method. Other zones are being treated through dredging, the sediments of which are then filtered through massive geotextile tubes. Read the article in the Appleton Post-Crescent. Learn more here.;

Hawaii Landowner Agrees to Pay $7.5 Million for Stormwater Pollution; Civil Engineers Announce 2006 Outstanding Projects; Beaver Creek Streambank Stabilization...go to escn.tv. Learn more here.;

The International Achievement Awards (IAA), sponsored by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), is calling for its 2006 entries in the Geosynthetics category. Recent competition award-winners include Colbond and Terrafix. Download the brochure at the "continued" link below.

The road into and out of Pensacola Beach, Florida, is badly in need of repairs, but federal funds are delayed. Environmental impact concerns remain, but a new design plan is gaining momentum. It includes a 4 ft. berm and geogrid support. Learn more here.;

Armtec Infrastructure Income Fund will hold a conference call and live audio Web cast on 22 March 2006 to discuss its 2005 year-end financials. Among its many business interests, Armtec distributes geosynthetics. Learn more here.;