Special Series

One of the earliest environmental developments of our profession, is that of geosynthetic design within the waste industry. It is fair to say that we have a long history of both design, and component development in landfill engineering. War against pollution has led to the development of geosynthetic products and a whole genus of landfill engineering. As an industry, however, are we becoming complacent? During the 70s and 80s, as landfills were developed to stricter standards, materials were designed and improved, and ways of testing and ensuring quality were developed. In those halcyon days it seemed that we were all united against one common enemy - pollution. We had all seen the dire results of poorly designed tips and despite the ever-present legislature (in the form of the pre-EA regulatory bodies). I believe that as an industry we were as innovative and forward thinking as any. Why are we too frightened to continue in the same way? Is it because the level of development in the manufacturing industry has reduced? This may be, but one thing is sure, this is only because the market place is not as demanding. It is a fear of being innovative that concerns me. As engineers, we are supposed to push forward the frontier of our industry. To develop better ways of doing things, we do not take risks, but experiment in a controlled way to improve our understanding and ultimately reduce risk. We are not setting new and exacting standards, but allowing the commercial practitioners to control specification and markets for pre-existing products. In this environment 'recyclable' is still seen as somewhat poor and second-rate. How are we to recover the innovative days of the 70s and 80s. We need to develop an environment of development, of openness to new ideas and, above all, to insist that we have not solved the problem. We are frightened, that, to admit that we can do better will brand us as unprofessional in what we did ten years ago. Whilst a site license issued in the 80s might has insisted on a particular specification, it is nonsense to limit ourselves to historical engineering detail. Whilst a fear of litigation is probably at the root of most risk avoidance strategies, we should look at the USA (a highly limitative environment). Many use geosynthetic products from the USA - a market not afraid to continue the development of better, if more expensive solutions. Two things are destined to destroy our industry: the fear of innovation and "value" engineering. The first prevents the development of new ideas: the latter continually reduces prices and quality. Perceived quality can remain the same in a static market, but the actual quality reduces.

ASTM's Proficiency Test Program for Plastics Testing (Polyethylene). The polyethylene testing program is conducted biannually with testing conducted in September 2001 and March 2002. Melt Index, Density, Ash and Color. Participate in the 2001 - 2002 Programs. Provide your labe with a statistical quality assurance tool to improve and maintain lab testing performance. Provide a consistant foundation of performance that your customers and data users can rely on. Compare your results with other labs worldwide. Samples, test instructions and data report sheets are distributed during the beginning of each test month. Labs are given approximately five weeks to conduct tests and return data to ASTM. Final summary reports are mailed to participants approximately one month following the receipt deadline of test data. For More Information of for Mid-Year Registration contact: Anne McKlindon or Helen Maguire at (610) 832-9682, or fax (610) 832-9668 or visit http://www.astm.org/statqa/

There continue to be a number of instances where there is a misunderstanding between installer and contractor or contractor and owner about the amount of geomembrane that should be paid for in a lining system. This should be clearly spelled out in the project specifications. The installer should be paid for all material used to make the installation, including seam overlaps, anchor trench material, repair patches, penetration boots, destructive samples and patches, and trial seaming material. The easiest way to do this is to determine the amount of material delivered to the site and to subtract the amount of useful material removed from the site. The next simplest is to measure the accumulated length of each panel removed from a roll. The CQA firm can keep such records in conjunction with the installer. However the most common method is to reference the area of the horizontal projection at a specific level of the facility, typically the top of slope. It then is the responsibility of the installer to incorporate factors for the anchor trench and the other items. The horizontal projection should be surveyed at the start of the project for initial estimates of cost. A final survey of the installed liner would also be appropriate. The anchor trench material can easily be calculated with material from the top of slope to the front of the trench, down the trench, and across the bottom. Material should not be folded in the bottom of the trench. The CQA firm should ensure that material is not billed up the back of the trench but only installed to the bottom of the trench. The anchorage of the liner in the trench is a critical part of a properly designed lining system. A waste factor of 10 to 12% might be allowed for a typical rectangular facility with slopes of 10%. Both anchor trench and seam overlaps will account for about 3% each, slope gain for 1 to 3% and 2 to 5% for the remainder. More complex shapes will require larger waste factors. If horizontal seams are not allowed on slopes the waste factor could be as high as 20 to 30%. Clearly, the answer to the problem is make sure that all parties understand the basis of measurement, so that an appropriate bid can be placed by the installer, and so that all understand on what area payment will finally be made. Installers should not assume that if they put qualifying statements in their bid others will take note of them. Confirm that a statement such as "area of material laid" does or does not include overlap and patches etc. Remember, the person who wrote the specifications or the contract probably does not appreciate the finer details of liner installation.

The Gas Technology Institute (Gas Research Institute) has moved. The new address is 1700 S. Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804. This is a good resource for information on the performance of HDPE: material, different HDPEs, welds, lifetime, causes of failures. Http://www.gastechnology.org (some fees may apply)

GEOTrac Rapide is working on a test method to evaluate all of the impressions on test surface from the cylinder test, in order to avoid subjectivity in visually identifying the three deepest impressions for measurement. Russ Tebay also has equipment to measure the hydraulic conductivity of GCLs under a confining pressure and high water pressures.

Stuart McMutrie has left Nylex to pursue a new life as the Marketing Manager of a leading semi-trailer manufacturer in Melbourne.

Geo Plastic would like for their own manufacturing needs, to purchase on regular bases (spunbond fabrics 1,0 oz/sq. yd.). If you have anything similar, plese send them your prices for this product and samples to: Geo Plastic International, 1560 N. Prospect Avenue, Suite 607, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax #: 414-298-1542.

The UK Environmental Agency held a seminar titled "Landfill Engineering for a Brighter Future" to launch nine new Technical Guidance documents, five of which involved geosynthetics: 1. Geosynthetic Clay Liners, 2. Geomembranes, 3. Geotextiles, 4. Geomembrane Protection using the Cylinder Test and 5. Geophysical Testing of liners. All of these documents will soon be available on the EA web site on www.geosynthetica.net. Additional documents in the development stage include Quality Assurance, Permeability Testing, Impermeable Pavements, and Leachate Management. Bernard Myles made a presentation on BSI/CEN/ISO standards and strongly emphasized the legal requirements for engineers to comply with specifications established by CEN for the different geosynthetics used in different applications. The days of individual unique specifications are gone. Ian Peggs commented on international experiences with geomembrane performance, demonstrated the importance of SCR and OIT measurements for HDPE specifications, and introduced the Material Durability Factor. David Hall outlined the capabilities of the LandSim Release 2 computer model for assessing leakage from a landfill and its subsequent characteristics. Release 2 is also capable of handling a double composite lining system. Neil Dixon and Russell Jones made a concise presentation on the intricacies of interface shear strength measurements and the lessons learned from a number of waste and soil slippages around the world. The importance of dealing with "during-construction" conditions as well as final operating conditions was emphasized. Approximately 100 people attended the seminar, organized by Rob Marshall, at the Manchester University Conference Centre.

Brazil, Apr 18, 2001 (Gazeta Mercantil/SABI via COMTEX) -- Bidim, a company from BBA Nonwovens is reporting a 12% annual growth in the Brazilian market. In 2000 it claimed R$35mil turnover while in 1999 it reached R$29mil, and in 1998 R$25mil. According to its CEO in Brazil Mr Carlos Caldeira the company is investing to expand capacity at its plant based at Sao Jose do Campos, Sao Paulo state, which was acquired by Rhodia Ster in 1997 for R$40mil. For 2001 the plan is to destinate R$12mil for equipment acquisition. It will allow to increase production by 36%. It is currently estimated at 7,000 m tons per year. Bidim expects to reach R$37mil turnover in 2001. The Brazilian nonwoven textiles market is estimated at 100,000 m tons per year. Copyright (c) 2001, South American Business Information, All rights reserved

North American PP operating rates are expected to begin an uptick later this year, climbing from the low 80s in percentage to the mid-80s and staying there through 2002, according to Chemical Market Associates Inc. analyst Graham Harris in Houston. In North America alone, capacity has increased 30 percent since 1999, including almost 2 billion pounds this year from expansions by Dow Chemical Co., Formosa Plastics Corp. USA and others. North American PP prices have fallen steadily since mid-2000, and producers have seen little success with 3 cent-per-pound increase attempts that were slated for Feb. 1.

High feedstock cost and slowing demand have highlighted the risks of the polyethylene market, leading some industry consultants to expect a decline in prices and profitability through the first half of 2002. With prices for natural gas - which provides the ethane to produce 70 percent of North American PE - at double their historic levels, producers are in a bind, even though they've raised prices successfully an average of 8 cents per pounds to date in 2001. Factoring in slower-than normal PE demand, courtesy of a slowing U.S. economy, darkens the picture even further for PE makers. Those conditions have led Howard Rappaport, an Industry analyst with Chemical Market Associates Inc. in Houston, to project lower prices for PE until mid-2002. U.S. operating rates are expected to follow the same pattern. Rappaport sees U.S. HDPE prices dropping into the mid-to high 30s in cents a pound by mid-2002, with LLDPE prices hitting the low 30s and LDPE prices dipping into the high 30s.

PVC makers should be able to find their way out of the darkness in the next couple of years, thanks to low global inventories and a recovery in demand growth. North American PVC producers were hammered in the second half of 2000 as demand plummeted and have faced tough business conditions in early 2001 as well, though they have been able to increase prices an average of 3 cents per pound. Smith, with Houston-based Chemical Market Associates Inc., said at his firm's World Petrochemical Conference that PVC will lead the petrochemical rebound, just as it was first to slide in 2000. "The fundamentals are all there for PVC to take off," Smith said.

Last year we introduced our new corporate identity with WEEKS Consulting and WEEKS Laboratories clearly identified as distinct parts of WEEKS Technical Services plc. The success of this strategy in giving each business its own persona and opportunity to develop has led us to formalise the arrangement by establishing two separate trading companies: WEEKS Consulting ltd, The Oasis, Newnham Court, Bearsted Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5LH, Tel-01622 632-100 and WEEKS Laboratories, New Melbourne House, Canning Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 2RU, Tel-01622 679-951. Learn more here.;

The Meeting and Registration information for the ASTM June Committee Week (June 24-29, 2001) in Norfolk, Virginia, is available on the ASTM web site at www.astm.org/COMMIT/WEEKINFO. At the ASTM web site under Technical Committees you will also find committee schedules as they become available. Please note we have added to our Meeting Notice a statement regarding dress and weather in Norfolk. ASTM has new technology that enables us to more efficiently provide meeting information on our web site, eliminating the traditional hard copy sent through the mail. If you do not have access to the Internet and/or require a hard copy mailed or faxed to you, please contact Felicia Otero in the Meetings Department: Email: fotero@astm.org Phone: 610-832-9706 Fax: 610-832-9669

Consumption of polyolefin textiles reached record levels in 2000, according to the latest study. European output now exceeds 3 billion a year. Market Perspectives of the European Polyolefin Textile Industry is an examination of the use of polypropylene and polyethylene textiles, showing quantities consumed by end-uses (such as floor coverings, hygiene, ropes, strapping, bulk containers and geotextiles) and by type of technology (including staple, monofilament, multifilament, split film and spun bond). Published by the European Association for Textile Polyolefins (EATP) the study also highlights both the short-term (1999-2000) and the longer term (1992-1999) trends in consumption. Learn more here.;

The D35.93 SUB COMMITTEE Ballot is now posted on the Committee D35 page of the ASTM web site http://www.astm.org/COMMIT/D35.htm To access the ballot, please enter the Members Only Section. You must enter your member number and the password “ASTM”. The ballot will be open and available on the web from March 23, 2001 – April 23, 2001. All members are required to return ballots. Your ballot response is important to the committee in obtaining the required 60% return for a valid ballot. Please remember that your committee bylaws state that failure to return letter ballots can lead to termination from the committee. ASTM is pleased that your Committee has agreed to participate in the online balloting pilot program. We are very excited about the benefits that online balloting will offer the ASTM membership. The introduction of online balloting will allow a member to access only the information on a ballot that is of interest and reduce unnecessary printing and postage costs. During the ballot period, the members will be able to access the information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This will be a significant benefit to our international members who will no longer be at the mercy of the mail system. It is critical that ASTM is notified of any changes to email addresses as soon as possible. This may be done by going to the ‘members only” ROSTERS area of your committee web (accessed via www.astm.org) where you may correct your membership information on line. Alternatively, send corrections along with your member number to service@astm.org or phone ASTM Customer Service at (610) 832- 9585 or fax at (610) 832-9555. We very interested in receiving your feedback on the online balloting process so that we can improve the system and service to the membership. Please send your comments to Bode Hennegan by email at Bhennega@astm.org or by fax at 610 834-3675. Thank you again for your participation in this program.

SCOPE OF CONFERENCE - The following general topics are within the scope of the conference - Construction and operation of impoundments, Material properties, Static and dynamic stability, Geosynthetics, Heap leach pad design, Liner design and installation, Case histories, Cover systems. PREPARATION OF ABSTRACTS/PAPERS - Short abstract one page or less, double spaced. The deadline for submission is Friday, June 15, 2001. Final papers should not exceed 10 single-spaced pages. Deadline for submission of final papers is Friday, September 14, 2001. The conference will be held January 27-30 2002, in Fort Collins, Colorado on the Colorado State University campus. Send abstracts or inquires to: Linda Hinshaw: Department of Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1372. Telephone 970-491-6081, Fax 970-491-3584. Lhinshaw@engr.colostate.edu Information is also available on the web site: www.tailings.org

The UK Environment Agency is having to deal with lining the pits in which dead animals are disposed during the foot-and-mouth epidemic. Natural clay is used where available. Alternatively, GCLs or prefabricated PP liners are used. HDPE is not being used because there simply are not enough field welding crews to tackle the problem. The UK Environment Agency will be introducing several landfill liner technical guidance documents followed by a seminar at Manchester University on 28 March 2001. Speakers at the seminar are Bernard Myles (Geomembrane and Geotextile Standards), Ian Peggs (Geomembrane Performance, CQA, Liner Testing), David Hall (Liner Modelling), and Russell Jones/Neil Dixon (Slope Stability). For further information contact Rob Marshall at .

A technical training session dealing with the subject of Natural and Artificial Weathering will be held on Wednesday 27 June 2001 in Norfolk, VA from 10:00am to 12:00pm. An abstract of the session appears below: INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF WEATHERING Matthew McGreer General Manager, Client Education Frederick P. Schall Standards Program Manager Atlas Electric Devices Company There are three main factors of weather that contribute to the degradation of exposed materials: radiant energy from the sun, temperature, and moisture. These forces work synergistically to cause physical and chemical changes. Understanding these factors are critical when evaluating exposed materials, developing an exposure test program, or choosing an accelerated method of testing. This presentation will feature specific features of various natural and accelerated weathering test methods, discuss what factors of weather are most accentuated by these methods, and provide a guide to determine appropriate exposures based on the end-use application of a material.

First Name: Kim Last Name: Lindholm Company Name: Brillas Ltd. Finland Title: Civil Engineer Title 2: Purchasing E-Mail: kim@lindholm.net Address: Nuottakuninkaantie 6 B 8 City: Espoo Country Name: Finland State Name: N/A Zip Code: 02230 Phone: +358-40-5682984 FAX: - Preferred Contact Method: E-Mail Urgency of Requested Info: Immediate Product Description: Not Specified Product Category: Not Specified International Phone: - Request specifics: Request for proposal for a solid waste-to-energy / recycling plant in South America on a BOT basis. Acting on behalf of a Venezuelan local authority, we are seeking proposals from parties who would be interested in participating in a bidding to build and operate a solid waste-to-energy / recycling plant on a BOT basis. Technology: Open Capacity: 2.000 tons / day Deadline to express interest in participating in the bidding: March 20th, 2000 The project will be carried out on a BOT (Build, operate and transfer) basis and successful bidder will be given a concession for 30 years at a time. The bidder is free to propose treatment technology. After deadline, interested and qualified parties will be invited to bid for the project, and are hence expected to send a brief description of the company, technology, references and a letter of interest by March 20th. The proposal, that the interested parties are expected to make at this moment will be decisive in the choice of invitees. After receiving your letter of interest we will present your company for the authorities and you will be sent an invitation along with detailed information to participate in the bidding. Because of our good contacts and relations to the local authorities and decision-makers, we can have a favorable influence on the outcome of the bidding. However, we now kindly ask you to act as fast as possible, preferably in time before March 20th, to secure the entrance in the bidding process. Don't hesitate to ask for more information. E-mail inquiries, please write to Kim@Lindholm.Net Phone inquiries, call Bengt Lindholm at +358-40-5682984

Write to your Members of Congress from ASCE's Internet Advocacy Site. Simply log on to the web site http://www.asce.org/advocacy.html and instantly let your Members of Congress know where you stand on issues that affect the civil engineering profession. ASCE's new online legislative advocacy tool allows you to write to your Members of Congress directly from the World Wide Web. The web site provides information about issues pending in Congress. With the Internet Advocacy Site, you may choose to write your own free form letter, select our speaking points to help outline your letter, or choose from a sample letter template that you may edit to match your own style. In a few easy steps, your letter will be on its-way to your Member of Congress. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contract ASCE's Government Relations Department at (202) 789-220 or govwash@asce.org

ATT is an independent soil mechanics, rock mechanics and geosynthetics-testing laboratory; we are not consulting engineers. Based on our experience in the geosynthetics industry, we have elected not to pursue the GAI-LAP accreditation, as currently offered by GRI. The reasons for this business decision are as follows. Many purchasers of laboratory testing services do not clearly understand what assurances come from GAI-LAP accreditation. In particular, they do not realize that accreditations are specific to individual test protocols and cannot be generalized to other geosynthetics tests. Thus, buyers may think they are specifying a level of assurance beyond that actually provided. In this sense, GAI-LAP deviates from, for example, the explicit personnel qualifications inherent in NICET certifications. In other words, it is possible that the only technician familiar with a certain test protocol may leave the laboratory, yet the facility retains accreditation for that test. Due to the QA requirements of many of our clients, often tens of thousands of dollars are expended in the process of QA audits, even for short-term projects. As a result of these client required audits (and given charges imposed under the GAI-LAP program, as compared to other certification programs), accreditations are not a cost-effective method for ATT to demonstrate the existence of codified procedures, appropriate training, quality assurance documentation, subcontracting procedures and the like. ATT's experience indicates that additional user education, a broader scope, and a costing schedule which recognizes the business realities of geosynthetics testing will be required to make GAILAP accreditation a meaningful business proposition for our laboratory. Contact: Chris Wienecke +1-303-232-8308 (vox), 1579(fax).

The Technical Director will monitor, coordinate, & augment existing and future Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) research, interface with industry to publish and disseminate high quality research results in industry publications. Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Stark 217-333-7394t-stark1@uluc.edu, interested persons should send a complete resume and the names and addresses of 3 references to: Professor David E. Daniel, Head, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 1114 Newmark Laborator, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, +1-217-333-3814

We would like to introduce ourselves as excavators, processors and exporters of Bentonite in various grades. As you may be already knowing Bentonite has varied application in different industries like iron and steel, water and oil drilling and palletization etc. It is a well known fact that Indian Bentonite is of the best quality in the world. We have large mines (232 Acres) at our disposal with rich deposits of Bentonite. With large capacity for production, monthly production in powder form 2,500 M.Ton and 20,000 M.Ton in lumps. With regards to the quality of the mineral our product passes through stringent quality tests to ensure its reliability. We shall be proud to cater your requirements of Bentonite and request you to kindly let us know your specification and monthly requirements, so as to enable us to send our samples as per your specification for your laboratory analysis. We assure you of our best services and competitive prices. In case of any query, please feel free to get in touch with us either through phone, fax or E-mail. Bentonite properties and applications Bentonite possesses thixotropic properties and deposits a thin water proofing film on the walls of the bore holes & thus renders permeable formations impermeable. Both natural & synthetic Bentonite are used in preparation of drilling mud. It is mainly used as circulation mud in rotary system of drilling for oil. The main use of Bentonite is to lubricate & cool the rotary cutting bits, carry away rock cutting fragments and to act as a seal against the escape of gas from the bore hole and to improve and prevent the hole from blowing out. Another function of such Bentonite based fluids is to condition the wall of the drill hole to prevent caving. The Bentonite mined at our mines is sodium based and of high swelling variety and of good viscosity. The Bentonite processed by us satisfies all physio-chemical parameters. Following are the two major grades of Bentonite: O.C.M.A. GRADE (OIL COMPANIES MATERIAL ASSOCIATION) A.P.I. GRADE (AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE) Other grades of Bentonire which we produce for different industries and use are: RAW Bentonite Bentonite Gel A.P.I. Lumps and Powder Bentonite Palletizing Grade Lumps and Powder O.C.M.A. Lumps and Powder Bentonite Foundry Grade Lumps and Powder UMA Brownish Colour Bentonite Casting Grade Bentonite Civil Engineering Bentonite Cat Litter Bentonite USP grade Natural Sodium Bentonite Granules and Powder Bentonite RST Chips High Yield Bentonite If your requirements vary from the grades listed above that also we can supply as per your specifications. We export Bentonite to various countries with third party inspection. The inspection is generally done by reputed organization like S.G.S. India Ltd. We would request you to get in touch with us for additional product information. Visit us at : http://www.IMCnet.org/home/Bentonite or http://business.vsnl.com/uma

URBANA, ILLINOIS --  The PVC Geomembrane Institute – Technology Program (PGI-TP) at the University of Illinois is offering a PVC Geomembrane Technical CD-ROM for distribution.  This CD contains a wealth of PVC geomembrane information to include past PGI Technical Bulletins, Quality Control Manual, Fabrication and Installation Document, 1197 Specification for PVC Geomembranes, and technical papers written by industry professionals. To receive your complimentary CD, please contact the PGI-TP at  (217) 333-3929 voice, (217) 244-2839 fax, or e-mail pgi-tp@uiuc.edu. This CD can also be downloaded from the PGI website at http://pgi-tp.ce.uiuc.edu using Adobe Acrobat Reader. The PGI-TP is dedicated to conducting research and educating engineers and specifies about the properties and uses of PVC geomembranes.  The PGI-TP conducts ongoing research in order to further the knowledge base of PVC geomembranes.