Transportation

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 Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA) is planning its 2010 Annual Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Conference and Trade Show. The event will be held 11-12 March 2010 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Organizers seek presentations of two types: local projects completed for stormwater management or erosion and sediment control; new innovative products for stormwater management or erosion and sediment control. Abstracts and titles are due by 31 July 2009 to meca@mnerosion.org.

Arab Construction World, which covers multiple construction markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, now offers its issues in PDF. Visit the magazine's website--www.acwmag.com--to register for free. A PDF link is included below (but free registration may be required). 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.

ADS also announced that it has reached agreement to acquire the assets of Century Plastics, Inc. of Hayfield, Minnesota. Century manufactures corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pipe used mainly for agricultural drainage systems.

ADS has announced plans to open two new manufacturing facilities in Canada, one in Ontario and one in Quebec. "We are making this significant investment in these two plants to capitalize on the growth opportunities we see in Canada," stated Mr. Chlapaty. "We realize that to be considered a major player in the drainage pipe business, we need to be producing our pipe locally, and these two plants are proof that we are serious about being a Canadian producer of HDPE pipe.

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.

The Dallas City Council has approved $29 million for a levee damage study and transportation improvements. The levees have been treated with erosion control measures, but significant improvements are thought to be needed, including reinforcement and internal seepage control. Learn more here.;

In Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada, a biocell facility has been granted approval to proceed with construction after a three-year permit battle. The asphalt-topped site will treat fuel-contaminated soils and will have a geomembrane for containment. Learn more here.;

Textile World reports that Summerville, South Carolina-based Thrace-Linq Inc. has commissioned a state-of-the-art needlepunched nonwoven manufacturing line from NSC Nonwoven. Greece-based Thrace Plastics Co. S.A. manufactures woven and nonwoven geotextiles. The company acquired Linq in mid-2007 to form Thrace-Linq. Learn more here.;

The Associated Press reports that another round of billions from the federal stimulus package in the United States will be released to the states over the summer. Among the many projects targeted, approximately 200 projects in rural waste and water systems will be performed by the US Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will expedite cleanup at 20 Superfund sites. US Vice President Joe Biden has added to the discussion that the stimulus work in the coming months will add roughly 600,000 jobs. A significant portion of those jobs will be part of the 1500 road projects aided by the next round of stimulus. Learn more here.;

As of 1 June 2009, Axter Coletanche, makers of bituminous geomembranes, has discontinued its main distributor relationship in Quebec and is heading up its own distribution of the Coletanche bituminous liner in Canada. Bertrand Bruel is leading this effort from his office in Montreal. He reports hightened interest in the use of bituminous geomembranes in global dam construction after the company's recent visit to the ICOLD conference in Brazil. Learn more here.;

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 Industrial Fabrics Association International's (IFAI) annual International Achievement Awards (IAA) competition is accepting submissions through 15 June 2009. Among the 28 entry categories, you'll find "Geosynthetics." One change to this year's competition is an entry fee, but it is a nominal fee. We encourage you to look into this event and share your projects and experience with the larger industry. Need help with preparing your submission or writing about your project? Contact the writers and editors at geosynthetica.net. Download the competition PDF. Learn more here.;

The Quality Data Oversight and Review (QDOR) program is accepting rolled erosion control products for review during the August 2009 meeting of the Erosion Control Technology Council. All products received by 3 July 2009 will be eligible for review. Anything submitted after that would be reviewed during the December 2009 meetings. Read more in the release.