Transportation

Stormwater industry leaders Craig Beatty, John Moll, and David Mongeau have co-authored an introduction to the newly formed Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association (SWEMA). They write, "The stormwater sector needs to band together for a common cause. We need to support the regulatory and engineering communities, as well as the individual cities and states now grappling with how to implement Clean Water Act and other stormwater regulations." Read more in their message and about SWEMA here.

Meg Griffin of the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has authored a short review of the FGI's inaugural meeting, which was held at Geosynthetics 2009 in Salt Lake City (late February). FGI installed a board of directors. Meg writes, "The main objectives of the new FGI include conducting research on fabricated geomembranes, disseminating technical information, establishing and maintaining a world wide website, and answering technical questions regarding the design, testing, specification, and installation of fabricated geomembranes." Read more.

Alexandra Wynne, the features agenda writer/editor for the UK-based magazine New Civil Engineer, has written an article on the supermarket corporation Tesco's construction of a store over the Gerrards Cross railway tunnel. A partial collapse of the tunnel previously scrapped plans. This new attempt involves the use of geogrids and geotextiles to create an 8m-high reinforced-earth slope that has enabled the proper siting of the crane, which ultimately provides the access necessary for arch placement and the project's success. Learn more here.;

Applied Market Information (AMI) reminds all that the call for proposals for Waterproof Membranes 2009 close on 17 April 2009. The event will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany from 19-21 October 2009 and will be the third installment in this series. Contact the conference organizers for more information. Learn more here.;

A final look at the bienniel Geosynthetics conference, which convened in Salt Lake City, Utah 25-27 February 2009. Geosynthetics 2009 operated under the theme “Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering,” two subjects key to Western states like Utah. But those certainly weren't the only subjects discussed in the sessions, keynote lectures, and on the exhibit hall floor. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then you've some "reading" to do in our photo essay from Geosynthetics 2009.

Registration continues for September's GeoAfrica 2009! But the early-bird discount is available only through 31 March 2009, so be sure to register now. Fees increase ZAR 600 thereafter (USD $60). The conference is shaping up to be a grand one, with more than 100 papers over three days, a sold-out exhibit hall and plenty of networking opportunities. This is the first African regional conference on geosynthetics. GeoAfrica 2009 will take place 2-5 September 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced that Becky Gauthier has resigned from the IECA Board of Directors. The Board has appointed Lee Johnson, CPESC to serve the remainder of Gauthier’s term which ends in February 2012. Read more in the release.

The Associated Press has published an article on the state of Indiana's coal ash situation. Indiana has considerable coal deposits in the southern portion of the state, and 95% of the state's electricity is generated in coal-fired plants. The coal ash generated from these sites is deposited in 14 storage facilities. The EPA's new order gives plant operators 10 days to supply records of inspections and concerns with all coal ash ponds. The aging nature of Indian's facilities reinforces the notion that modernized ponds, with geosynthetic lining systems, are needed. Learn more here.;

Responding to last year’s massive coal ash spill at a Tennessee Valley Authority facility in Kingston, Tennessee, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today laid out new efforts to prevent future threats to human health and the environment. The agency’s plan includes measures to gather critical coal ash impoundment information from electrical utilities nationwide, conduct on-site assessments to determine structural integrity and vulnerabilities, order cleanup and repairs where needed, and develop new regulations for future safety. Read more in the release….

Geosynthetica is proud to announce two new media partnerships with conferences: CanBuild09 and Geosynthetics Middle East 2009. The Canadian Brownfield Urban and Industrial Land Development conference (CanBUILD) 2009 takes place in April in Toronto. SKZ's Geosynthetics Middle East 2009 is the 2nd installment in this international series and will take place in November in Dubai. Read more about these events and download the brochures and/or call for papers here.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is accepting abstracts for its annual conference through May 15. EC10 will be held in Dallas, Texas 14-17 February 2009. IECA organizes its work into 8 technology sections: slopes, stream restoration, vegetative establishment, stormwater management, wetlands, erosion and sediment control, beach and shoreline stabilization, and wind erosion. The "Hot Topics" for 2010 are LEED for new construction, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. Learn more here.;

A blog post from Monday afternoon (9 March 2009) at the West Virginia Gazette suggested that the chair of the United States House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee--Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV)--may be attempting to minimize new regulations on coal ash slurry reservoirs. Things may not be as they seem in this one, however. Politics has much to do with timing. Read more.

Tensar International's Blackburn, United Kingdom office is profiled in Lancashire Telegraph article on the economic downtown and businesses finding a way to succeed. Tensar's Tim Oliver is interviewed in the article. He cites the pound's weakness as increasing the UK office's competitiveness in Europe, the success of the new China facility, and the growing announcements of government spending on infrastructure around the world as positive forces for Tensar and the industry. Learn more here.;

Dr. Ian D. Peggs, P.E., P.Eng., has authored an introduction to ISO/TS 13434, "Geosynthetics: Guidelines for the Assessment of Durability." We publish here the sections on historical development, geotextiles, geosynthetic barriers and geogrids. For online readability, we've broken the sections into four pages, but all references have been repeated on each page for convenience of use. Links to the subsequent sections on geotextiles, geosynthetic barriers and geogrids can be found at the end of each part under "Related Sections." Begin here with the section on "Historical Development."

The French construction publication, BTP, has posted an article about the importance of geotextiles and geocomposites in roadway improvement, such as for the reduction of reflective cracking and subgrade improvement through reducing water incursion and the mixing of fines. In particular, the publication cites TenCate's products currently being used in the French market. Read the article today (in French only). Learn more here.;

SKZ announces the 2nd International Conference of Geosynthetics Middle East to be held in Dubai, UAE (10-11 November 2009). A call for papers has been issued with abstracts due by 30 March 2009. This year's topics include polymer developments; products (Geomembranes, Geotextiles, Geogrids, Geocomposites, Erosion control products, Geopipes); testing, quality assurance, certification; installation, welding; applications, projects, case studies; durability, lifetime. Dr. Helmut Zanzinger will chair the seminar. Download the call for papers here.

The massive economic stimulus package passed by the United States Congress and President Obama's administration has included consider funds for states to put into infrastructure. But are these funds getting out there? Some signs are cropping up. In Louisiana, for example, $16 million is heading to Rapides Parish for drainage and erosion control projects. The municipal requests exceed this money, but it is certain that the money will be used quickly, materials acquired, and construction implemented. Learn more here.;

Solmax International advocates a safe process, from the geomembrane’s fabrication to its installation. To ensure safe container unloading of its products, Solmax now presents its method on video. With this process, the company aims to improve the effectiveness of the operations of its clients; and to reveal some economical options versus truck delivery (particularly in the western United States). A copy of the video of the safe unloading process is available on Solmax's website. A DVD copy can be sent by mail to customers. Learn more here.;

While we await the open of Geosynthetics 2009 and to report all the news and innovations that are revealed from the gathering, we want to take a moment to remind our readers of a number of key opportunities coming up in the geosynthetics community. Of note, the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) is holding another GMA Lobby Day in Washington DC; T-CLIC returns with more training, short course, and certification events; and the Geosynthetic Institute is offering public and private-focused infrastructure courses.

The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) has re-designed its newsletter under the leadership of Scott Nelson of Geo-Synthetics Inc. The newsletter reflects the new direction ECTC has taken with this group. Within the past two years, ECTC has expanded the types of products it represents to include hydraulically applied erosion control products and sediment retention fiber rolls (also known as wattles). The latest initiative ECTC has implemented is the Quality Data Oversight Review (QDOR) program. More information about QDOR and the work being done by ECTC can be found in the newsletter, courtesy of ECTC managing director Laurie Honnigford.

At EC09--the 40th conference and expo of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA), which was held in Reno, Nevada, 9-13 February--the IECA Board of Directors installed two new officers and held elections to determine new positions. The IECA Board of Directors is made up of nine members, each serving a three year term. Read a short bio on the ten members from IECA's Katie Kiaha.

It's late Wednesday evening as I post this from Salt Lake City where IFAI's Geosynthetics 2009 conference opened. Day one proved to be full and engaging. A keynote lecture, technical sessions, a fiery polypropylene geomembranes panel discussion, short courses and a reception. The first of a series of reports from the event is posted here.

It’s Tuesday and attendees and exhibitors are arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah for the biennial Geosynthetics conference. Geosynthetics 2009, managed by the Roseville, Minnesota-based Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), is being held under the theme “Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering,” two subjects key to Western states like Utah. Geosynthetica is a cooperating organization for this year’s event. We’re proud to be part of this seminal gathering for North America’s geosynthetics practice. Reports from the conference will be published daily (Wednesday – Friday, February 25-27) and a wrap-up will be published next week.

Over at Mondaq, where articles with more of a legal perspective are posted, Karen Miller's "Canada: Legal Implications Of Green Building, Part I: The US Litigation And Claims Experience" has been published. Miller notes that few claims have been reported, but those that have are related to liability insurance policies on green projects and failures. (Note: Mondaq articles are free to view but require a registration.) Learn more here.;

In 2003, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) expressed concern over the structural security of its Kingston coal ash reservoir. But the company expressed even greater concern with the proposed redesign bills, including one that recommended up to $25 million of work (and which would have appropriated $5 million for a proper liner). The TVA chose a sub-$1 million plan. When the Kingston facility failed in December 2008, it released 5.4 million cubic yards of contaminating ash across 275 acres. The estimated cleanup cost is $525-$825 million. That's 21 times the highest redesign cost proposal from 2003 and 105 times the cost of the liner TVA balked at. One can reasonably expect liners to be mandated in the near future for these disposal and storage facilities. Learn more here.;