The first meeting of the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) took place on February 26, 2009 during the Geosynthetics 2009 conference in Salt Lake City, UT. There was a larger than expected turn out of interested members and potential members. Three new Manufacturer Level members joined upon the conclusion of the meeting. The Board of the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute was expanded. The following volunteers will serve as the new board:
- President – Stuart Lange, Lange Containment
- Vice President – John Heap, CLI-Clearwater
- Treasurer – Ken Metzger, Intertape/ECP, Treasurer
- Director – Dave McLaury, DEMTECH
- Director – Sam Allen, TRI / Environmental
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute is an outgrowth of the PVC Geomembrane Institute (PGI’s). The membership of the PGI votes to expand the type of geomembranes covered by the research and education of the Institute. The most important work of PGI has been incorporated into ASTM Committee D35 on geosynthetic activity.
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. Overall, the FGI will serve as an information clearinghouse for fabricated geomembranes. The FGI and its member companies will research and develop opportunities for fabricated geomembranes in many areas, including floating pond/reservoir covers, landfills, golf course water features, industrial waste ponds, canals, mining, and waste water and water containment.
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute will be housed at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign. The engineering school at the University of Illinois is well-equipped to conduct the research that FGI wants to accomplish. Dr. 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. Dr. Stark will lead the research for the FGI.
For more information about the FGI, please contact Meg Griffin at +1 217 333 3929 or geomembrane@illinois.edu.
ADDITIONAL CONTACT
Additional information on FGI is available from Laurie Honnigford, FGI’s Representative: +1 651 554 1895, laurie@honnigford.com
