On August 22, CETCO will hold its next "GCL University" session in Southern California. This day-long geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) seminar will be held at the Costa Mesa Marriott and will focus on methodologies for the practical inclusion of GCLs in the design of landfill cells and caps, mining, coal combustion residual sites and other industrial applications. Expert speakers include Dr. Ed Kavazanjian, Rick Thiel, P.E., Chris Athanassopoulos, P.E., and Joanne Lee. Register online.

Strata is proud to be part of Glen Raven, a company that counts environmental stewardship among its six core values. Whether through recycling or reducing energy consumption, or modifying the materials utilized in its products, Glen Raven is committed to limiting its carbon footprint, and protecting the environment at every level. Three of Glen Raven's North American plants have been certified "landfill-free", recycling or reusing everything from polyester and nylon fibers to packaging and waste products. Even food scraps from the company cafeterias feed local farm animals and wildlife. By the end of 2012, all six of the company's North American plants will be landfill-free. Read more.

Tensar Corporation has announced the sale of its Tensar Polytechnologies Inc. (TPI) assets and business to Conwed Plastics, LLC for an undisclosed amount. TPI manufactures and distributes Light Weight Oriented Net (LWON), which is used in the manufacturing of erosion control blankets, carpet padding and numerous other industrial products. "This sale will enable Tensar to focus our U.S. production capacity on our more strategic and rapidly growing geogrid business," stated Don Meltzer, President and CEO of Tensar.

A proposed new ASTM International standard will provide guidance for the installation and use of factory fabricated geomembrane panels at job sites. ASTM WK38128, Guide for Identification, Packaging, Handling, Storage and Deployment of Fabricated Geomembrane Panels, is being developed by Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes, part of ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics. Factory fabricated geomembranes that require less on-site installation work are becoming more prominent, but contractors, owners and site engineers are not always familiar with them.

What are geosynthetics and why are they central to the creation of jobs and expansion of coastal restoration projects? A new Duke University study, "GEOSYNTHETICS: Coastal Management Applications in the Gulf of Mexico" details how the emerging geosynthetics industry can create jobs benefitting nearly 200 employee locations in 36 states, including more than 72 in the five gulf states and 24 in Louisiana. Duke has also created an online interactive map showing firm-level data and firm locations by state and value chain segment.

The Geosynthetic Institute is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2012–2013 academic year GSI Fellowship Awards. In order to be eligible, students must: focus on a geosynthetic topic; have passed his/her candidacy examination leading to a doctorial degree; and be recommended by his/her major advisor. The GSI Board of Directors made the selections from a number of proposals from universities around the world. Announcements for the sixth year of the program will appear this winter, as well as being announced on the institute's website at www.geosynthetic-institute.org. Read more.

ASTM International has announced the launch of two new peer-reviewed, online-only journals: Advances in Civil Engineering Materials (ACEM) and Materials Performance and Characterization (MPC). ACEM publishes high-quality articles on the properties and performance of materials such as concrete, asphalt, steel, polymers and polymeric composites, and wood for use in pavements, bridges and buildings, and other related applications. MPC seeks articles about both the theoretical and practical aspects of the structure, processing, properties and performance of materials used in mechanical, transportation, aerospace, energy systems and medical devices. Read more.

The Transportation Research Board has published Rockfall Characterization and Control, an 18-chapter book developed over five years by a TRB task force. Numerous field experts have contributed to this volume, which has been edited by A. Keith Turner and Robert L. Schuster. Primary sections of the book focus on hazard recognition, analysis and investigation, mitigation and maintenance. It's an important addition to profession. Download the brochure here

Writing for Grading and Excavation Contractor, Carol Brzozowski takes a look at how geosynthetics make paving operations more cost effective and roadways stronger. GSE's Boyd Ramsey, Tensar's Bryan Gee, NAUE's Tracy Tanner, and others share field knowledge on geogrids, geotextiles, and porous pavers in separation and reinforcement applications. Learn more here.;

GSE Environmental (NYSE:GSE), the leading global manufacturer and provider of geosynthetic lining products and services, is pleased to be featured on the popular World's Greatest!... television show on the ION Television Network. GSE's selection for the show was based upon the company's position as the global leader in providing environmental solutions to its customers after the show's production company, How 2 Media, conducted several interviews with key professionals in the industry.