"We are very pleased to inform you that now you can make a registration to the coming 8th International Conference on Geosynthetics, Yokohama 2006. We expect your active participation into the 8ICG. We all look forward to seeing you soon in Yokohama. Yours sincerely, Tatsuoka, F., Chairman, Organising Committee." Learn more here.;

The Rice Creek Watershed District (Minnesota) is launching a volunteer inspector program this spring and to help identify construction sites with sediment and erosion-control problems. Volunteer inspectors will be trained at a short workshop and then will notify the district inspector when they see erosion-control problems at construction sites. For more information, contact Kelsey Hallcock at +1 763 398 3074 or khallcock@ricecreek. org or visit www.ricecreek.org to learn more. Learn more here.;

The Wachusett Regional School District (MA) and its construction contractor have been slapped with a $75,000 fine for poor erosion control during the school's renovation. Sediment runoff has clouded a nearby stream on numerous occasions. Erosion began during a heavy October storm and continued in the following as site practices were apparently not revised. Learn more here.;

The January/February issue of Soil Erosion & Hydroseeding asks readers to "Know Your BMP" (see article at the "continued" link below. geosynthetica.net's underwriters offer many BMP-approved erosion and sediment control solutions. See them on the Products and Services page, https://www.geosynthetica.net/ProductsServices.asp. Learn more here.;

The US Environmental Protection Agency has decided that soils at the former Escambia Treating Co., Escambia County, Florida, are too toxic and would be too costly to clean. Instead of full remediation of the site, the EPA is capping the site with geomembrane, clay and clean soil; and nearby residents are being relocated. The site served as a wood-preserving mill for 40 years (1942 - 1982). Learn more here.;

Newszap.com, an independent news collective, reports that the Arrowhead Lakes Homeowners Association, Arizona, reminds its residents that proper dock and retaining wall maintenance translates to a healthy lake liner--and it prevents potentially huge repair costs if the lake's lining is damaged due to general homeowner negligence. Like many new developments, man-made lakes are central to the community's higher property value and higher quality of life. Neglected lakeshore walls and docks could lead to a cracking of the concrete cover over the liner in the critical zone where it contacts the shore. This is the sort of awareness that the Geosynthetics Risk Management and Loss Control Program is promoting throughout the insurance and construction industries. To read the article on the HOA discussions, please go to the "continued" link below. For more information on the Geosynthetics Risk Management Program, go to https://www.geosynthetica.net/news/GRMLCPExecSum.pdf for the Executive Summary, or call geosynthetica.net at 561 655 2060 to request a copy of the Geosynthetics Risk Management and Loss Control Program White Paper. Learn more here.;

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) offers a CQA Inspector Certification Program. Information about the program is available in January 2006 GSI White Paper #8, and materials relevant to the examination are available on GSI's Web site (see link below). New examination dates have been announced. Learn more here.;

StormwaterAuthority.org, a leading portal of stormwater information and news, announced the launch of a new site with additional services including a syndicated news feed… Learn more here.;

Ian Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL shows several cases of whales in geomembrane liners.

The Erosion Control Technology Council's (ECTC) latest newsletter features the group's new Web site, which was designed by geosynthetica.net, and a synopsis of an ECTC paper being presented at EC06 written by Mark Myrowich and North American Green's Tim Lancaster. Learn more here.;