The ASTM Committee Week scheduled February 5-10, 2006 has been relocated from New Orleans to Phoenix over the same dates. This meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix (downtown) and the ASTM group rate will be $129 single or double. The complete meeting notice will be available approximately 12 weeks prior to the meeting dates. We are deeply saddened over the loss of life and the great city of New Orleans due to hurricane Katrina. The Hyatt Regency New Orleans will not be able to accept groups at the very least through March 31, 2006 and quite possibly until 2007. Thank you for understanding the necessity of moving this meeting.

D35 Chairman, Sam Allen, is asking for support and participation in the ISO TC 221 meeting on geosynthetics at ASTM headquarters.

Due to the destruction from hurricane Katrina it is necessary to relocate our 2006 January-February Committee Week in New Orleans. We are actively researching alternate locations and already have some possibilities. As soon as we determine and confirm the new location, the information will be posted on our website (see link below) and a notice sent to the committee members. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to everyone affected by this devastating loss. Thank you for your understanding and patience, and rest assured we are committed to obtain a place to hold our meeting. - Betty Schultz, Director of Meetings Learn more here.;

The topic is as follows: “Combating Terrorism Using Geosynthetics.” In this regard, we will pursue the following steps. 1. Have a worldwide call-for-titles/abstracts which is the purpose of this announcement. 2. Hold a workshop at GSI in Philadelphia this winter (sometime in February, 2006). The length will depend on the number of topics presented. 3. The workshop will provide input by all in attendance to each of the authors for them to further develop their respective topics. 4. Assemble a program for our subsequent GRI-20 Conference to be held January 16–19, 2007, Washington Hilton and Towers, Washington, D.C. The call-for-titles/abstracts is open for nonmembers and members of GSI, and indeed for people who have only a casual familiarity of geosynthetics, as well as experts in all areas of geosynthetics. Importantly, the intellectual property rights of all authors will remain with them for their further development beyond the workshop and conference. Please send your ideas (in no particular format) as soon as possible to us via Marilyn Ashley at the link below and we will keep you informed periodically of our progress in this regard. Thank you in advance. - Bob Koerner, George Koerner and Grace Hsuan Learn more here.;

J. Roberto Montalvo has left Propex to join with Strata Systems. His new contact information will be forthcoming soon. gsa wishes Roberto good fortune in his new position.

Geosynthetic manufacturers, installers, distributors and designers can lend a great deal of immediate and long-range relief support for the states suffering from Hurricane Katrina. Potable water storage and transport tanks, geotextile tubes for flood defense during pumping operations, and geosynthetic reinforcement for temporary structural support of roads and buildings are just a few suggestions…

A MESSAGE FROM ASDSO: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the courageous volunteers who are involved in search and rescue missions this week. We have received many calls about the status of Dam Safety 2005. The meeting managers at the Sheraton New Orleans have told us that damage to the hotel is initially reported as moderate. However, a final assessment cannot be made for several days. ASDSO is developing contingency plans in case the conference must be cancelled or postponed. Our first priority will be to find an alternate location that will accommodate us on the same dates (Sept. 25- 29). AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE EMAILED to all ASDSO conference participants as soon as possible, and daily updates will be posted on the ASDSO website, www.damsafety.org. We expect to make a final decision by next Tuesday, Sept. 6. Please continue to send in registration forms. If you have not yet made airline reservations, we suggest waiting a few days. If you have made airline reservations, please contact your airline for information on how to change your destination or travel dates. Thank you for your patience, and we hope to see you at Dam Safety 2005." Learn more here.;

IECA is inviting partner organizations for their annual conference in Long Beach, CA., February 20-24, 2006. Show EC06 conference attendees the link between erosion control and your organization’s mission or cause.

GenFlex/Omnova Solutions, has a patent pending method for manufacturing unsupported 25-foot wide PVC geomembrane. This product is produced in roll form and deployed similarly to wide-width HDPE materials. The roll length can be up to 1000 feet and is coated on one side with a release liner. The seam edge of this release liner is pre-cut 8-10” in from the PVC membrane’s edge so that it can be removed just prior to seaming.

CETCO, manufacturer of environmental products, announces the creation of CETCO Construction Services Company. This new organization will provide installation services of various civil engineering and construction waterproofing products. The group will be headquartered in the Philadelphia, Pa. area and will focus on business development opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic States. Further, in an effort to offer a wider range of products, CETCO Construction Services Company has acquired Intergeo Services, a Huntingdon Valley, Pa. company. This company provides established expertise in the areas of geosynthetic installation, leak location surveys, soil reinforcement, erosion control, and stormwater management solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Ryan McKendrick, CETCO president stated, “Strategic growth plans for the company include the promotion of innovative new products. We feel that by providing expertise in the use of these products we can increase their acceptance in the market”. Archie Filshill will join CETCO Construction Services Company as general manager. Filshill brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and expertise with over 16 years experience in the geosynthetics industry. CETCO is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMCOL International Corp. which supplies environmental products and technical expertise to a wide range of highly specialized markets, including wastewater treatment, lining technologies, drilling products and building materials that serve as waterproofing agents.