www.intnews.com. International Newsletters publishes newsletters, magazines and reports (included are Technical Textiles .Net and Performance Materials) and organises conferences and other events in the fields of advanced, high-performance and industrial materials. Learn more here.;

Citing the lack of funding for dam maintenance and rehabilitation, the increase in the number of high-hazard-potential dams, and inadequately funded and staffed state dam safety programs, the American Society of Civil Engineers has given a grade of ‘D’ to the nation’s dams. The Association of State Dam Safety Officials endorses the grade for dams, one of three infrastructure categories showing no improvement since the 2001 ASCE Report Card. While dams provide many benefits, they are inherently hazardous structures that deteriorate with age. ASDSO President Meg Galloway comments, “The aging of our nation’s dams calls for increasingly stringent attention to their safety. Deteriorating dams pose a threat not only to human life, but also to communities who rely on them for various needs, such as domestic water supply, hydroelectricity, irrigation, recreation, and more.” Despite the risks posed by dam failures, many state dam safety programs are inadequately funded and staffed, and one state—Alabama—has no dam safety program whatsoever. Dam safety programs are relatively low-cost, high-benefit programs. The costs of a single dam failure can easily exceed the annual budget for a state dam safety program. Referring to a 2003 dam failure in Michigan that caused an estimated $100 million in damages, Galloway notes, “Dam failures may be relatively rare, but the Silver Lake dam failure demonstrates the economic devastation that can result.” Specific recommendations supported by ASCE and ASDSO include the establishment of comprehensive and fully funded dam safety programs in all 50 states, a funding program in each state to assist with loans and matching grants for dam repair and rehabilitation, and reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program Act in 2006. Galloway supports these recommendations and comments, “Hopefully, the ASCE Report Card will serve as a wake-up call to state and federal lawmakers and the public that we cannot continue to ignore this important piece of our nation's infrastructure.” The ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure can be seen at thew link below. Learn more here.;

IECA welcomes new Board Members Tom Williams (founding member of the Mountain States Chapter), Julie Etra (served two terms as the Western Chapter President), and Michael Chase (Professional Development Committee chairperson).

Offered by Terrafix on 1 March 2005, 355 people attended the GE05 Geosynthetics Symposium at the Pearson Convention Centre where topics discussed were Landfill Design, Transportation, GeoPipes, Foundation Systems, and Hydraulic Engineering.

Maro Patent Alerts compiled by Roger D. Corneliussen. Maro reviews the US Patents published weekly and copies the patent numbers and titles to Alerts messages.

Hanes Companies, Inc., a subsidiary of Fortune 500 manufacturer Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, has acquired WEBTEC, Inc. Established in 1981, WEBTEC is a marketer of geosynthetics. WEBTEC products include TerraTex geotextiles, TerraGrid geogrids, TerraCell geocells, TerraDrain composites, TerraGuard erosion and sediment control products, and related materials. WEBTEC, located in Charlotte, NC will be operated as a stand-alone business. All WEBTEC management has been retained. Hanes Companies is headquartered in Winston Salem, NC. Hanes is a converter and distributor of woven and non-woven textile products for industrial and technical markets.

Low & Bonar announces the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of LCM Construction Products Ltd (trading as Adfil) for a consideration of up to £12.8 million in cash. Adfil is a specialist polypropylene fibre manufacturer whose principal activity is the production and supply of fibres for use as an additive to concrete in order to provide strength and enhanced resistance to surface cracking. Major projects where Adfil's products have been used include the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. In the year to 31 December 2003, Adfil reported sales of £9.6 million, profit before interest, tax and goodwill amortisation of £1.7 million and as at that date had net assets of £1.4 million. Profit before tax was £1.0 million. The acquisition will complement Low & Bonar's existing speciality fibres activities and is expected to make a positive contribution to earnings from the first year. The sellers of Adfil are private equity house Lloyds TSB Development Capital (LDC) and the existing management team. The management team will remain with the business.

Subscriptions are much cheaper if you subscribe through the GFR web site. A web subscription comes with a print subscription, so readers still get the paper copy, and access to six years of archives as well. Subscribers outside the United States currently pay between $65-100 per subscription, however, subscribing through the secure Web site costs only $49. Learn more here.;

From Anastassios Kollios of Edafomichaniki in Greece come five case histories (in Greek and English).

As predicted, SI Geosolutions has received additional polypropylene resin price increases in January and February 2005. These raw material increases are due to continued instability in the global energy markets, increased resin and transportation costs, tight inventories and a strong export market. As a result, SI Geosolutions will implement a 12% price increase effective April 4, 2005 on all products. The price for polypropylene resin, the raw material used to produce SI’s Geotex® geotextiles, has increased by 143% over the past 36 months. According to Deron Austin, P.E., SI’s Director of Marketing, “There are four key factors impacting the continued escalation of polypropylene resin: (1) crude oil prices are close to $50 a barrel; (2) the demand in the US has increased 6.7% and exports are up 20.6%; (3) historically, there has been other, more profitable end-uses for propylene – the feedstock used to produce polypropylene resin; and (4) resin producers are currently operating at over 97% capacity.” All open orders with SI Geosolutions must ship in full on or before April 4, 2005 for pricing to remain valid. Any project quotation requested for expected delivery after April 4, 2005 will be quoted at the new price levels. “While we appreciate that increased costs present a challenge, we are very excited for 2005. The construction economy is strong and the demand for our products increases every day,” stated Hugh McClain, Vice President/General Manager of the company’s construction materials businesses.