Dam Repair
In Russelville, Alabama, a failing dam is lending greater fodder to the argument for lining dam facings. Exposed geosynthetic dam linings may deteriorate after a number of decades, but they can be replaced; whereas, exposed concrete dam facings, once deterioration begins, are primarily lost. Replacing dams is both highly impractical and significantly more expensive than simply replacing a protective liner every 40 or 50 years.
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Williston Deal
The Williston City Commission has agreed to install a pond liner on a municipal golf course holding pond that has been leaking onto airport property. The drainage issue has impaired the airport's ability to improve runway capacity--a $14 million expansion project the city has been determined to begin. The liner will halt the leakage...so long as they install it properly. Though time presses, one hopes proper CQA is allowed.
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IECA Call for Submissions
The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) invites proposals for technical programs to EC09, which will be held 9-13 February 2009. Suggested topics: slope stabilization; stormwater management; erosion and sediment control; beach and shore stabilization; and more. Specific topic suggestions are available on IECA's site. Proposals due 5 May 2008.
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Raven's Record Results
South Dakota-based Raven Industries reported record results in its latest fiscal statement. The agricultural market and Raven's Flow Controls division spurred growth, while future growth is protected by added capacity in the geosynthetics and engineered films side of the business.
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EU Joins M2M
The Methane To Markets Partnership (M2M) is welcoming its newest and perhaps most substantial member: the European Union. The 27-nation body will look to incorporate M2M's methane capture and reuse strategies in landfill and mining operations, animal waste lagoon management and other areas.
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China Takes a Pollution Census
The environmental challenges associated with China's breakneck infrastructure and industrial growth is well known. China Daily reports that Henan Province is launching a "pollution census." The investigation will include a 30,000-member task force. Henan is a major agricultural area. Animal waste management and pesticide runoff control are major sources for pollution in the province.
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$500 Million Available
The government of New Zealand wants to improve its nation's competitive chances against lower-cost agriculture industries around the world. A $500 million fund is being established to be jointly managed by the government and industry. Agriculture and aquaculture are major targets. Initial awards, including seed money, will favor reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One area they could begin with: lining, covering and harvesting methane from waste lagoons.
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Energy for Energy
The PG&E partnership with BioEnergy Solutions in California to harvest animal waste methane and convert it to residential power has gained the notice of newspapers and agencies around the world. A Malaysian newspaper has published an article on the project and included a photograph of a BioEnergy Solutions executive walking across the membrane cover atop one of the massive waste lagoons.
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China's PPP
Xinhua reports that China plans to invest roughly $1.3 billion to prevent pollution of the Three Gorges Dam region between now and 2010. The massive infrastructure proposal targets urban sewage management, waste management and industrial production pollution.
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Fixing NOLA with GCLs
Ever since Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans area has had to deal with considerable construction debris. In some parishes, this has meant lax observance of waste burial laws. Regulation and enforcement is catching up, though. In Layfayette Parish, a construction debris site-turned-landfill is installing a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) system on the cell floor to begin to bring the site up to code.
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CAFO Debate
Ohio's not just a political battleground. It's also the next battleground for the construction of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Sandusky County has issued its first CAFO permit, but standard waste containment regulations do not apply. Geosynthetic liners are not required. Karst geology is known in the area. And there are no methane-harvesting digesters. Ohio is following the agricultural trend, but without the strongest protections.
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Countrywide Proposes Cap
The on-going fire in the Countrywide Landfill in Stark County, Ohio has generated considerable news and debate. While many have charged the landfill liner is failing, no one has presented evidence. Countrywide is now fighting against firebreak proposals, citing the lack of evidence for the liner's deterioration. Instead of a firebreak, the company is proposing a capping system and standing by the highly engineered lining system.
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Yakima Finally Concluding
A two-decade-old cleanup project in Yakima, Washington is about to conclude. The former asphalt and concrete production area underwent significant soil removal and petroleum contamination remediation. A liner was installed and a relfection pond created. Now, a short pathway may be added to complete the site's recreational transformation.
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More Evidence
In yet another sign of the global explosion in aquaculture and mariculture interest, the Saipan Tribune reports on one Chinese company's plan for a 200% expansion in its shrimp farming over the next 75 days. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) estimates that the Asian market controls nearly 92% of world aquaculture production. Timely: the recent GRI-21 event in Cancun examined the growing role of geosynthetics in aquaculture.
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The Next New Thing?
Harvesting methane for energy from animal waste lagoons is not a startling new technology, but using it on a wide scale as a power source is. PG&E in California has now partnered with BioEnergy Solutions (which in turn partners with concentrated animal feeding operations [CAFOs]) to power residential homes with energy derived from massive, lined manure lagoons. As dairy sizes increase everywhere, power harvesting may be a realizable goal.
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Mexico's Mining Boom
Bloomberg.com reports that mining companies invested roughly $2.2 billion in Mexico during 2007. Mexico's Economy Minister, Eduardo Sojo, estimates that $20 billion will be spent over President Felipe Calderon's six-year term. The massive investment in silver, gold and other mineral mining endeavors will also require substantial investment in environmental protections.
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GeoWhisky?
It's said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But from the UK comes news that a by-product of beverage production--in this case, whisky--may help speed soil and water cleanup operations. The soon-to-be-commercialized product called DRAM may be a future complement to geosynthetics during contaminated site remediation and containment. The UK currently has roughly 330,000 contaminated sites.
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A Superfund Trifecta
In Bloomington, Indiana, a lawsuit has been filed to compel some lining and capping procedures at a PCB-contaminated site. The area has three Superfund sites with PCB problems, but as the sites are old, they do not have liners. One of them, Bennett's Dump, has already gone through soil cleanup; but it's now leaking into groundwater.
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March 5: GRI-21 Today
The 21st gathering of the Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) takes place today, 5 March 2008, in Cancun, Mexico. This marks the first time GRI has been held outside the United States. This year's "Hot Topics in Geosynthetics" session offers agriculture and aquaculture papers and debate. The proceedings will be available for purchase from the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) after the event.
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China's Illegal Mining Problem
China Daily reports that the government of China has closed approximately 46,000 illegal mining firms over the past two years for safety and pollution violations. The country has wrestled with, and granted considerable latitude towards, environmentally damaging practices. The State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and affiliated agencies have vowed to establish and enforce more stringent mining regulations.
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$24 Million for Aquaculture
The Canadian government and private industry in Newfoundland have agreed on a multi-year, $24 million spending increase on aquaculture projects. The principal goal is to improve salmon stocks. Just over $9 million of the funds will come from the government.
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Rhode Island's Future Rules?
A group of researchers has recommended that Rhode Island limit aquaculture operations to no more than 5% of any water body in the state. The group's recommendation, though, is not in tension with current water use. Only 110 acres of water are currently used for aquaculture, and that includes well less than 1% of most water bodies and just 1% of coastal salt ponds. There remains plenty of room for safe, smart growth.
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Vietnam's Aquaculture Expansion Plan
Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has forecasted that the country's aquaculture acreage will increase by 15,600 ha in 2008. Tra and basa catfish demand are the biggest drivers.
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Malaysian Production Increase
The New Straits Times reports that aquaculture production on Lake Kenyir, Malaysia is to increase from 200 metric tons per year to 2000 metric tons per year--and by year end 2008. The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) is pushing for the expansion, and it's being welcomed by industry. Terengganu Agrotech Development Corporation (TADC) expects fish cages to be the main method of increase. Geosynthetic cages are a new, growing method.
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Vietnam to Invest in Environment
A recent conference encouraged the government of Vietnam to invest considerably in more sustainable business practices and the environment. Representatives form 18 economic sectors, including civil engineering, aquaculture, transportation, and mining, estimated that 120 trillion VND (USD$5.3 billion) was needed for environmental protection. Greater regulation is also thought to be needed.
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