Containment

One of the primary functions of a geotextile is protection, such as for a geomembrane. The strength of the fabric has brought it to another realm for protection, though: demolition. Geotextiles are wrapped around key blast points at demolition sites to contain the outward throw of debris, as demonstrated by a project in Oregon. Learn more here.;

The Business Standard, an English-language publication in India, reports that water management is set to become a boom field. With the country's industrial and municipal infrastructures expanding quickly, modernization is inevitable and necessary. Canal, reservoir and industrial containment linings are just some of the products in need. Learn more here.;

The number of permits issued for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) lags the number of approved operations, sometimes by a considerable margin. For example, in Wisconsin, a single CAFO permit covers 55 sites controlled by a corporation that specializes in turkey production. Prior to 2002, the state had issued permits for each site. This change in permitting means that the reported number of permitted operations fails to give an accurate picture of how fast the CAFO market, with its more severe waste management and runoff control needs, has expanded. CAFOs are large operations for beef, poultry, dairy, and pork production, generally raising more than 1000 animals on a single site. In California, some dairies have more than 3000 cows, and the amount of exposed waste has led to the dairy-rich San Joaquin Valley posting air-quality ratings as poor as Los Angeles' and Houston's. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state regulatory agencies are particularly concerned with waste management and runoff control on barn-confined and open lot operations. (Pasture-grazing operations do not present the same immediate threats.) Still, CAFOs are the trend, even for former small farms as they struggle to compete. Needs in the industry: Better waste lagoon design, waste liners, lagoon containment covers (tied to methane harvesting systems) and runoff control methods affiliated with NPDES. Many CAFOs must file for National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System (NPDES) permits.

Published by Thomas Telford, the latest issue of Geosynthetics International (volume 12 issue 6) contains six technical papers.

The Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN) just aired its 50th episode at its Web site, www.escn.tv. The episode also marks the online venture’s one-year anniversary. Learn more here.;

Ian Peggs has written a tech note about the consistency and specification of textured geomembrane, a concern expressed at the recent GRI-19 conference by both a geomembrane manufacturer (Boyd Ramsey, GSE) and a CQA firm (Mark Sieracke, STS) - the general consensus being that asperity height is not sufficient to assure adequate interface shear properties.

CIWM now has an online trade directory. Is your business recycling waste or resource management? CIWM's Green Pages online trade directory can boost your business by putting you in touch with like-minded companies. Registration is free, or you can participate at three varying levels of payment. Learn more here.;

Read NAUE News Issue 24 - June 2005 at the "continued" link below. Features include: 4th German Geosynthetics Colloquium review, national and international projects, articles: Long-term Service Lifetime of Bentofix® GCLs, and Secugrid® Reinforced Soils, as well as a schedule of shows and conferences.

The first Pan American geosynthetics conference and exhibition to be held in 2008 in Cancun, Mexico. As the first regional conference organized by IFAI and IGS, GeoAmericas 2008 will promote new applications for geosynthetics, provide a forum for geosynthetics engineering, and serve as the marketplace for the promotion of geosynthetic products in the Americas. The preliminary announcement can be found at the "continued" link below.

Environmental Forensics, an international journal, provides a forum for scientific investigations that address environmental contamination which is subject to law court, arbitration, public debate, or formal argumentation and is subject to the basic science that serves as underpinnings to those activities. Journal subject matter encompasses all aspects of contamination within the environmental media of air, water, soil and biota. Learn more here.;

Bob Koerner reports on the ASCE/PennDOT Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the ESD Waste Conference in Lansing, Michigan. He then visits Tenax in Baltimore regarding geonets, followed by a trip to lecture at Tensar, and a visit with SKAPS. GCLs, White Paper #5, and the currently reviewed GCL Specification are also touched upon.

Installment 4 includes Bob Koerner's travels to Solmax’s International Installers Meeting in Cancun, Mexico, the Annual Meeting of the Center for Geotechnical Practice at Virginia Tech University, and updates back at home.

Rob Swan (SGI) and Ian Peggs (I-CORP), both geosynthetica.net Underwriters, examining the exposed parts of a bend in a low geocell wall they came across in Fernandina Beach, FL. on New Year's Day.

The International Technical Textiles Industry 2005 Buyer's Guide is now available. Containing full addresses, fax and phone numbers of over 1500 companies worldwide, the guide also includes email addresses, and sales and production contact names. The guide categorizes the organizations, by country, according to their activities, including machine builders and equipment suppliers, fibre and yarn makers, woven and nonwoven manufacturers, finishers, and testing companies. Companies are also categorized according to the end use of their products: categories include geotextiles, medical textiles, packaging, safety and protection, sports and leisure. The Buyers Guide is available for GBP65 (EUR 98/US $110) and can be ordered online at . SPECIAL OFFER: alternatively, you can receive the Buyers Guide for just #1 if you subscribe today to Technical Textiles International, the only publication covering the technical and industrial uses of textile materials worldwide. Your subscription will include 8 printed issues of the magazine (including next year's Buyers Guide) and, from January 2005, free online access to the publication as well as to back issues. This offer expires on 31 December 2004, so reply as soon as possible to get this great bargain. (Existing subscribers please note the Buyers Guide was included in the October issue of the magazine). Download the International Newsletters Special Offer Order Form by clicking on the "continued" link below.

We would like to thank all of our viewers for your patience with gsa regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Frances. Power was restored to our offices on Wednesday, Sept 15, and we are very pleased to be able to update the site for you as of today. Feel free to contact us with items of interest - specifications (material, installation), employment opportunities, technical articles, products, projects, news, etc. for inclusion on geosynthetica.

Does the possibility exists for nanotechnology to enter the geosynthetics industry? CETCO thinks that geomembranes with significantly improved diffusion characteristics, higher strength geogrids, high-compression geonets, and even stronger plastic pipe products are possible with nanotechnology. They are wondering who agrees?

TRI and I-CORP (both gsa underwriters) have jointly formed the TRI-CORP Liner Integrity Center (T-CLIC) to perform research, development, education, and training in matters that contribute to the improved performance of geosynthetic containment systems.

Peter Novella, Manager - Waste Disposal at Cape Town Metro and President of the IWMSA, is leaving the Council after 33 years of service and is joining the Wasteman Group (http://www.wasteman.co.za/) on 1 March, as their regional manager for the Cape Province. Anyone who deals with Peter and/or wants to wish him well can contact him at his Metro office (+27 21 487 2716) or peter.novella@capetown.gov.za.

Bernard V. Jones, P.E., died in Denver on 24 December 2003. He was 69. Jones graduated from Regis College and worked for the Bureau of Reclamation from 1957 to 1991. He was involved in some of the early developmental studies on the underwater lining of irrigation canals. This effort eventually led to the successful installation on the Coachella Canal in California in the early 1990s. The Coachella project involved the underwater placement of a PVC geomembrane and protective concrete lining. Jones was associated with the studies on developing the Bureau's materials and construction specifications for buried PVC canal linings. These specifications served as industry standards for a number of years. He was also the principal investigator on the use of geomembranes in roofing applications. Jones worked closely with other government agencies and the private sector in these endeavors. In addition he was an expert on concrete joint sealant materials and water stops. He retired in 1991 as a supervisory materials engineer. He was a big supporter of the use of geosynthetic materials in hydrotechnical construction. - Bill Morrison, Materials Engineer (retired), Denver, Colorado.

Offering geosynthetic lining systems for solid and liquid containment, SLChile announces its new Web site with new and updated information including product features, technical information, brochures, and industry links. Please contact Mike Mathieson (mike@wasew.com) at WASEW Technologies, Inc. for further information. Learn more here.;

Shahzad Qureshi of Seagold Corporation needs some help locating ModAcrylic Yarn producers in the Far East, and would request that anyone with details concerning the fire retardant property of this fiber contact him at exports@seagoldlimited.com. Any help is highly appreciated.

7IGC 22-27 September 2002 in Nice was a fantastic success! Over 1,200 attendees, all booths sold out(and a few extras), elections, four unique educational tracks (300+ papers), dining, dancing, footballand so much more.

Gundle/SLT Environmental Completes Acquisition of Serrot International, Houston, Feb. 5/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ GSE today announced the closing of its acquisition of Serrot International, Inc. from Waste Management, Inc. Both GSE and SII are international providers of geomembrane liner systems used in landfills, mining, and industrial applications. In connection with the acquisition, GSE has entered into a 5-year contract to supply Waste Management with good and services

GMA Geomembrane Task Group held its third meeting, the following companies being represented - GSE, Cooley, Colas, Serrot, I-CORP. GMA is in contact with EPA to clarify the needs for geosynthetics in waste containment at animal farms (chicken/cattle/pigs). GMA will review geosynthetic user industry conferences (erg AWWA) at which they can exhibit and promote GMA members, thus reducing the costs for members. The water industry has been identified as the next major user of geomembranes. It is likely that large volume consumers such as the waste industry will now have to be replaced by many smaller volume applications. GMA will stay in contact with state regulators to identify potential shifts in regulations that may influence the geomembrane market. It was suggested that local regulators be invited to participate in the various GMA geomembrane group meetings. The influence of the trend to bioreactors on the geomembrane and other geosynthetics markets was discussed. A modified version of the market survey form was presented to better reflect the markets for the different geomembrane materials. Some attempt to evaluate future markets will be initiated. Such market information is available only to those who provide input.

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