Containment

A global push is on to certify aquaculture operations. The group that appears to be leading the drive is the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). By June 2011, an independent body co-founded by the WWF - the Aquaculture Stewardship Council - will be fully set up to do certifications, the organization reports. It's thought that by 2040-50, the aquaculture industry will have to increase production 50 per cent from current levels to meet demand. Learn more here.;

Engineers and contractors in California are scrambling to incorporate significant new changes to rules for managing stormwater runoff during and after construction amid above-average rainfall this season. The updates--which are the state's first real code adjustments in more than 10 years--include numerical targets for runoff content; monitoring and reporting on conditions and activities before, during and after rainstorms; and leaving erosion conditions after construction equivalent to those before. It is another example of how low impact development (LID) strategies are influencing practice throughout the United States. Learn more here.;

GeoAmericas 2012 marks the Second Pan-American Geosynthetics Conference and Exhibition. It will be held 1-4 May 2012 in Lima, Peru under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Organizers have announced that the Early-Bird Room Rates for the venue hotel (Westin Libertador Hotel) have been extended until 15 February 2012. Reserve your room today and get the best rate at this key Latin American infrastructure event. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is calling for submissions for Environmental Connection 2012 (EC12), annual conference and expo of IECA. Combining quality education with a world-class expo, EC12 is the premier gathering place for the erosion and sediment control community. EC12 will be returning to Las Vegas, NV, 26-29 February 2012. Read more.

The Allco Fish Hatchery is celebrating 30 years in Maple Ridge this month. The hatchery is run by B.C. Corrections through a supervised inmate work program. It raises both salmon and trout species for release into local streams. Read more. Learn more here.;

What started as a very occasional podcast has quickly turned into a regular series from Australia-based engineer Siamak Paulson (ADE Consulting Group Pty Ltd). Siamak’s Geosynthetics Podcast, which features...

Papers are invited for Current and Future Practices for the Testing of Multi-Component Geosynthetic Clay Liners - Third Symposium to be held Friday, 29 June 2012. Sponsored by ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics, the symposium will be held at the Sheraton San Diego in San Diego, California in conjunction with the June standards development meetings of Committee. Topics of the symposium include: Mechanical testing; Peel and Shear Behavior; Hydraulic Testing; Durability of multi-component; Field Performance; and Research Studies. Learn more and submit abstracts online.

Even among construction professionals, it's widely believed that building green adds 10% or more to the cost of new projects -- but analysts say such beliefs have little basis in reality. Experts say that although about two-thirds of construction-industry professionals believe there's a hefty green-building premium, studies suggest that in fact going green brings negligible costs or a premium of as low as 1% to 2% Learn more here.;

Anyone involved with the design and construction of green buildings can now use the first comprehensive standard contract document that addresses the many challenges associated with these complex projects. The new document, known as the ConsensusDOCSTM 310 Green Building Addendum, was developed by members of the ConsensusDOCS group to help advise the owner, set proper expectations, and avoid delays and other legal hassles in the construction of buildings seeking green certification or other sustainable goals. Read more.

At the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG), held in Brazil in late May, Gary Ng was recognized as the winner of the International Geosynthetics Society's (IGS) first-ever photo competition. His shot of the NENT Landfill Expansion (Hong Kong) is certainly an impressive representation of the scale on which geosynthetics are being used today. See his work and other images submitted to the competition on the IGS website. Learn more here.;

Textile World reports that Summerville, South Carolina-based Thrace-Linq Inc. has commissioned a state-of-the-art needlepunched nonwoven manufacturing line from NSC Nonwoven. Greece-based Thrace Plastics Co. S.A. manufactures woven and nonwoven geotextiles. The company acquired Linq in mid-2007 to form Thrace-Linq. Learn more here.;

American Excelsior has been producing all natural wood fibers often referred to as "Curlex Excelsior" since 1888 and the fibers are still in use today for applications in ceiling board construction, packaging, display, erosion and sediment control and even as a filter media for oil. Now, there may be a use in oil spills and clean-up. Since Curlex fibers have a unique ability to cling to one another due to the "barbs" on each curly strand, it helps the all natural biodegradable fibers create an interlocking effect that adds integrity to the finished product. Read more.

The International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) Environmental Connection 2012 (EC12) event will be at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, 26-29 February 2012. The conference organizers have just set up online exhibitor information and registration information and report that more than 50% of the exhibit space has already sold. Secure your spot today. Learn more here.;

The 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics (10 ICG) will be held 21-24 September 2014 in Berlin, Germany. This quadrennial conference from the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) will be hosted by the IGS Germany chapter and co-located with the German Geotechnical Society 2014 conference. Abstracts are invited through 15 May 2013. Learn more and upload your abstract via the online submission system.

The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and the Environment Agency have awarded a US$436 million contract for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the world’s largest strategic water project to a joint venture between Arabian Construction Co (ACC) and POSCO Engineering and Construction Co (POSCO). Learn more here.;

European Union (EU) officials are making a push to greatly improve the EU's countries' collective aquaculture industry. With more than half of the fish consumed in the world coming from aquaculture facilities, officials feel the EU has let its industry stagnate by not providing enough support despite significant technological advantages in production over many world regions. Better regulation, coastal development and investment is needed. Learn more here.;

The July 2010 issue of CE News has been released, and in addition to interesting articles on an engineer's perspective of design-build, an exclusive on the EPA's strengthening of NPDES, and an "Olympic-sized" upgrade to one community's wastewater system, the Progressive Engineering section features an article from Laurie Honnigford of the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC). Honnigford's article, "Opening the QDOR," outlines the Quality Data Oversight and Review (QDOR™) program from ECTC--a program which takes a scientific view on selecting the best erosion control materials.

The program for the Solid Waste Association of North America's (SWANA) 2012 Landfill Gas Symposium will include presentations and project case studies featuring new technology, emission controls, system design and operations and unconventional applications. The deadline for abstract submission has been extended to August 15. Learn more and submit an abstract online. Learn more here.;

The village of Sabina and the Ohio EPA have reached an agreement that’s meant to help the town meet its obligations under the Clean Water Act and eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) by the summer of 2013. Extensive sewer liner installations have been completed, a small fine will be paid, and various projects have been agreed upon. Since 2006, has used geotextile bags for sludge dewatering. This process has assisted the village significantly in reaching its goals. Learn more here.;

In Norriego Point, Florida, a proposal is gaining momentum to build a partial seawall with a T-head groin while repairing the two existing T-groins. Crews would later extend the stem of the T-head groin to the tip of the point with a sand-filled geotextile tube before constructing another T-head/terminal groin. A sheet pile wall would be constructed to protect the point. Lastly, sand would be piled on the point by a dredge and sea oats would be planted. Learn more here.;

The London Topic (Ontario, Canada) reports that PCB contaminated soil has been discovered outside the "vault" zones where reclamation work is on-going. The contaminated soils have been moved onto a polyethylene pad and covered with a PE membrane and geotextile fabric while officials meet and a public meeting is scheduled. Longer term storage and containment will be part of the site's soil cleanup. Learn more here.;

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — 28 March 2014 — ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has established a new award in honor of L. David Suits, executive director of the North American Geosynthetic Society,...

According to data collected by the International Energy Agency, bioenergy utilization has grown to be more than twice that of nuclear. Fossil fuels still account for 81% of world energy use, but bioenergy has grown substantially, particularly in developing regions of the world (Asia, Africa and Latin America).

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) South African Chapter, the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), has published its latest newsletter. This issue features a lead article from Jonathan Shamrock (Jones & Wagener) on the significant changes coming to the country's waste management facility design regulations. Geosynthetics will play a key role in new designs, but with increased use comes the potentially increased risk of interface failure planes and heightened communication needs in the project cycle. Also of note in the issue: Peter Davies provides a barrier systems information archive recommendation, shale gas extraction is addressed, the winner of the IGS/GIGSA student award is announced, Edoardo Zannoni takes a stab at specifications, and Belinda Mills & Brendon Jewaskiewitz (Envitech Solutions (Pty) Ltd) write on "Geosynthetic Lining System Design versus Practical Installation: Lessons Learned." Read these articles and more in GIGSA's newsletter (PDF).

The third Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) will serve as a forum for the presentation of applied and fundamental research, case studies, and policy analysis on waste and recyclables management. We invite the community of researchers, engineers, designers, academicians, students, facility owners and operators, regulators, and policymakers to participate. The GWMS will be held in a setting where all participants can share ideas and will include oral and poster presentations as well as social events to provide opportunities for technical interaction and discussion. Learn more and submit your abstract by November 4.