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The Portland City Council has approved a plan to request bids for the Grape Street reconstruction project. Construction may start as early as April. Paul Galdes of Fleis and VandenBrink Engineering has proposed putting in a geotextile separator between the poor material and the base material. Learn more here.;

London-based Fiberweb Plc -- a manufacturer of high-performance, specialty nonwovens -- is studying the feasibility of establishing a spunbond nonwovens joint venture (JV) company in China in partnership with Japan-based Chisso Corp, a manufacturer of chemical products for a wide range of end-use applications. Learn more here.;

New technology with big potential will be presented at World Bioenergy in Jönköping, Sweden on 25-27 May 2010. The new product is a container filled with technology which uses the heat from 55°C water to generate electricity. The unit is called the Opcon Powerbox and was developed by the Swedish firm of Opcon. Read more.

Conco Systems offers geomembrane liner leak detection services that are proving to be of major interest to public and private landfill facilities of all sizes. A pioneer in the use of tracer gases to perform leak testing since 1978, Conco utilizes helium or sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas to detect leaks in primary and secondary landfill cell liners. These liners are welded together to create an impermeable barrier designed to prevent leachate material from entering the soil below. Over time, tears, pinholes, seam leaks and original construction defects can allow leachate to flow through at up to several hundred gallons a day, especially during periods of heavy rain.

First introduced in 2009, Profile Products' Green Design Engineering™ creates cost-effective and environmentally superior solutions through the design, manufacture and application of sustainable erosion control and vegetation establishment technologies. Read more about what makes Profile's products utilizes a green approach in product creation and how that translates to greener solutions on site.

A slope that had a geogrid-wrapped earth retaining structure installed a couple years ago has failed, in part involving the previous reconstruction. A 30-foot-high wall of mud and debris traveled 3,000 feet down the mountain, damaging four homes and cutting off 37 from road access. Learn more here.;

Dr. R. Kerrey Rowe will lead a geosynthetic barrier systems workshop in Vancouver, Canada on May 11. "Designing and Constructing Lining Systems" is sponsored by Terrafix Geosynthetics and Arrow Construction. In addition to a review of current lining technologies and managing system challenges, Dr. Rowe will also include an update on extensive site research being done at Queen’s University on the long-term performance of geosynthetic liners. Download a PDF brochure. Learn more here.;

The RF Ministry of Regional Development has issued a permit to construct a complex for transshipment of liquefied petroleum gases and light oils in Ust-Luga Commercial Sea Port in Leningrad Oblast. The project is being executed by SIBUR-Portenergo LLC, a subsidiary company of SIBUR. By now, the enterprise has obtained all the required consents, has completed the design work stage and has begun the detailed design. The expected construction start time is the second quarter of 2010. The design capacity of the new complex is up to 1.5 mln tpa of liquefied petroleum gases and 2.5 mln tpa of light oils.

A major new Health & Safety Executive (HSE)-backed study into the causes and consequences of major failures and collapses in construction is planned in the United Kingdom. The work has been prompted by growing concerns over the frequency of building, tunnel and scaff old collapses during construction and the failure of plant such as tower cranes and piling rigs. Industry research body CIRIA has been commissioned to carry out the seven-month project. Learn more here.;

Safedem took the 2009 Explosive Demolition Award for its work on the 12-storey Broomview House in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. The project used a considerable amount of geotextile for blast protection and debris containment--a common, albeit largely unpromoted geotextile application. It's a testament to material strength. Learn more here.;

Nilex Construction Inc. is currently accepting resumes from qualified Geomembrane Technicians. The candidates will be working out of our Edmonton office, on projects based in Western Canada. Preference will be given to candidates with previous plastic welding experience. The position may require candidates to be away from home for extended periods of time. Nilex has a proven track record in safety and quality excellence, and expects all employees to share in this corporate belief. Forward resumes via fax to +1 780 463 1773 or to cberard@nilex.com. Learn more here.;

Reed Construction Data suggests commercial construction will grow in 2010. San Francisco and Los Angeles are forecasted to have the biggest growth, and retail construction is forecasted to lead the way. Learn more here.;

Prominent landscape features for Nottingham's new high sustainability Castle College Technology Park and Number 1 Science and Technology Park are the surrounding green embankments. By using a Tensartech earth retaining solution from Tensar International, construction company Morgan Ashurst was able to realise the architect's design over very weak ground as well as provide the most cost-effective solution and prevent soil from going into landfill by re-using it in construction.

Dutch geotechnical engineer R.D. Schuiling has proposed an interesting use for toxic waste: isolate it within large concrete block that are then built up into modern pyramids. The pyramids would be separated from people by water features, which are in turn lined with impermeable lining systems, such as geomembrane containment. It's not a perfect scheme--the exposure risk is enough to deter anyone from attempting it--but it is certainly of interest line of thought. Make our worst waste into public marvels on the scale of ancient monuments? Perhaps in a perfect world. Learn more here.;

How can we move forward after COP15 in Copenhagen? And how will the global bioenergy community be affected? What are the opportunities and potential for modern bioenergy? These were the questions at the "Afternoon Tea-view of World Bioenergy 2010" held at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. More than 60 diplomats from 35 embassies were there to learn more about Swedish and global bioenergy. Read more in the release.

The International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) will hold its 34th Interntional Seminar on Dredging and Reclamation in Singapore, 19-23 April 2010. The course is given by recognized experts from the world’s leading dredging companies and is aimed at (future) project managers, project staff and decision makers in governments, port and harbour authorities, offshore companies and other organisations that have to execute dredging projects. Subjects include land reclamation; port development; environmental management; and more.

International Erosion Control Association (IECA) and ReadyTalk, a leading provider of audio conferencing and Web conferencing solutions, announced an agreement designed to benefit IECA and its members by providing discounted conferencing services and the tools necessary to further the IECA mission of connecting, educating and developing the worldwide erosion and sediment control community.

Scott Schnitta recently joined PROFILE Products LLC as the Central Region Market Development Manager. Scott brings over 12 years of experience within the civil engineering, environmental and construction fields. He has worked in sales and market development positions for market-leading companies such as Contech Construction Products, BASF Construction Chemicals and most recently, U.S. Bridge. His proven track record in business development, client relationships and technical selling will pay dividends supporting Profile's efforts to drive business in the central U.S.

Leading building membranes specialist Icopal is countering the continuing recession with the launch of a plethora of new products at this year's Ecobuild. The company, which draws on the expertise of the global Icopal brand for research and development, is launching four new products on its larger-than-usual stand (number 1350) in addition to showcasing its green roof systems and accessories, waterproofing membranes, Monarfloor acoustic solutions for Sustainable Homes, and geomembranes. Read more.

Construction crews moved dirt to shore up a group of houses precariously perched on a crumbling hill in San Antonio on Monday as engineers tried to determine why the land below was shifting, causing dozens of homes to evacuate. One soil expert said the cause of the landslide appeared to be the result of poor retaining wall design, and a city official said the nearly 1,000-foot-long wall. Learn more here.;

ACF Environmental keeps a green bmp and sustainability blog. Learn more here.;

A New York economist and consultant, Sean Neill, is advocating a new commercial lease structure that would give building owners incentive to green their properties. The idea is to revise standard leases to share the cost and benefits of upgrades and retrofits. From the New York Times. Learn more here.;

The Tessman Road Landfill, profiled here on Geosynthetica many months ago and in a number of publications since, has won a gold medal from the Texas Council of Engineering Companies in their 2010 Engineering Excellence Awards Competition. Republic Services Inc.'s impressive site earned its gold in the competition's environmental category. The panel of judges were impressed by the use of thin-film, flexible photovoltaic cells combined with an exposed TPO membrane cap.

Republic Services Inc.'s Tessman Road landfill in San Antonio recently won a gold medal in the environmental category at the 2010 Texas Council of Engineering Companies Engineering Excellence Awards. The site was honored for a solar energy cover that harvests energy while capping a closed portion of the landfill. The project is now eligible for a national award conferred by the American Council of Engineering Companies in April 2010. Learn more here.;

Albania’s first ever highway tunnel has partially collapsed only four months after opening. A 50m tunnel section in the Thirre area collapsed on 5 November in the south bore of a twin tunnel excavated as part of a new 61km motorway between Rrëshen and Kalimash in the north of the country. Learn more here.;