Special Series

CETCO has announced the next session of GCL University, an on-going series of comprehensive training seminars for engineers, regulatory personnel and facility owners/operators. This next session will be held in Pocatello, Idaho on February 12 and focus on "Design and Construction with Geosynthetics in Mining Cover Systems." Practical applications and engineering principles will be the focus. The seminar is free of charge. Those in attendance will be eligible for 5 hours of pdh credit. SPEAKERS INCLUDE Craig H. Benson (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Greg Corcoran (Geosyntec Consultants), an agency representative from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Monte Christie (Geo-Logic Associates, Inc.), and David Andrews and Greg Groene (TRC Solutions, Inc.).

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has announced a 28 February 2013 short course on "Environmental Protection in Shale Oil and Gas Development." To be held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the day-long course will be taught by a diverse group of industry professionals representing private and public entities and who will address environmental challenges, groundwater protection, drill pad site liners, hydraulic fracturing, geomembrane welding equipment, and more. Learn more and register for this FGI-sponsored, extremely affordable course.

Utilizing performance-guaranteed North American Green erosion and sediment control products can help you earn credits toward your LEED Green Building Rating System project certification goals for new construction and existing buildings. Tensar North American Green can help. Learn more here.;

GSE Environmental (NYSE:GSE), the leading global manufacturer and provider of geosynthetic lining products and services, is pleased to be featured on the popular World's Greatest!... television show on the ION Television Network. GSE's selection for the show was based upon the company's position as the global leader in providing environmental solutions to its customers after the show's production company, How 2 Media, conducted several interviews with key professionals in the industry.

Writing for Grading and Excavation Contractor, Carol Brzozowski takes a look at how geosynthetics make paving operations more cost effective and roadways stronger. GSE's Boyd Ramsey, Tensar's Bryan Gee, NAUE's Tracy Tanner, and others share field knowledge on geogrids, geotextiles, and porous pavers in separation and reinforcement applications. Learn more here.;

GSE Environmental has released the full program and registration details for its two August 2012 "Geosynthetics for Success" technical seminars in Australia. On August 7, the event will be held in Perth at the Pan Pacific Hotel. On August 9, it arrives in Brisbane at the Mecure Hotel. The expert presenters at these free professional development opportunities will include a strong focus on mining. Learn more about the event's specific topics and registration details here.

CETCO Lining Technologies has published a paper from Christos Athanassopoulos, P.E., CETCO, and Richard J. Vamos, Ph.D, P.E., DAI Environmental, Inc., on "Carbon Footprint Comparison of GCLs and Compacted Clay Liners." Geosynthetic clay liners can have a significant impact carbon footprint reduction in construction when measured against the thickness of compacted clay required to equal GCL performance. The reduction in truckload traffic alone (550 for CCL, 3.5 for GCL in this analysis) represents a significant carbon footprint savings. Athanassopoulos and Vamos's work includes excellent comparative tables of the carbon footprint aspects of site work and two appendixes demonstrating the full methodolgy used to reveal these project savings.

This instructional webinar, sponsored by Maccaferri, will focus on geotextiles and geogrids, and will offer an overview of AASHTO guidance, a review of geosynthetic engineering applications, and an update on Maccaferri's new geosynthetic naming conventions. A non-credit 0.15 CEU certificate will be issued to participants. Attendees will also gain a better understanding of geosynthetics in specification, design and construction. This FREE webinar will be held Wednesday, June 13, at 2:00 pm EDT. Learn more here.;

A course on "Advances and Current Trends for Mining" is planned for May 21, 2012 in Salt Lake City, UT. This day-long course will be taught by 21 industry professionals from academia, contractors, engineers, installers and third party testing personnel. Dr. Timothy D. Stark will lead the course and act as moderator. There will be an extensive network of professionals from which participants can draw knowledge and experience. The day will be packed with practical information that you can implement into your projects immediately.

REPORT: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has determined that the lack of a pond liner in a stormwater pond above a coal ash landfill led to the 31 October 2011 bluff collapse at a We Energies power facility along the shore of Lake Michigan.

The Midwestern United States' agriculture industry includes significant dairy, beef cattle, swine and poultry operations. Nearly 1/3 of the US anaerobic digestor operations are located on Midwestern farms now, but the 33 MW they produce stem represent only about 2 percent of the region's AD capacity. BIOMASS Power and Thermal's associate editor Anna Austin writes about the gap in the March 2012 issue. Read the article online. Learn more here.;

We are saddened to report that industry veteran Danny Campbell has passed away. Mr. Campbell, 63, had been battling a long-term illness. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 1 through the McFarland Funeral Chapel in Tryon, North Carolina. Danny is survived by his wife of 23 years, Eleanor (Nell) Rogers Campbell of Inman, SC and two brothers, Gary Campbell (Pam) of Jacksonville, FL and Jeffrey Campbell of Charlotte, NC. We extend our sympathies to his family in this difficult time. Learn more here.;

GSE is pleased to announce the addition of Bill Urchik to our North America Sales Team! Bill brings to GSE over 16 years of technical and engineering experience with an emphasis on geosynthetics. Bill received his degree in civil engineering from the University of Western Ontario in London Ontario, Canada. Bill's extensive geosynthetics knowledge will allow him to transition quickly and share his expertise with his customer base. He will report to Ryan Blanchard, Director of Sales for North America.

The US Environmental Protection Agency's annual AgSTAR conference features updates and site tours on anaerobic digester construction and affiliated environmental issues. But in 2012, the EPA is putting the AgSTAR event brand to the side and instead co-hosting a conference with Cornell University’s PRO-DAIRY program, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Natural Resources Conservation Service. The event, "Got Manure? Enhancing Environmental and Economic Sustainability", will be held 27-29 March 2012, in Syracuse, New York. Learn more here.;

Congratulations are due to Raven Industries, which has been named "Business of the Year" by the Sioux Falls Business Journal. Among its many activities, Raven manufactures geomembranes, gas barriers, agricultural films and other materials. In the awards notes, the Journal describes Raven Industries as a "poster child for consistent, old-school management." The paper cites the company's lack of debt and consistent year over year and decade over decade growth. We'd add to that the company's investment in R&D and innovation.

Download the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) latest water infrastructure report, "Failure to Act: the Economic Impact of Current Investment Trends in Water and Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure." In the 61-page report, ASCE stresses that the American drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is failing due to age and a historical lack of investment in modernization.

The International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI) has released its September 2011 newsletter. This issue includes an article from GSE's Boyd Ramsey on titanium dioxide exposure in geosynthetcis and stories on the IAGI Installation Awards of Excellence Program, the association's reception and general assembly at Geo-Frontiers 2011, the role industry veteran "Uncle Bill" (William Steinke) is playing in proctoring IAGI exams around the world, and much more. Read the issue today (PDF).

GSE continues its popular series of "Geosynthetics 4 Success" technical seminars on September 28 with a day-long seminar at the Evergreen Marriott Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The focus will be on the use of geosynthetics in coal ash, solid waste, hazardous waste, and liquid containment applications. Expert speakers include Dr. JP Giroud, Frank Ney (EPA), Dr. Craig Benson (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison) and Dr. Richard Brachman (Queen's University). Additionally, technical experts from GSE will be on hand. Download the brochure.

GSE is hosting a one-day "Geosynthetics 4 Success" Technical Seminar on Thursday, October 13, 2011 in Pittsburgh, PA. We are bringing the following industry experts together to discuss the latest developments in geosynthetics and the use of geosynthetics in the shale gas and coal ash containment applications. The seminar will encompass all aspect of new product performance, benefits, issues, and an update on Marcellus Shale regulations and EPA Coal Ash Rule. Expert speakers include Dr. Robert Koerner, Carla L. Suszkowski, Steve Socash, Michael Forbeck and Dr. Craig Benson.

Geosynthetics industry veteran Mark Smith has spent much of his time in recent years on social and environmental intiatives via the not-for-profit Smith International Foundation. (We interviewed him in 2010.) Recently, he turned his eye to poor trash management practices in the Lake Tahoe area and how those practices threatened (or had already led to) conflicts between humans and bears. Smith created a "Wall of Shame" on Facebook. Quickly, the Wall has earned followers and news coverage. Learn more here.;

The US Department of Energy's has released a followup report to the 2005-published "Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply". That first report estimated the potential biomass available within the contiguous United States based on assumptions about current and future inventory production capacity, availability, and technology. The 2011 follow-up report, "U.S. Billion-Ton Update: Biomass Supply for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry", expands the study, including: A spatial, county-by-county inventory of potentially available primary feedstocks; price and available quantities (e.g., supply curves) for the individual feedstocks; and a more rigorous treatment and modeling of resource sustainability.

Sika AG has acquired Technokolla, a leader in tile adhesive systems. The Northern Italy-based company generated sales of around CHF 37 million in 2010. Sika expects the acquisition to expand its market position in Italy. Based in the northern Italian town of Sassuolo, Technokolla is a subsidiary of the privately owned Fincea Group, of which Iris Ceramica, one of the leading ceramic tile manufacturers in Europe, is also a member. It generated sales of approx. CHF 37 million in 2010 and is number three in the Italian local market for tile adhesive systems as well as having a good presence in the neighbouring countries.

Sika AG, headquartered in Baar, is acquiring Biro Edwin Bischof AG, the Romanshorn-based plastic products manufacturer with strong skills in multi-component injection moulding. Biro Edwin Bischof AG produces components for the European automotive industry on behalf of Sika, including sound absorbing parts and reinforcers for bodywork structures.

Martex Fiber Southern Corp. (MFSC), Spartanburg, SC, unveiled its new campaign to stress the importance of ZERO Landfill and support the idea that waste reinvention is possible in the USA. Martex is putting these goals to action with new product development and plant expansions. The firm is challenging every textile mill to reconsider its textile waste and make sure that "No Fiber [is] Left Behind™." It is helping companies to understand what is possible with their waste streams, both ensuring that all materials are actually getting recycled into a product while no materials inadvertently go to the landfill, and potentially creating a new source of revenue for that waste. As the people who work for Martex often say, "Your waste is our raw material."

ASTM International's Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK33837, "Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics." This is a work item revision to existing standard D4439-04. The rationale notes "Addition of the term rib as proposed in a revision to D6637." Learn more here.;