Special Series

The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) has created a quick-reference section on their website for the Installation of Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECPs). The section, titled “RECP Installation for Slope and Channel PDF and DWG AutoCADD Drawings,” was created for engineers and designers to use during the development of their project specifications. ECTC designed this interactive guide in which the participant can download either PDF or DWG (AutoCADD 2000 or later) drawings that are essential in the installation process of RECPs. In addition to the drawings being made available, the section also briefly outlines the verbiage for the step by step installation of both slopes and channels. This project is one initiative in the ECTC’s drive for education and standardization within this growing industry. In 2004, ECTC learned from a survey of end users, government officials, inspectors, engineers, manufacturers of RECPs, and other industry professionals that the biggest obstacle to proper RECP function was poor installation. Because of this survey, ECTC decided installation education was in order. This project was created after the tremendous success and positive feed back regarding the ECTC produced educational RECP Installation DVD in 2006. ECTC is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the use of RECPs. For further information about ECTC, contact Laurie Honnigford at +1-651-554-1895, e-mail laurie@ectc.org, or visit www.ectc.org. Learn more here.;

Tri-Tech Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIT), a leading total solutions provider to China's water resources, municipal wastewater and industrial pollution control markets, announced today the appointment of three senior executives that substantially strengthen the company's water and wastewater treatment management team. Mr. Weidong Bi was named vice president of Tri-Tech, responsible for the company's water and wastewater treatment project management. Mr. Qun Wang was promoted to president of Tranhold Environmental (Beijing) Tech, Co., Ltd. (Tranhold), a subsidiary company of Tri-Tech Holding, Inc. He will be responsible for managing and coordinating Tranhold's business transactions. Mr. Zhentian Zhao was named vice president and chief engineer of Tranhold, responsible for water and wastewater treatment engineering.

Call for Papers for the International Symposium on Clay Geosynthetic Barriers, April 16-17, 2002, in Nuremberg, Bavaria. The abstracts must be sufficiently detailed to allow the experts to assess the scientific and technical merit of the proposed paper; especially the relevance of the results obtained and the contribution they make towards advances in the application of Clay Geosynthetic Barriers and the related system in which they function. These papers must be related to original, previously unpublished work and must not be of commercial nature. Papers are to be written in English. Deadline for receiving abstracts: August 21, 2001, Decision of Organizing Committee sent to authors: September 30, 2001, and Deadline for receiving completed papers: December 15, 2001. The aims of this International Symposium on Clay Geosynthetic Barriers is to offer an opportunity for exchanges on a high scientific and technical level between experts in the various disciplines related to Clay Geosynthetic Barriers., The conference will be the ideal occasion to obtain on overview of the multiple applications of Clay Geosynthetic Barriers in all fields of use.

On October 17 and 18, a seminar on the closure and remediation of landfills will be offered at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany. Subjects include regulatory compliance, capping systems, and much more. Participants get a book from which the instruction material has been drawn. Also, a site visit is scheduled. The seminar is offered in German only. For more information, visit the website. Learn more here.;

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.

From PGI, PVC Geomembrane Pond Liners Support Majesty of New Water Feature-Filled Golfing Community.

Honeywell and the New York State Department of Conservation held an informational meeting on February 11 in the town of Camillus. The meeting focused on the forthcoming plan to pump sediment from the lake bottom into geotextile tubes in an area known as Wastebed 13. Residents are concerned about the effects of on residents who live around the planned sediment consolidation area. The sediment contains mercury and PCBs, among other toxic components. Learn more here.;

The December 2004 issue of the South African Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society is now available.

Call for Papers - Sustainable Services & Systems: Transition towards Sustainability, October 29 - 30th, De Rode Hoed, Amsterdam, Netherlands. For more information see "Sustainable Services & Systems" at www.cfsd.org.uk

Tech note authored by Ian Peggs, I-CORP INTERNATIONAL - Liner Integrity/Leak Location Surveys: Practical Problems Encountered. "I have learned some practical pointers from recently performed integrity surveys at several stages of construction and immediately after completion of the following lining system..."

Many of you geo-folks have enquired about Alice Comer over the last year or two. Alice was with the Bureau of Reclamation for a number of years working with materials and canal lining. She certainly became a full fledged geo-gal during that time. After her tenure with the Bureau she and her family moved to Katy, Texas - Alice did a quick stint in the commercial end of geosynthetics and then moved on quietly into the night. Well we found her and are glad to report that she is healthy and happy working now with Houston's petroleum industry. Alice has opened another chapter in her career and is enjoying all of the new networking and learning. She says hello to the geo-friends and says that she is available for consulting if there is any opportunity.

Goals for the International Erosion Control Association's Annual Conference were 2000 attendees and 140 exhibitors. Post conference tallies were at 2270 attendees and 158 exhibitors! The 2004 Conference is in Philadelphia, PA., February 16-20. Exhibit space is already 59% sold out so reserve your space now. Learn more here.;

Elizabethtown, Kentucky is the latest city to establish far more stringent erosion and sediment control codes and monitoring systems. While cities welcome new development opportunities, the environmental ill many developments cause and repeated education efforts by the erosion control industry are helping positively transform the way cities grow. Learn more here.;

ASTM's Proficiency Test Program for Plastics Testing (Polyethylene). The polyethylene testing program is conducted biannually with testing conducted in September 2001 and March 2002. Melt Index, Density, Ash and Color. Participate in the 2001 - 2002 Programs. Provide your labe with a statistical quality assurance tool to improve and maintain lab testing performance. Provide a consistant foundation of performance that your customers and data users can rely on. Compare your results with other labs worldwide. Samples, test instructions and data report sheets are distributed during the beginning of each test month. Labs are given approximately five weeks to conduct tests and return data to ASTM. Final summary reports are mailed to participants approximately one month following the receipt deadline of test data. For More Information of for Mid-Year Registration contact: Anne McKlindon or Helen Maguire at (610) 832-9682, or fax (610) 832-9668 or visit http://www.astm.org/statqa/

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scrambling to repair a torn geotextile barrier over asbestos-contaminated soil. Clean fill was placed on the site three years ago, but recent water main work punctured the geosynthetic barrier. Read more in the Daily Inter Lake. Learn more here.;

ASTM International reports of two work item updates from Committee D35 on Geosynthetics: WK20027 New Test Method for Discharge Capacity of Plastic Drain Board; and WK20006 Revision of D4437-08 Standard Practice for Non-destructive Testing (NDT) for Determining the Integrity of Seams Used in Joining Flexible Polymeric Sheet Geomembranes. Learn more here.;

IAGI has updated the HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Geomembrane Installation Specification to include LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene) Geomembrane Installation within the same document. Please refer to this new document (available at the link below) for any questions you may have while drafting or reviewing your next project specification. This specification includes furnishing and installing HDPE and LLDPE geomembranes with a formulated sheet density of 0.940 g/cm or greater. Geomembranes with both smooth and textured surfaces are included. The information has been composed by IAGI in accordance with current quality control and quality assurance standards of the geomembrane industry. Final determination of the suitability of any information or material for the use contemplated and its manner of use is the sole responsibility of the user. IAGI is currently having the updated specification translated to Spanish and should be available by August on the IAGI website. Currently, the previous document which was for HDPE Geomembrane Installation Specification is still located on the website. IAGI is a non-profit organization that strives to provide a forum for geosynthetics installers to advance installation and construction techniques, and strengthen the knowledge, image and communication within the industry For further information about ECTC, contact Laurie Honnigford at +1-651-554-1895, e-mail laurie@ectc.org, or visit www.iagi.org. Learn more here.;

The latest issue of Rocky Mountain Construction includes an article on the replacement of Colorado's oldest vehicle-traffic bridge. The $14 million project near Aspen has called for geosynthetic separation material to be installed with fill and reinforced concrete pipe as part of a temporary access point enabling construction traffic. Learn more here.;

Fissures continue to plague Arizona roadways. Last year it took geogrid installed along a 900-foot stretch of cracking earth to stabilize a heavily traveled road. But other roads in that project's vacinity are experiencing fissures and might benefit from a similar stabilization design. Learn more here.;

During winter storms in the American West, an earthen levee broke in Fernley, Nevada near Reno. The collapse happened early Saturday morning along a bank of Truckee River. Roughly 800 homes have been flooded in a 2 square mile area. The cause of the collapse has not been determined, though some suspect tunneling animals contributed. A temporary, emergency fix has been put in place. The LA Times requires free registration for this story. Learn more here.;

The latest episode of Land and Water magazine's Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. This week's stories include an interview with North American Green's Tim Lancaster and a tip on installing wattles. Watch the broadcast online. And don't forget to enter the "I'm a Survivor" contest at ESCN.tv's website! You might win a full registration to and three nights lodging at EC09 in Reno (9-12 February 2009). Learn more here.;

CONSTRUCT2010, in conjunction with the 54th CSI Annual Convention and co-located with The TFM Show, will be held 11-14 May 2010 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Call for Presentations has been announced for CONSTRUCT, which has established itself as a leading source in providing quality education to the commercial building industry. Presentations are sought. DEADLINE: 27 July 2009. Read more.

In La Jolla near San Diego, a homeowners association has charged each of its residents $4000 to begin immediate, emergency erosion control measures. The upfront $2.4 million job aims to install numerous pipes and import and stabilize 80,000 cubic yards of soil to correct the current stormwater runoff scheme that has caused such severe erosion in the canyon. Even though the city has been found to be at fault, it will require further lawsuits to reimburse the association members. Learn more here.;

Pakistan's agriculture-rich Sindh Province is in need of cleaner water. The extensive, British-built canal system that feeds the province's field is becoming clogged with sediment. The country has in the past worked with the World Bank to line canals for cleaner water supplies. (See GFR, April 2001 at the "continued" link below.) A similar push seems needed now to help the vital Sindh region continue to provide domestic and exportable food. The article can be found by cutting and pasting the following URL into your browser: http://thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=136988&catid=2&date=01/03/2008&fcatid=14 Learn more here.;

Land & Water's latest issue is loaded with geosynthetic projects and design information. The issue includes a feature article on preventing whales in the geomembrane liners of wastewater treatment pond. The article was authored by Ian Peggs of I-CORP and can be viewed in full at the "continued" link below.. Also see the Blown Straw vs. Erosion Control Blankets article on-line by cutting and pasting this URL into your browser http://www.landandwater.com/features/vol50no4/vol50no4_2.html . Learn more here.;