Special Series

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.

The July 2009 issue of GIGSA News from the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa is available. This issue's stories include the Gautrain Geosynthetic-Reinforced Platform by Kaytech (which GIGSA will tour soon); a word from Garth James, GIGSA president; a welcome to new members; geosynthetic reinforcement in roads; a biographical note on Dr. JP Giroud; committee news; an update on GeoAfrica 2009; and more. Read it in PDF today. Learn more here.;

Land and Water magazine's latest broadcast from the Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. Anchor Tamara Forlanski--solo this week as her co-anchor Lucas Starbuck is on vacation--delivers the news impacting erosion and sediment control field. This week's broadcast features stories on Profile Products' introduction of a new hydraulic mulch additive, a facility tour for roadside vegetation managers, a study on the expense for best management practice (BMP) product maintenance, and a "Tip of the Week" from Erosion Control Blanket's Mark Myrowich. This week's topic: specifying accurate quanities. Learn more here.;

Land and Water magazine's latest broadcast from the Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. Anchors Tamara Forlanski and Lucas Starbuck deliver the week's news impacting the erosion and sediment control field. This week's broadcast features stories on Tencate's appointment of Lancer Textiles to the status of master distributor, a lawsuit targeting sediment, several moves by ADS, and a "Tip of the Week" from Jennifer Hildebrand. This week, Jennifer looks at spill prevention. Learn more here.;

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to offer "Constructing with Fabricated Geomembranes - Flexibility, Choices, and Superior Performance," its popular short course, on 23 October 2009 in Denver, Colorado. This course will be presented by Timothy D. Stark, Stan Slifer, John Heap, Daren L. Laine, Bill Shehane, Stuart Lange, Andrew Mills, Gary Kolbasuk and other speakers. Course participants are eligible for 8 PDHs from the University of Illinois.

Land and Water magazine's latest broadcast from the Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. Anchors Tamara Forlanski and Lucas Starbuck deliver the week's news impacting the erosion and sediment control field. This week's feature story is Land and Water's 35th anniversary--an impressive achievement in publishing. Also in the broadcast: the Muddy Water Blues event is deemed a great success, Stormbloc is introduced to the North America market, and Alex Zimmerman's Tip of the Week. Watch it online. Learn more here.;

We expanded our ASTM standards tracking to include a number of other committees whose work may affect geosynthetics and affiliated technologies and testing regimes. This week's standards update is no exception, with numerous work item additions from D13 on Textiles, D18 on Soil and Rock, D20 on Plastics and F17 on Plastic Piping Systems. Read the latest here.

Land and Water magazine's latest broadcast from the Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. Anchors Tamara Forlanski and Lucas Starbuck deliver the week's news impacting the erosion and sediment control field. This week's stories include mine operator fines, a creek restoration put to the test, a river watershed project in Illinois, and the tip of the week from Alex Zimmerman: "Using Multiple BMPs." Watch it online today. Learn more here.;

The shortened week following Memorial Day wraps up our ASTM International standards updates for May 2009. This week belongs entirely to Committee D18 on Soil and Rock. And if you are involved in work with dynamic penetrometers, it's your week too. D18 has issued six work items, four of which deal with dynamic penetrometers. The other two deal with frozen soils classifications and handling. Follow the latest on the May 2009 ASTM Update page.

Land and Water magazine’s Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) weekly broadcast is available. Co-anchor Lucas Starbuck had the run of the place for a couple weeks after Lindsay Winter departed, but a bit of balance has been restored as we welcome Tamara Forlanski to the ESCN desk. This week's stories: an industry first in cotton-hydromulch technology, Bonestroo's merger with Northern Environmental, a flood-safe technology that is replacing sand bags, and Jerry Fifield's Tip of the Week. In this edition, he asks, "What are the most effective BMPs?" Learn more here.;

360 Abstracts from over 50 countries have been accepted for the Seventh International Conference on Geosynthetics in Nice France on 9/22/02 through 9/27/02. For more information on this conference: http://7icg-nice2002.com

The hilly terrain of Taiwan and annual rainy seasons can provide significant challenges to engineers and road builders. When an important road was disrupted by a partial slope failure, engineers decided to rebuild with geogrid-reinforced tiers. The case study comes from Ace Geosynthetics, a Taiwan-headquartered manufactured now with offices in Atlanta and Houston.

Nonwovens Industry's 37th Annual Guide lists suppliers and producers of nonwovens around the globe in one comprehensive listing. Learn more here.;

Nearly a decade ago, the Geosynthetic Institute published results of its first survey on Regulatory Status of Post-Closure Care of MSW Landfills in the United States. That publication was GSI...

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.;

On 21 March 2011, I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, Inc. marks 20 years of international geosynthetic materials performance consulting work that has taken the company to more than 35 countries. Ian Peggs recalls 20 moments from those 20 years in geosynthetics. Dr. Peggs will take part in the panel discussion on HDPE welding and installation during Geo-Frontiers 2011.

The International Symposium on Geotechnical Engineering Ground Improvement and Geosynthetics for Human Security and Environmental Preservation held 6-7 December 2007, Bangkok, Thailand is reviewed by Dennes T. Bergado, President IGS Thai Chapter. Click the "continued" link for the review.

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics invites all interested parties to participate in the development of a proposed new standard, WK15082, Specification for Measuring the Asperity Height of Textured Geomembrane. The proposed standard is being developed by Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes. Although asperity height is specified throughout the geosynthetic industry, a procedure to measure it is not currently covered by an ASTM standard. WK15082 would fill this gap, according to D35.10 member Richard Lacey. “We need everybody to embrace this procedure,” says Lacey, a senior engineer with TRI Environmental. Lacey says that asperity height has broad implications regarding the interface friction potential of geomembranes. On specific projects, friction resistance can be correlated successfully to asperity height measurements, making this test critical where stability is a concern. “The subcommittee would like to see participation from regulators, quality assurance engineers and all others whom have recent experience with asperity height measurement and a product conformance crisis,” says Lacey. For further technical information, contact Richard Lacey, TRI Environmental, Buena Vista, Pa. (phone: 412/412-6541; rlacey@tri-env.com). Committee D35 meets Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2008, at the January committee week in Tampa, Fla. For membership or meeting information, contact Christine Sierk, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9728; csierk@astm.org). Learn more here.;

Connecting geomembranes to structures troubles many engineers, contractors and facility operators. Great care must be taken, else an entire installation may be threatened. geosynthetica.net interviewed Du Toit Viljoen of Engineeered Linings about how they've succeeded in this application over the past few decades.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) announces seven candidates for the 2008 Board of Directors. Incumbents, Michael Chase, CPESC, CPSWQ; Julie Etra, CPESC and Tom Williams, MA, CPESC will run against Marvin Courtnage, CPESC; Sherri L. Dunlap, MBA, DEng, CPESC; Sandy Mathews and Brock Peters, CISEC for three open positions. IECA’s Board of Directors is the governing body of the association. It consists of nine members serving three-year terms with three directors being elected each year. It is the policy of IECA to maintain a balanced distribution of professional affiliations on the Board. However, the actual composition is determined by the membership through the nomination and voting processes. Meet the Candidates: Michael Chase, CPESC, CPSWQ, an erosion control specialist with Paradigm Engineering, currently serves IECA as the treasurer for the Board of Directors. As a member of the association’s Western Chapter, Chase served two terms as Chapter president. He has been actively involved in reviewing and commenting on new policies at the federal and state levels and said he feels it is important to stay abreast of new policies and how they may affect stormwater. “It is necessary for IECA to be in the forefront to add guidance and to aid its members in understanding newly proposed regulations for construction and industrial activities,” said Chase. Marvin Courtnage, CPESC, is the Southern California sales representative for Ewing Irrigation’s erosion and turf products. Prior to moving to California in 2006, Courtnage spent many years in Colorado and served on IECA’s Mountain States Chapter Board of Directors. He has a strong horticulture background and has served on the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado Denver Chapter Board and the Xeriscape task force sponsored by the Denver Water Department. Concerned over guideline changes to the Clean Water Act, Courtnage said, “IECA must be a leader in protecting all waters of the United States. I want to be instrumental in doing that as an IECA Board member.” Sherri Dunlap, MBA, Deng, CPESC, is Manager of Applied Technology and New Products at the Harris County Flood Control District in Houston, Texas. She is a founding member and past president of the South Central Chapter of IECA and previously served on the IECA Board of Directors as technical vice president. “I would like to continue the technical programs I was involved in while on the Board and lead the organization in outreach and educational opportunities,” said Dunlap. In addition to her involvement with IECA, Dunlap also is a member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Water Environmental Resource Foundation (WERF). Julie Etra, CPESC, is principal of Western Botanical Services, Inc. As an active member of IECA for nearly 20 years, Etra currently serves as the association’s vice president of international development and is a past president of the Western Chapter. “I am very passionate about our organization and its potential to be a truly global force through our membership, expertise and philanthropy,” she said. She is fluent in Spanish and teaches bilingual erosion control classes. Etra has authored over 12 publications and is currently leading pioneering work on noxious weed control and restoration of riparian plant communities along the Truckee River in Nevada. Sandy Mathews is an environmental analyst in the Environmental Protection Department of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where she works to bridge the theory of law and regulation to create programs that are compliant and work in the field. Until recently, she served as a director for IECA’s Western Chapter. Mathews also is involved with the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) where she currently serves as a member of the Executive Program Committee and leads its Construction Subcommittee. “I see being a director on the international Board as an opportunity to help create a strategic direction that focuses on the members and Chapters,” said Mathews. Brock Peters, CPESC, is a professional erosion control contractor and consultant. He currently serves on the Board of IECA’s Great Rivers Chapter and as a representative on the association’s Government Relations Committee. “As a Board member of IECA, I hope to increase membership by bringing the building and erosion control industries together. Bridging the gap between IECA and other well-established trade associations is imperative,” said Peters. He is currently serving terms on the Board of Directors for the Homebuilders Association of Lincoln (Nebraska) and the Nebraska State Homebuilders Association. He was recently selected by the National Association of Homebuilders to serve on the Environmental Issues Committee. Tom Williams, MA, CPESC, works as a restoration ecologist for Golder Associates, Inc., in Lakewood, Colo. As a current director on the Board, Williams has participated in the Future of the Association Strategy Team (FAST) and has served as the chair for the Vegetative Establishment Technology Section for the past seven years. As co-chair of the Endowment Fund Committee, Williams said, “If elected, my main focus will be on getting this important funding mechanism up and running. I really believe this is our best approach to finding the funds necessary to accomplish the more exciting projects we would all like to pursue.” Detailed biographies and a statement from each candidate is available online to IECA members. IECA members may cast their votes until November 1 through the IECA web site at http://www.ieca.org.

If you were unable to attend the 8th International Geosynthetics Conference in Yokohama, Japan, September 18-25, 2006, and didn't get the conference proceedings CD, click the link below to read all the paper abstracts presented at the conference. Includes a link to the 8ICG "Real Time" Conference review.

Seats for Asia Mining Congress 2006 are selling out fast! With over 100 delegates on board already, Asia Mining Congress urges you to register now to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to attend Asia’s leading mining event. Back for a 2nd year, Asia Mining Congress brings you the legislators of 11 countries in Asia to share their current and future political and legislative frameworks. You can also gain practical insights on how you can ride on the opportunities in Asia from mining bigwigs and juniors including Rio Tinto, CVRD, Ivanhoe, PT Freeport and Lafayette etc. With 300+ delegates at our inaugural event, you are guaranteed to be in good company. Here is a sneak preview of who you will meet at the congress: Resource Capital Funds * China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals * AngloGold Ashanti Beijing * Sentient Asset Management * PT Weda Bay Nickel * Metso Minerals * Placer Dome Asia Pacific * East Asia Minerals * JSC “Irgiredmet” * GE Infrastructure * Caterpillar Global Mining * Anglo American * Polystar International * SINOM (HK) * Hutti Gold Mines * Shearman & Sterling LLP * Marengo Mining * Alex Stewart (Assyers) *Alhambra Resources * Intertek Caleb Brett. DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AND NETWORKING! Register now to join us at Asia Mining Congress 2006, held from 27 - 31 March 2006, at The Grand Hyatt, in Singapore. Call us today at +65 63222 770 or visit the link below to sign up now. Learn more here.;

Can we "see" what is happening to other layers of geosynthetics under a geomembrane without removing the geomembrane? Ian Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL asks this question and demonstrates the answer.

Covering Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Burma, Nepal Indonesia, and Singapore in the upcoming July/August 2005 issue, Technical Textiles International will contain a special feature on the technical textiles industry in these regions. Learn more here.;

T-CLIC Accreditiation Course - STS and CQM Staff Accredited to Perform Liner Electrical Integrity Surveys, written by Ian Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL.