A manufacturer of woven and nonwoven geotextiles, Crown is led by industry veterans, Monte Thomas and Keith Gardner. We look forward to their expertise, ideas, and energy.

Join me in welcoming Monte, Keith, and the Crown Resources team to GMA’s Executive Council.

Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA).

Organized and presented by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Part 1 focused on the step-by-step construction process, presented by Daniel Alzamora and Mike Adams from FHWA and county engineer Toby Bogart from St. Lawrence County (N.Y.).

Part 2, with an emphasis on GRS bridge design components, is Jan. 5; Part 3 is Feb. 2, which will look at a number of GRS–IBS case histories.

To participate (They’re all free!), go to: www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

***

Accelerated bridge construction techniques also were among the innovations state highway agencies plan to use in the latest round of Highways for Life demonstration projects, another FHWA initiative.

In 2011, the agency awarded nearly $20 million for 17 new projects in as many states.

For example, the Utah DOT will try the GRS–IBS technology on a project to replace twin bridges that carry I-84 traffic over a road in Salt Lake City.

The technology—as described thoroughly in the construction webinar above—uses alternating layers of compacted granular fill material and geotextile fabric sheets of reinforcement that provide support for the bridge. The materials and systematic methods reduce construction time and costs; and contribute to the durability and quality of the bridge.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

WHO?

You and a couple thousand other attendees, exhibitors, speakers, instructors, organizers, and sponsors.

Who are the organizers? IFAI, the Industrial Fabrics Association International—co-organizer of many dynamic geo shows, such as GeoAmericas-2008 in Cancún and Geo-Frontiers 2011 in Dallas … along with the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) and the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA).

Who are the chairs for this event? Sam Allen from TRI and Prof. Bob Holtz from the University of Washington … Short Courses chair David Suits from NAGS … Technical Paper co-chairs Stan Boyle from Shannon & Wilson and Prof. Shobha Bhatia from Syracuse University.

Who else will be there? Geosynthetics-2013 is co-locating in Long Beach with the annual Southwest Geotechnical Engineering Conference. Geosynthetics-2013 is also the site for the 25th edition of the Geosynthetic Research Institute’s conference—GRI-25.

WHAT?

Keynote speakers, short courses, technical sessions, lunches in the exhibit hall, opening night reception in the exhibit hall, Southwest Geotechnical sessions, Geo-’13 technical sessions, GRI-25 sessions, networking, sightseeing … see you there!

WHEN?

Save the dates: April 1–4, 2013.

WHERE?

Long Beach, Calif.—the Long Beach Convention Center.

Learn more at www.geosynthetics2013.com.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

The IFF began its Innovation Award program in 2010 as a way to recognize and celebrate noteworthy achievements from the entire industrial fabrics community. Awards are intended to honor products, applications, and services that have made or will make a difference in today’s competitive marketplace.

IFF entries are judged by a panel of industry experts and winners receive a $5,000 prize.

Chameleon International (Oak Ridge, N.C.) was the inaugural recipient of the 2010 IFF Innovation Award for its product ChroMyx, a line of waterproof, temperature-sensitive, color-changing engineered materials.

I am proud to tell you that a geosynthetics company is the winner of the 2011 IFF Innovation Award, officially announced at the IFAI Expo Americas on Oct. 25 (just after the October issue of Geosynthetics went to press). For complete information about this geo company and its innovative, award-winning new product, go to the November issue of Specialty Fabrics Review.

For consideration, IFF Award entries must have been produced since 2008 and be currently available to the market. Entries also cannot have been submitted for an award at any other show. The entry fee is $200 and the deadline for entering next year’s IFF Innovation Award is July 15, 2012.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

Geosynthetics and Specialty Fabrics Review are two of the six magazines published by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI). The others are: Fabric Architecture, Fabric Graphics, InTents, and Marine Fabricator.

The deadline for your Directories Listings and Product Data Charts in the 2012 Specifier’s Guide is Thursday, Oct. 13. No exceptions!

Listing your company’s products, applications, and services, along with your contact information and website, is a surefire way to keep your name in front of your current and potential customers.

Advertisers and GMA members receive free directories listings and free chart lines.

The award-winning Specifier’s Guide provides a highly-credible print and online vehicle to reach civil engineers, contractors, developers, consultants, distributors, installers, fabricators, and government agencies.

Published in December, the well-known “Spec Guide” reaches more than 35,000 readers from 55 countries.

Do not be left out in 2012.

For easy online submission of your directories listings, click here.

For easy online submission of your product data charts, click here.

Questions? Contact Alisha Seifert at ajseifert@ifai.com or 651 225 6963.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

GMA members from 10 companies met with U.S senators, representatives, and their staffs during a full day on Capitol Hill Sept. 14.

GMA’s annual Fall Lobby Day featured member participation during three days, Sept. 13–15 in Washington, D.C. GMA members met with 22 congressional offices, seeking support and providing education on three key GMA government relations issues.

Key GMA issues

• The GMA study titled “Analyzing life cycle cost-benefits of pavements incorporating geosynthetics as separators and interlayers” (or simply the Separation Study).
• Geosynthetic liner systems for coal-ash waste facilities.
• Educating members of congress regarding the environmental solutions that geosynthetic materials provide to the shale gas extraction industry. GMA expects congressional support to ask the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete the first phase of the Separation Study.

The GMA focus group on shale gas has produced a technical white paper describing the geosynthetic opportunities within the shale gas industry. It has also produced a brochure that graphically demonstrates the geosynthetic application for the industry.

That brochure and brochures describing geosynthetic materials can be found on GMA’s website.

GMA launches new website

GMA has launched a new website to better serve its members and the geosynthetics industry as a whole.

Non-members can now join GMA online and renewals for current members are easy to complete on the site. The site’s navigation and search capabilities make it an essential resource for geosynthetics industry professionals.

Check out the new GMA website at www.gmanow.com.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA).

Fiberweb
August 23
We met Arthur Cashin, technical manager, at the Fiberweb facility in Old Hickory, Tenn., just north of Nashville. We were joined by senior sales manager Frank Hollowell and sales manager Jane Wright. After lunch, Arthur conducted a tour of the sprawling Fiberweb facility. The site includes a DuPont factory that was halved with Fiberweb, with both sharing parking and roadways in the complex.

Fiberweb produces nonwoven spunbond/heat-bonded polypropylene geotextiles under the Typar brand at this facility. Fiberweb also produces a variety of construction and consumer products including house wrap and the filter material for industrial filters, diaper liners, and dryer sheet material. Fiberweb has 14 manufacturing facilities worldwide, with corporate headquarters in London, England.

Fiberweb purchased Boddingtons, a film, mesh, and net company last year. Boddingtons has a sales office in Roseville, Minn., a St. Paul suburb that is also home for IFAI. In fact, the Boddingtons/Fiberweb North American geosynthetics sales office is just a block down from us on County Road B West.

Using heavyweight spunbond geotextiles, Fiberweb has developed three-dimensional products for civil and military applications. DefenCell is essentially a blast protection/reinforcement product. It is branded as Typar Geocells for civil applications such flood protection.

Propex
August 24
Propex is headquartered in Chattanooga. Propex has begun to re-brand itself. The company introduced its new branding at Geo-Frontiers 2011 as “Geotextile Systems by Propex.”

Propex fit us into a two-day technical training session. We had the opportunity to make an IFAI/GMA/Geosynthetics magazine presentation on Aug. 24 to 30 members of the company’s sales and marketing staff. They also created a half-day schedule for us that included a company overview, plant tour, and a marketing and strategy meeting with their senior sales and marketing staff.

We were introduced by Steve Thaxton (our main contact). Steve told his group that he was responsible for managing all of the trade association relationships for Propex. He stated the GMA was the most important trade association for Propex.

Our presentation was very well received. It was an excellent way to introduce IFAI to Craig Martin, the new VP. In fact, well over half of the participants were fairly recent hires. Craig Martin is joining Steve Thaxton as the Propex reps at GMA Lobby Day Sept. 13-14 in Washington. He is getting a nice introduction into our programs.

After the presentation we went across the state line to Ringgold, Ga., to tour the Propex nonwoven plant. It is the worlds’ largest nonwoven plant with 14 lines including fiber lines.

The EF4 tornado that went through Ringgold in April 2011 missed the plant by 500 yards. Part of the town of Ringgold was destroyed including the homes of some Propex employees.

Prior to the tour, plant leader Vance Grant gave us an overview of their Six Sigma and Lean manufacturing processes. Following the tour we met with the senior sales and marketing staff to discuss marketing and strategies.

WasteCon
August 25
GMA and our Tarp Association exhibited at the SWANA show in Boston last year. There were plenty of tarp and geosynthetics industry companies exhibiting so there were familiar faces on the showroom floor.

The show was at the Opryland complex of hotels and exhibit halls. The exhibit floor was open 12 hours during three days. Three tarp companies exhibited, with all three also at last year’s SWANA show.

GMA members Firestone, GSE, Raven, and EPI exhibited. We had excellent conversations with those members.

The WasteCon technical sessions offered several well-delivered presentations on landfill closures, a couple that could turn into informative magazine articles.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA).

For those of you who saw me hobbling around the exhibit hall and in the tech sessions at Geo-Frontiers in Dallas last March, it will be no surprise for you to learn that I actually tore the anterior cruciate ligament in my right knee en route to that conference. Two months later, we had the gruesome—and aptly named—ACL reconstruction surgery. Now, a few months later, I am enduring blistering heat and humidity, weight gain from lack of mobile activity, twice-weekly physical therapy torture, and—worst of all—another Minnesota Twins losing streak.

I have had time to reflect during knee exercises at home, one day remembering what I was doing during previous summer dog days. So please indulge me in a bit of reminiscing.

One summer, I worked for a local seed corn company. We were called a “detasseling crew” but our bright collegiate crew leader quickly volunteered us on day 1 for “rogueing” duty—all summer, we walked through cornfields with sharp-edged, hooked scythes, and snapped off rogue (read: too tall) cornstalks at their base. Easy work and 80 cents an hour! And a 20-cent bonus if you stuck it out the whole season. A buck an hour. Happy days!

One summer, I washed cars and swept up at my uncle’s car dealership.

One summer, I painted houses with the local football coach.

One summer, I finished my master’s degree at journalism school.

One summer, I got married.

A few summers later, I got divorced.

One summer, I bagged groceries.

One summer, I shot a legit 75, my best golf score ever.

One summer, I made a hole-in-one.

One summer, I worked for a moving company. We started our first job in Omaha, Neb., at 6 a.m. and didn’t stop loading that truck until 6 a.m. the next day. My partner, the driver, bought breakfast, and then started driving east. We made it to Newark, N.J., in a day and a half (Don’t check the logbook!) … saw 38 states in three months. Finally hitchhiked home from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to Humboldt, Iowa, to be in a high school buddy’s wedding.

One summer, I went to Bible camp.

One summer, I was a counselor at a Bible camp.

One summer, I went to Boy Scout camp and learned how to tie knots and smoke marijuana.

One summer, I was in summer school.

A few summers later, I was teaching summer school.

This summer? Well, this summer I’m regaining strength in my knee, straining for more extension and more flexibility with that reconstructed ligament. No golf, no swimming, no biking, no walks around the lake.

A summer to remember? Thank God, I’ve had a few.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

If investments in surface transportation infrastructure are not made soon, those costs are expected to grow exponentially. Within 10 years, U.S. businesses would pay an added $430 billion in transportation costs, household incomes would fall by more than $7,000, and U.S. exports will fall by $28 billion.

"Clearly, failing to invest in our roads, bridges and transit systems has a dramatic negative impact on America’s economy," said Kathy J. Caldwell, P.E., F.ASCE, president of ASCE. "The link between a nation’s infrastructure and its economic competitiveness has always been understood. But today, for the first time, we have data showing how much failing to invest in our surface transportation system can negatively impact job growth and family budgets. This report is a wake-up call for policymakers because it shows that investing in infrastructure contributes to creating jobs, while failing to do so hurts main street America."

American businesses and workers will suffer

The report shows that failing infrastructure will drive the cost of doing business up by adding $430 billion to transportation costs in the next decade. It will cost firms more to ship goods, and the raw materials they buy will cost more due to increased transportation costs.

Productivity across the business sector will also tumble. Those increased costs will cause businesses to underperform by $240 billion over the next decade, which will drive the prices of goods up. As a result, U.S. exports will fall by $28 billion, including 79 of 93 tradable commodities. Ten sectors of the U.S. economy account for more than half of this unprecedented loss in export value – among them key technology sectors like machinery, medical devices, communications equipment, which produces much of this country’s innovations.

America would also lose jobs in high-value sectors as business income goes down. Almost 877,000 jobs would be lost by 2020, primarily in the high-value, professional, business and medical sectors which are vital to America’s knowledge-based service economy.

"Today’s report from the American Society of Civil Engineers further reinforces that the U.S. is missing a huge opportunity to ignite economic growth, improve our global competitiveness, and create jobs. This is not just transportation for transportation’s sake. Without more robust economic growth, the U.S. will not create the 20 million jobs needed in the next decade to replace those lost during the recession and to keep up with a growing workforce, will not have the revenue to get the deficit under control, will not have the ability to keep pace with global competitors, and will not be able to provide our children and grandchildren with a better future," said Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Ultimately, Americans will get paid less. While the economy would lose jobs, those who are able to find work will find their paychecks cut by nearly 30 percent.

"The cost to businesses will reduce the productivity and competitiveness of American firms relative to global competitors significantly. By 2020, American families will take a pay cut of more than $7000 because of the ripple effects that will occur throughout the economy," said Steve Landau of the EDR Group. "Business will have to divert increasing portions of earned income to pay for transportation delays and vehicle repairs, draining money that would otherwise be invested in innovation and expansion."

Families will have a lower standard of living

A lack of investment in transportation infrastructure would inflict a double whammy on American families who would see their household incomes fall by $60 a month by 2020, while having to spend $30 per month more for goods. The total cost to families would exact about $10,600 per family between now and 2020, equal to $1,060 per year on household budgets.

Modest investment needed

The report estimates that in order to bring the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure up to tolerable levels, policymakers would need to invest approximately $1.7 trillion between now and 2020 in the nation’s highways and transit systems. The U.S. is currently on track to spend a portion of that - $877 billion - during the same timeframe. The infrastructure funding gap equals $846 billion over 9 years or $94 billion per year.

Small investments in infrastructure, equal to about 60 percent of what Americans spend on fast food each year, would:

• Protect 1.1 million jobs;
• Save Americans 180 million hours in travel time each year;
• Deliver an average of $1,060 to each family; and
• Protect $10,000 in GDP for every man, woman and child in the U.S.

"This report confirms what we have known for some time: if we do not substantially invest in infrastructure soon, we will put our economy, American business and American working families at risk," said Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO. "This report also shows what can be done – with a modest increase in investment, we can rebuild a strong economy where business can thrive and workers can afford a place to live, raise a family, take an occasional vacation, pay for their children’s education and have a dignified retirement."

The report, the first of four scheduled by the Society, examined the country’s surface transportation infrastructure. Future reports will examine the state of the nation’s infrastructure as it relates to water and, wastewater delivery and treatment; energy transmission; and airports and marine ports.

Source: ASCE

His most recent contribution for Geosynthetics was “Turning the Red River green,” a feature story in the February/March 2009 issue.

Arvidson is the founder of Treeline, a design/writing consultancy that focuses on environmentally sustainable projects. The ASLA elevated 40 members to its Council of Fellows for 2011.

Fellowship is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on members and it recognizes the contributions of these individuals to their profession and the society at-large based on their works, leadership and management, knowledge and service.

The 2011 class of new Fellows will be recognized at the 2011 ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo, Oct. 30–Nov. 2 in San Diego.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

A U.S. House of Representatives committee will wait until after the July 4 recess to consider legislation to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating coal ash as a hazardous material in order to secure more bipartisan support, the committee chairman said last Thursday.

Energy and Commerce Committee chair, Rep. Fred Upton (R–Michigan), said he has been advised by a subcommittee chairman and the bill's author that "if we hold off through the recess, we may in fact get much stronger bipartisan support for this effort." Upton said he plans to begin work on the bill after the July 4 recess.

Environment and Economy Subcommittee chair, Rep. John Shimkus (R–Illinois) has "directed his staff to work/discuss/talk with Democrat staff during the upcoming break in order to garner their support for the bill," spokesman Steven Tomaszewski said in an e-mail. The bill cleared Shimkus's subcommittee earlier last week.

Introduced by Rep. David McKinley (R–West Virginia), the bill would require the EPA to conform to its 2000 finding that coal combustion residuals, commonly called coal ash, do not warrant regulation as a hazardous substance under subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The bill would create a state-administered permit program to create enforceable requirements for groundwater monitoring, lining of landfills, corrective action when environmental damage occurs, and structural criteria. If a state is unable or unwilling to implement the permit programs, the EPA would have authority to do so.

The legislation affects a pending EPA rulemaking that has proposed several approaches to regulating coal ash, including the hazardous designation staunchly opposed by utilities and the coal ash recycling industry, but favored by environmentalists that point to harmful constituents in coal ash such as arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. Coal ash is recycled in a myriad of so-called "beneficial uses" such as landscaping, wallboard, and concrete.

The EPA undertook the rulemaking after a storage facility collapsed at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston (Tenn.) plant in December 2008, flooding the surrounding area with "wet" coal waste, an environmental disaster with a cleanup cost estimated at $1 billion. The EPA had originally said that the proposed rule would be released by the end of 2009, but pushed that date back, citing the complexity of the rulemaking.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA).

The first course is August 11–12 in Valley Forge, Pa. The focus of this 1.5-day course is geosynthetic reinforcement in transportation applications. The instructors are Dr. Robert Koerner, director of the Geosynthetic Institute, and David Suits, executive director of NAGS. Nine professional development hours (9 PDHs) are provided upon completion of this course.

To register for the Aug. 11–12 Valley Forge course: https://secure.ifai.com/ifai.com/events/item/137

The ensuing GMA/NAGS short course schedule includes:
October 2011—Atlanta
December 2011—Orlando
February 2012—Northern California
February 2012—Southern California
April 2012—Seattle

To register or for more information:
www.gmanow.com
amaho@ifai.com

Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA).

Among the most inspirational of the latter group was a septuagenarian curmudgeon who was fond of the phrase “the straight dope,” as in, “Ronnie (well, I was a good deal younger than him!) … “Ronnie,” he’d say, “when you’re having trouble writing a story, just remember to give ’em the straight dope.” The reference, in classic Ring Lardner parlance, basically meant, “tell ’em the truth!”

But in dealing with the characters above, that wasn’t always easy given their sideways, less-than-truthful style of dispensing information. And this led to another time-honored piece of advice from my curmudgeonly colleague: Always ask yourself this question, “Why is this SOB lying to me?”

For Geosynthetics during the past five years, we have tried to deliver to you “the straight dope” without prejudice. Our editorial objective remains firmly tied to the principles of providing information with accuracy, knowledge without bias, news without self-serving propaganda.

What better straight dope than the recollections of the self-described “old-timer” as Allan Breitenbach wraps up his three-part series in the June issue recalling the early days of geomembrane testing.

Sam Allen returns the “In the Lab” column to prominence in Geosynthetics—start with his article about testing of geosynthetic drains.

Take a trip to one of the most beautiful panoramas in the world—Lake Tahoe—and see how James Chinchiolo and his crews turned an unsightly eroded bluffside into an award-winning story of restoration.

Want more of the straight dope? Then cheer with Rensselaer’s student engineers … read about the lessons Abigail Beck learned about geomembrane performance … and you can learn from the real-situation questions and educational answers in the popular GMA Techline.

And finally, start with the first article in an ongoing series highlighting geosynthetics and sustainability, with Russell Jones and Neil Dixon writing about “Sustainable development using geosynthetics: European perspectives."

Only in Geosynthetics and on this website—that’s where you get the straight dope.

Ron Bygness is editor of Geosynthetics, one of six magazines published by IFAI.

Responses from a survey conducted at Geo-Frontiers 2011 indicated that readers of Geosynthetics wanted website access to the specification product-data charts from the annual Geosynthetics Specifier’s Guide.

As a result, all of these manufacturers’ charts (available as PDFs) are now on the Specifier’s Guide page: http://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/specifiersguide

In addition, each materials overview page contains links to the corresponding product-data charts. (For an example, see the geotextiles overview page).

Is there additional material from Geosynthetics that you would like to see on the magazine’s website? If so, tell us about your request in the comments section below. Asking may just lead to receiving.

Abbie Yarger is the web content specialist at IFAI.
Ron Bygness is editor of Geosynthetics, one of six magazines published by IFAI.

The primary contributors included Martin Whitmer and Rudy Barry from the firm Whitmer & Worrall and Jimmy Kemp from Kemp Partners.

(1) Whitmer started with a status report on the Transportation Reauthorization Bill. His update included three primary points:

• GMA’s Letters of Support; and great progress on the House side, particularly with help from GMA’s congressional champions.
• GMA’s efforts with the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.
• Timing of this bill in the 112th Congress.

(2) Kemp spoke to issues regarding the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). He cited:

• GMA’s working relationship with the Senate’s EPW Committee.
• Timing and meetings with this committee.
• A paragraph of GMA-crafted language specifically designed for this bill.

(3) Whitmer, Kemp, and Barry all spoke on the issue of coal ash regulation:

• 2011-2012 receipt of comments by the EPA; and EPA’s subsequent decision-making on solid waste vs. hazardous waste designation.
• Recap of work-to-date by GMA on this issue.
• Recently proposed legislation regarding coal ash and prospects.

(4) Members were encouraged to participate in the upcoming Lobby Day in September (dates to be announced).

Read the complete report at http://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/articles/050511_gma_update.html.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association.

Tony Allen, Washington state DOT, discussed the development of the current GTX Work Plan and outlined its features, including the creation of a manufacturer’s audit, geotextile testing, and a geotextile printing program. He also reviewed the reasons for the development of this Work Plan.

Some of the state DOT representatives shared their reasons for wanting better “traceability” of the primary manufacturers by printing identifications directly on the geotextile fabrics. During the session, manufacturers and private-label companies expressed their views regarding the GTX Work Plan. Of greatest concern was the issue of exactly what would be printed on the geotextiles.

For the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA), two action items emerged from this meeting—develop two task groups from GMA member companies that will work through issues related to the GTX Work Plan presented in San Antonio and report back to NTPEP by June 1, 2011.

The first group—geotextile manufacturers—will develop recommendations to NTPEP for a schedule and location of trials/test audits of manufacturers to help determine the best working procedures for full-scale audits. A GMA representative for NTPEP, Brian Whitaker, chairs the geotextile manufacturers task group.

The second group—private-label companies and manufacturers—will develop recommendations to NTPEP for printing on geotextiles. GMA’s other representative to NTPEP, Davis Taylor, will chair the private-label task group.

Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association.

Two of the best sessions featured geosynthetics.

Mike Adams from FHWA continues his lead with a growing cadre of county engineers in the push for construction of more geosynthetically-reinforced-soil bridges. Presentations featuring bridges in Defiance County, Ohio, St. Lawrence County, N.Y., and Buchanan County, Iowa, received rave reviews and dozens of eager questions.

This was an audience obviously filled with engineers who are, of course, required to “do more with less.” When Toby Bogart from upstate New York showed photo after photo of his GRS bridges, and concluded with: “We’re saving about 50%” [compared with traditional bridge construction], you know he had the rapt attention of every engineer in the room.

In another session, GRS pioneer Warren Schlatter from Defiance County explained the step-by-step process for a 140-ft. Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) project, again with the sweet phrasing: “cost savings and reduced construction time lines.”

For some history on GRS bridge-building, see Geosynthetics magazine: "The GRS bridges of Defiance County" from the April/May 2008 issue and "Building the bridge of the future with GRS technology" from the August/September 2006 issue.

*National Association of County Engineers

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

That was the demanding schedule for several of my colleagues who helped organize—and then attended—Geo-Frontiers in Dallas the week of March 13 and IFAI’s Expo Asia in Singapore the week of March 20. And I was gassed after the week in Dallas!

Geo-Frontiers was really an exhilarating four days. (Read more in "Record-setting attendance for Geo-Frontiers 2011.") Maybe this quote, volunteered by a self-styled curmudgeon in attendance, sums it up: “I’m a guy who usually finds something to complain about, and I can’t find even one thing to complain about here.”

Other Geo-Frontiers highlights? Unpacking all the bags sponsored by geosyntheticsmagazine.com and being swamped by all the Sunday attendees who wanted one … best technical sessions I’ve attended in five years, including great GRI papers … seeing the registration desk busy—every day! … seeing old friends and making new ones … trying to maneuver through a crowded and enthusiastic exhibit hall on opening night … and how much fun is the student geo-competition?

Now I am safely back in my office as the descriptions coming from Singapore sound pleasantly similar to what we experienced in Dallas—great attendance, wonderful hotel, very good educational sessions, lively exhibit hall. In addition to IFAI folks who were at both events, TRI’s Sam Allen also made the trek to Singapore after Geo-Frontiers and was a presenter for the two-day geosynthetics education track at Expo Asia.

So now we are done travelling for a while. But I will be in touch with some of you as Geosynthetics follows-up on your many great article ideas. Talk with you soon.

P.S. Geosynthetics magazine is proud to announce the addition of three new Editorial Advisory Committee members. Welcomed officially at Geo-Frontiers:

• Malek Bouazza, Monash University, Australia
• Robert Phaneuf, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, USA
• Richard Thiel, Thiel Engineering, USA

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics magazine.

Did you know …?

One presenter at the IECA conference had photos demonstrating the use of geogrids in slope-and-road reconstructions. When asked about his discovery of these geogrid applications, his response: “I read about it in your magazine and thought I’d give it a try…works great!”

Best IECA presentation in 2011? As far as well-presented and interesting content, it would be hard to beat Jim Berger’s “Citizen Lawsuits: Coming soon to a jobsite near you.” Nice job, Jim! … And who was the recipient of the 2010 IECA Speaker of the Year Award? The dynamic Dwayne Stenlund from MnDOT whose 1-hour “Total pollution management best practices in Minnesota” featured 277 photos!

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute hosted nearly 90 attendees at its March 11 Short Course in Indianapolis … Do you know how wick drains work? We didn’t, but we received the best 10-minute educational lecture on the subject by James Cramer of Hayward Baker Wick Drains at his office in Centennial, Colo. … Want good eats at the airport? Try Minneapolis or Denver. Orlando?—not so much!

The Watersaver Co.—family-owned and operated since the 1940s— occupies 9 acres in Commerce City, Colo., just northeast of downtown Denver (and Stan Slifer gives a great tour!) … and there’s more good food nearby at La Casa Del Rey (“House of the King”).

Disappointed by the commercial and promotional tone of some presentations during the SME show’s technical sessions … Colorado Lining is prepping for a massive 4-month project in Australia. CLI’s technical manager, Bryant Jefferson, will be Down Under during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter months!

Want a fun tour? Try visiting a geofoam facility—there’s probably one nearby you, they’re all over the country … Mary, Tom, Mark, and Aaron were our congenial hosts at ACH Foam in Denver last month.

Next year, IECA’s Environmental Connection (EC-’12) is in Las Vegas at the Rio, Feb. 26-29 … the 2012 SME (Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration) Annual Meeting and Exhibit is Feb. 19-22 in Seattle.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association.

More than two dozen GMA members met with U.S. representatives, senators, and their staffs in February. The annual GMA Lobby Day Feb. 16 echoed themes of infrastructure, transportation, public works, and ways that geosynthetic materials could be used in those projects.

One-third of the sessions were with members who are on transportation, infrastructure, and public works committees, including: Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.), Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Most of the meetings also included positive responses in aiding GMA’s Geotextile Separation/Interlayer Study.

In attendance for GMA were: John Henderson (TenCate), chairman of the GMA Executive Council; Boyd Ramsey (GSE); Frank Hollowell, Jason Lamers, and Brian Whitaker (Fiberweb); Frank Pace and Steve Thaxton (Propex); Archie Filshill (CETCO); Fred Chuck and Ken Collins (TenCate); Ed Silva (Ronald Mark & Assoc.); Davis Taylor (Thrace-LINQ); Gresham Barker (Belton); Sarah Hyland (IFAI); and GMA Managing Director Andrew Aho.

Representing the firms Whitmer & Worrall and Kemp Partners were: Martin Whitmer, Tom Worral, Jimmy Kemp, Rob Houton, Rudy Barry, and Jeff Loveng.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association.

Editor’s note: The following statement was presented by GMA managing director Andrew Aho to the Geosynthetics Committee at the Transportation Research Board’s 90^th Annual Meeting Jan. 25 in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for giving me a few minutes on your agenda to share with your committee an important Geosynthetic Materials Association initiative that we have been working on with our government relations team.

I am Andrew Aho, managing director of GMA. As you may know, GMA has a robust government relations program and we have had a full-time presence here in Washington for the past five years. Please allow me to introduce some of our lobbying team that is with us tonight: Martin Whitmer, Jimmy Kemp, and Rudy Barry.

These gentlemen, the members of GMA, and I am sure all of you have been anticipating a new effort by Congress in developing a comprehensive Transportation Authorization Bill. The process of continuing resolutions has been frustrating to us all. During the time of continuing resolutions, our team has been very busy and successful with other issues important to the geosynthetic industry.

One major issue we have been working on is that of requiring that coal ash waste facilities be lined with geosynthetic materials—a composite liner system that would help protect groundwater and prevent a coal ash spill as [occurred in December] 2008 in Kingston, Tenn.

GMA was out front with that issue, working with members of Congress and the EPA to ensure that geosynthetics is part of the solution to the coal ash waste issue. We secured letters from members of Congress urging the EPA to require geosynthetic liners, we had members of Congress asking geosynthetic related questions at congressional hearings, and we also testified at eight EPA hearings on the issue, and we provided written and oral comments on the issue.

We also worked closely with a congressional office to draft legislation requiring liners at coal ash sites—legislation that could have been introduced should the EPA not go in our direction.

We are now confident that when the final rule is established this year that a composite liner system will be required at all coal ash waste sites. When implemented, we expect this rule will add more that $350 million to the geosynthetic market.

We are now prepared for a similar effort with the Transportation Authorization Bill.

GMA agrees with this [TRB] committee that a cost benefit study of using geotextiles as separators in roadways is the number one research need in the industry. We have taken your research needs statement and modified it slightly and we added a new component—we will not only seek funding for the separation study, but also for a cost benefit study of pavements incorporating geosynthetic interlayers. We are taking this approach because of conversations our team has had with Chairman John Mica and the staff of the House Transportation Committee—and our separation study initiative reflects the new Chairman’s priorities for the 112^th Congress.

The chairman has indicated that the focus of the transportation bill will be finding ways to get more benefit for dollars spent. This means there will be a greater focus on maintenance of roadways.

We will be working with congressional staff to design a request that will have the best chance of success. We will also need the support of the people on this committee and the friends of the committee. In the next few weeks we will be hosting a conference call, and that time we can discuss the particular details of our proposal and field more specific questions. However, both the separation piece and the interlayer piece reflect the past research needs statements made by this committee.

GMA also encourages this committee to continue efforts through TRB/AASHTO process to secure funding for your research needs. At the same time we will be pursuing a parallel track to secure funding through congress.

We look forward to working with all of you in this effort. In the near future, please look for an invitation to join our conference call to discuss the details of our proposal. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to share with the committee.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association.

• Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Jan. 24-26 in Washington, D.C.
Andrew will be here, attending the meetings of the Geosynthetics Committee (AFS70).

• World Ag Expo
Feb. 7-10 in Tulare, Calif.
First time at this event for Andrew. The Ag Expo in the San Joaquin Valley region of south-central California annually draws 100,000 visitors and more than 1,500 exhibitors.

• GMA Lobby Days
Feb. 15-16 in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday evening’s dinner for the GMA attendees is followed the next day by meetings with congressional representatives and staffers to promote and educate regarding geosynthetic products, applications, and services. Participants will also advance GMA’s ongoing initiatives such as coal-ash containment with the EPA, transportation reauthorization bill, Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and the Farm Bill.

• IECA’s Environmental Connection (EC’11)
Feb. 21-23 in Orlando
The sixth EC event for both of us, second in Orlando. Stop by our booth (#107) to visit with us or to meet your account manager.

• Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) Annual Meeting & Exhibit
Feb. 28–March 2 in Denver
Another first-time event for both of us. We look forward to meeting a number of Colorado-based members and contributors.

• Geo-Frontiers
March 13-16 in Dallas
The biggest geo event of the year as the Geosynthetic Materials Association, a division of IFAI, teams with ASCE/G-I and NAGS/IGS for a terrific show. This event features eight full-day short courses, 90 education sessions within 10 technical tracks, geotechnical products and services exhibits, student programs, networking events, awards programs, and GRI’s annual conference—GRI-24.
We'll see you there to discuss information about GMA’s current initiatives, including its terrific government-relations program; chat with Ron about article ideas; and check in-person with your account manager for all of your advertising and exhibiting needs.

• International Concrete Expo (ICON)/CONEXPO—CON-AGG
March 21-26 in Las Vegas
Andrew will be in touch with his colleagues from NCMA among others. Stop by booth 21031. There are more that 2,000 exhibitors and 140,000 attendees at this event.
Five days in Vegas! (Will he ever return?)

• National Association of County Engineers (NACE)
April 17-21 in Minneapolis
Our friends from NACE come to our home base here in the Twin Cities. Welcome!

• National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP)
April 20-21 in San Antonio
Our travels slow down after the first quarter of the year, but Andrew is attending NTPEP again to stay abreast of geosynthetics in transportation applications.

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics. Andrew Aho is the managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association.

We will be back again in January and hope to hear from you then.

Warmest regards,
–Ron & Andrew

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics. Andrew Aho is managing director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association.

Prompted, of course, by the devastating failure of a coal-ash facility in Kingston, Tenn. in Dec. 2008, the U.S. EPA in November finally completed the “comment” portion of its regulatory journey to require liners for such containment sites in this country.

But that is the U.S. EPA. What about the (thousands?) of other coal-fueled power plants around the world?

Check out some newsbites in a recent report from Cebu, Philippines:

• Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Yap of Branch 28 led the [visual] inspection of the ash pond of Toledo Power Plant–Cebu Energy Development Corp. (CEDC).
• The inspection aims to help the court decide on a complaint for the issuance of an environmental protection order (EPO) filed by three environmental groups against coal-fired power plants.
• Petitioners said the indiscriminate dumping of coal-ash waste poses harm to [human] health and to the environment.
• “It exposed their operation protocol, which did not follow provisions of the law,” lawyer Ben Cabrido told a local newspaper.
• [Cabrido] said the coal-fired power plant violated provisions from RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2009.
• CEDC maintained that the landfill facility fulfilled and complied with all legal requisites and government regulations.

Any liners and covers headed for the Philippines?

Ron Bygness is the editor of Geosynthetics.

SUBJECT: 2010 Election Briefing

DATE: 11/10/10 2010 Election Briefing

This document is intended to provide a snapshot of the Congressional elections that took place Nov. 2, 2010. It also provides insight into changes that will be taking place in relevant Congressional committees and insight into upcoming legislative initiatives for the 112th Congress.

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee / Senate Environment & Public Works Committee

As the leadership of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee changes, the Committee’s top priority of passing a surface transportation reauthorization bill will remain unchanged. At the same time, the likely chairman of the Republican-led panel, John L. Mica of Florida, is expected to propose a transportation policy that differs in important ways from the draft produced in 2009 by current Chairman James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.).

On the Senate side there will likely be no change in the leadership. We expect that Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) will continue as Chairman and Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) as Ranking Member. These committees will be working to complete a new transportation reauthorization bill and Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in the new Congress.

Coal Ash

Currently, the EPA comment period for the proposed coal ash regulation—HAZARDOUS AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM; IDENTIFICATION AND LISTING OF SPECIAL WASTES; DISPOSAL OF COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUALS FROM ELECTRIC UTILITIES—is open through Nov. 19, 2010. It is projected that a final decision on the regulation may not come for at least one year after the comment period has closed.

We believe that if a non-hazardous designation is chosen, [then] Congress and its new Republican majority in the House will not force the EPA’s hand to make any changes to, or repeal, the ruling. Should the EPA classify coal ash a hazardous material we believe Congress will react negatively and plot a course to reverse the decision. GMA has currently positioned itself very well for this issue through constant communication with Capitol Hill, a signed letter from three Members of Congress to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson highlighting the value of geosynthetics related to this issue, and official comments submitted to the EPA regarding the proposed regulation. As the new Congress convenes and committee assignments are distributed, GMA will immediately work to educate new Members of Congress on the issue, GMA’s role to-date related to the issue, and its importance to the geosynthetic industry.

2012 Farm Bill

The “Farm Bill” is the major agricultural and food policy tool of the federal government. The current Farm Bill—the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008—is set to expire in 2012. In an attempt to avoid the delays in passage that have characterized consideration of previous Farm Bills, Representative Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, began work early on the legislation, starting this past spring with a series of “listening sessions” across the country to take the pulse of stakeholders. The Senate also began hearings early in the summer in preparation for the 2012 Farm Bill. Representative Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) is expected to assume the chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee. Although the Democrats retained control of the Senate, the Senate Agriculture Committee will also have new leadership, as Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) was defeated by Republican John Boozman. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is viewed as the likely successor as Chairman. Consideration of the bill is expected to start shortly after the 112th Congress convenes.

The GEOblog is updated regularly by Ron Bygness, editor of Geosynthetics magazine, and Andrew Aho, executive director of the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA).