Drama in D.C.?

October 1, 2015  |  Editorial, News

One of my favorite trips every year is the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) Fall Lobby Day. It is usually a good time to be in Washington … not too hot, not too cold, slight chance of rain. It is also the political season for dramatic action—or in recent sessions of Congress—inaction a…
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New look website

August 1, 2015  |  Editorial, News

When we go on vacations, we go on no-electronics vacations. Sure, we have a phone for emergencies but it is turned off until needed. And no other devices or wireless access. That said, I recommend that—when you are plugged in—you spend more time checking out our revamped and enhanced magazine we…
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World of coal ash

June 1, 2015  |  Editorial

What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports issa goin’ on here? —Slim Pickens as Taggart in “Blazing Saddles” By Ron Bygness I could not help recalling that memorable line from the classic Mel Brooks movie while I was first investigating an industry conference on the subject of coal ash. Truly, w…
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Notes, quotes and anecdotes from Geo 15

April 1, 2015  |  Editorial

By Ron Bygness Arousingly successful combo event that partnered the Geosynthetics 2015 conference with the annual Environmental Connection show in Portland, Ore., Feb. 15–18, deserves more recollections. Attendance was good? No, it was fantastic! A number of technical sessions were full-house, SRO…
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HNY to all

February 1, 2015  |  Editorial

By Ron Bygness Special Happy New Year (HNY) greetings are in order for our many readers, contributors, and colleagues involved with geosynthetics and Geosynthetics magazine. And HNY for all of our acronym friends who especially stood out in 2014: HNY, EPA—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency w…
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EPA releases regulations on coal ash

December 22, 2014  |  Editorial

By Boyd Ramsey On Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued rules on the disposal of coal combustion residuals (“coal ash”). These rules take effect 180 days after publication in the Federal Register, but for general intents and purposes will affect ge…
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Annual Spec Guide ushers in 2015

December 1, 2014  |  Editorial

By Ron Bygness Another year, another Specifier’s Guide—for more than a quarter century the gold standard of geosynthetics specifications for engineers, public and private construction, and education. If you missed it, let’s take a look back at Geosynthetics magazine 2014, highlighted here by e…
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FHWA’s Innovator newsletter highlights geosynthetic reinforced soil bridge building

October 23, 2014  |  Editorial

Expanding the use of GRS–IBS Eight innovations are new to Every Day Counts, but three are carried over from earlier rounds of the FHWA initiative because the need to expand their implementation continues. They include … geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge systems (GRS-IBS). Geosynthet…
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Water, water, water

October 1, 2014  |  Editorial

By Ron Bygness Eight years ago, I interviewed Ernie English. At that time, Ernie was with GSE and was the chairman of the Geosynthetic Materials Association’s Executive Council. I asked him several questions about the state of the geosynthetics industry, about market opportunities, about some hist…
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Educate the Educators

August 1, 2014  |  Editorial

By Ron Bygness The Professor Training Course for Geosynthetics (aka, Educate the Educators) was a successful educational effort that ran for one week each summer, 1994–1998, at Auburn University in Alabama under the direction of Prof. Dave Elton. A reinvigorated plan to launch a 21st century versi…
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