GMA is a sponsor for Educate the Educators

October 1, 2015  |  News

In late July, I joined representatives from seven GMA member companies to attend the revived Educate the Educators conference held at the University of Texas in Austin. The purpose of the event was to educate university professors from the United States and around the world on the benefits of geosyn…
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Educating the Educators on Geosynthetics

October 1, 2015  |  News

Wouldn’t it be great if graduating civil engineering students knew much more about geosynthetics? Frankly, it would be nice if they at least knew the difference between a geotextile and a geomembrane, wouldn’t it? Often, they don’t have the opportunity to study geosynthetics as part of their u…
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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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Effluent pond liners

October 1, 2015  |  News, Q&A: GMA Techline

Flammability? Zip ties? MARV? Ponds? GT specs? Questions and answers from the GMA Techline. I’m designing an effluent pond (the geotechnical aspect at least) and have a couple of questions: Do you see any issues with placing a gravel (rounded) subdrain system underneath the pond, sandwiched betwee…
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Using geosynthetic materials to effectively close a coal ash pond

October 1, 2015  |  Case Studies

Introduction Many electric utilities are required by the U.S. Environmetal Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently published Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities Rule to evaluate and address closure options for historical coal ash storage areas. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy …
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GCL woven side against geomembrane

October 1, 2015  |  News, Q&A: GMA Techline

Flammability? Zip ties? MARV? Ponds? GT Specs? Questions and answers from the GMA Techline. I seem to recall a webinar or presentation in which the presenter warned against using the woven side of a GCL against a geomembrane due to bentonite squeeze-out and subsequent slippage. Instead, the nonwoven…
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Part 2: Durability of geosynthetics

October 1, 2015  |  Features

Part 2 Durability of geosynthetics: The basics Author’s note This article is based on a training presentation delivered on Sept. 24, 2014, at the 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics in Berlin, Germany. That talk was itself based on courses given at ERA Technology, Leatherhead, U.K., wit…
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HDPE flammability

October 1, 2015  |  News, Q&A: GMA Techline

Flammability? Zip yies? MARV? Ponds? GT specs? Questions and answers from the GMA Techline. I am involved with a landfill permit renewal. A question keeps coming up concerning the flammability potential of HDPE liner. What is that potential and do you know of any liner system fires? Eric | USA Eric,…
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