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The Dirt, biweekly eNewsletter

Top Stories - April 11, 2013

 

Silt Curtain Protects Historic Blue Hole

In 2011, historic flooding occurred along the Mississippi River, including portions of Mississippi County, Missouri. Following procedures to alleviate pressure caused by high water levels, pre-determined sections of the river’s levee were detonated to allow water to flow into an adjacent floodway, known as the Birds Point New Madrid Floodway. The levee was detonated in three artificial crevasses referred to as the upper, center and lower crevasses.

Project to Repair the Levee

Once the floods had receded, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was sent in to relieve floodwater impact and restore the portions of the levee that had been detonated. The scope of the project was to repair the upper, center, and lower crevasses by filling scour holes, leveling ground and restoring detonated portions of the levee.

Repairing the Scour Hole & Levee at the Center Crevasse Location

While scouring and erosion occurred in many different areas, environmental concerns were raised at the center crevasse location. Here, a scour hole formed covering approximately 11.5 acres with depths up to 50 feet. The scour hole was so large that it connected to a pre-existing habitat known as the Historic Blue Hole. Home to many aquatic plants and vegetation, the Historic Blue Hole had become a protected and preserved area.

In order to repair the levee, plans were in place in fill the scour hole with sand and sediment from displaced farmlands and sand dredged from the bottom of the river. However, because the two holes were connected, measures had to be taken to ensure that displaced materials did not flow from the scour hole to the Historic Blue Hole.

To protect the area, a proposal was set in place to separate the two holes. In efforts to reduce installation time and costs to the taxpayer, a BMP known as the floating silt curtain was recommended to act as a temporary barrier between the two holes.

By Samantha Davino, Granite Environmental

To see the rest of the article, check out the March/April 2013 issue of Land and Water Magazine by clicking here.


 


 

Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association Announces New Board of Directors

The Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association (SWEMA) has announced its new board of directors. Formed in 2008, SWEMA supports the regulatory and engineering communities, as well as the individual cities and states, in implementing the Clean Water Act. Officers are: Gene LaManna of Terre Hill Stormwater Systems, president; Derek Berg of Contech, vice president; and Will Harris of Filterra Bioretention Systems, treasurer/secretary. The board of directors are, Larry Abatiell of Hydro International; Scott Perry of Imbrium Systems Corp.; John Moll of CrystalStream Technologies; and Anna Griggs of DBI Services.

In addition to the new officers, SWEMA announced the following chairman appointments: Greg Kent of BioClean Environmental Services, Inc., Maintenance Committee; Tori Durliat of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS), Marketing Committee; Chris French of Filterra Bioretention Systems, Government Affairs and Regulatory Committee; and Ryan Janoch of Terraphase Engineering Inc., Technical Committee.

To go right to the source, click here.


 


 

Tesmec Introduces New Line of Farm Drainage Trenchers

Tesmec USA, Inc. and its parent company, The Tesmec Group, are proud to announce that Tesmec USA, Inc. will begin to offer the 775DT product line to the North American and Caribbean markets, effective January 1, 2013.

The new 775DT is the first Tesmec trencher specifically developed for the farm drainage tile industry. The 775DT fulfills customer requirements for a trencher that must be durable, maneuverable, and with a low ground pressure without sacrificing productivity, efficiency, ease of use, and reliability.

To go directly to the source click here.


 


 

Ship Repair Co. Fined More Than $700,000 for Water Pollution Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii State Department of Health announced their settlement with Marisco Ltd. including civil penalties of $710,000 for water pollution control violations at its ship repair and drydock facilities at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor on Oahu. This is the largest Clean Water Act civil penalty against a ship repair facility nationwide.

EPA’s complaint against Marisco finds that the company failed to implement water pollution controls required by its Clean Water Act discharge permit at its main ship repair facility and at its separate 3,500 metric ton “Lil’ Perris” floating drydock. During an inspection in 2008, EPA and Hawaii DOH observed storage of leaking equipment, workers washing down work areas directly into the harbor, and sandblast material from Marisco’s operations discharged into the harbor.

In addition to the civil penalties, the settlement requires Marisco to use clean water to wash the drydock after paint removal and sandblasting, collect the water used for washing, and treat it to ensure that it is not discharged when the drydock is lowered into the harbor.

To go directly to the source, click here.


 


 

FINN Unveils Online Dealer Training Program

FINN Corporation, a world leader in the manufacture of landscape and erosion control equipment and materials, launches a sales training program unique to manufacturers of its size. The web-based program consists of twenty training modules or courses, specifically designed to educate the FINN distribution networks’ equipment and materials sales personnel. Each online module consists of a slide presentation and accompanying test which requires an 80 percent score or better to successfully complete. More than 200 dealer personnel are currently registered for the program, provided at no charge by FINN. Upon successful completion of the program, each student becomes “FINN Certified” and receives a plaque and gift.

In addition to training modules covering all major FINN product lines - HydroSeeders®, Bark Blowers, Straw Blowers, and MTS (Material Transfer System) – this comprehensive program also includes courses dedicated to FINN’s landfill applications with the LF-120 HydroSeeder®, plus FINN hydroseeding Consumables and FINN TRU-Mulch hydromulch products. Future expansion of this online training program into the parts and service areas is likely.

To see the full press release, click here to take you directly to the source.


 


 

Profile Products Launches Online Video Library Resource

Profile Products launched a robust online video resource library for contractors and specifiers at Profileevs.com. The video library showcases more than a dozen segments of varying themes, including product demonstrations, application instruction guides and technical video segments.

The collection of videos will provide viewers with a breadth of free learning opportunities to help develop the most effective solutions for any project site. Video topics discussed include an in-depth look at the importance of understanding soil properties and its effect on a project’s results; proper mixing and application techniques for hydraulic mulch; and laboratory demonstrations that illustrate differing yield and coverage results and water-holding capacities of various solutions.

To see the full press release, click here to take you directly to the source.


 


 

CETCO Announces Merge of Lining & Remediation Teams

CETCO is proud to announce the merging of the Lining Technologies Group and Remediation Technologies Group. The merging of the remediation and lining product lines will allow our sales team to manage smaller geographical regions, allowing them to more effectively support our customers. Additionally, the realigned sales team will facilitate greater collaboration and alleviate the need to contact multiple sales teams within the organization for a single project.

To see the full press release, click here to take you directly to the source.


 


 

Call for Submissions for Environmental Connection 2014

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is calling for submissions for Environmental Connection 2014, annual conference and expo. Combining quality education with a top‐notch expo, is the premier gathering place for the erosion and sediment control community. The 2014 conference will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. February 25‐28, 2014.

This coming year, IECA is focusing on the relevant issues and challenges facing erosion control and stormwater quality management professionals. Recommended hot topics for Environmental Connection 2014 include: Stormwater Volume Control from Construction Sites; Computing Run‐off Hydrographs for Small Construction Areas; Cost‐effectiveness of Temporary Seeding; Comparing Various Soft Armoring Techniques of Construction Slopes; Practices and Standards; Oil and Gas Successful Revegatation Practices; MS4 Management Changes to Meet New EPA Rules; Proper Installation of Rain Gardens and Other Green Infrastructures; and National Perspective Update on Effluent Limitation Approaches Across the Country. The deadline to submit an abstract is May 31, 2013.

To see the full press release, click here to take you directly to the source.