News

News, announcements, policy updates, spotlighted websites, software updates and other info that may be of interest to practicing geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists, geophysicists, hydrogeologists and related professions.

No Picture
Press Releases

Lawmakers Step Up To Address Dangerous Dams

November 21, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Lawmakers Step Up To Address Dangerous Dams

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
By: American Rivers

House Approves 200 Million Dollar Authorization to Fix or Remove Ticking Time Bombs

Contacts: Garrett Russo, American Rivers, (202) 423-9494; Laura Wildman, P.E.; American Rivers, (860) 913-3960
 

Washington, D.C.— Millions of Americans are living in the shadow of dangerous dams all across the country, but that may be about to change, thanks to quick action by the House of Representatives to pass the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2007 (H.R 3224), sponsored by Representative John T. Salazar (D-CO). The bill, which authorizes 200 million dollars to help fix, or remove publicly owned dams all across the country, now heads to the Senate.
 

[…]

Failures

Iraq Dam in Danger of Collapse

November 21, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Iraq Dam in Danger of Collapse

The Mosul Dam in Iraq is in danger of an "imminent collapse" according to a Washington Post article.  The dam threatens the lives of as many as 500,000 people in Mosul which could be innundated by over 60-ft of water if the dam fails. Parts of Baghdad could see as much as 15-ft of water. Read on for more info.

[…]

Failures

27 Years Ago: Bizarre Drilling Disaster at Lake Peigneur

November 21, 2007 rockman 2

I thought the 17 27 year anniversary of this unique geological disaster was occasion enough for another look. On November 21, 1980 a Texaco oil rig was drilling an oil exploration well from Lake Peigneur in Southern Louisiana when the drill stem punched into the third level of the nearby Diamond Crystal Salt Company as a result of a miscalculation (understatement!). The lake, approximately 2.5 BILLION gallons, drained into the mine taking the drilling platform with it and another 11 barges, trees, and some of the surrounding terrain. As if that weren’t enough, the Delcambre Canal which normally flows from the lake into Vermillion Bay actually reversed flow for several days and filled the mine and the lake with salt water. It also temporarily created Louisiana’s tallest waterfall at 164-ft (see photo at left). Read on for more info, video, maps, and links.

[…]

No Picture
Geologic Hazards

ASCE: Cease and Desist over Video Spoof

November 19, 2007 rockman Comments Off on ASCE: Cease and Desist over Video Spoof

The American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE sent a cease and desist letter to the owner of the Levees.Org website notifying them to remove a video spoof of its post-Katrina levee inspection. Of course, through the wonders of the internet, Levees.org removed it from YouTube, but someone else posted it again. And because of all the fuss, it’s more popular than it would have been otherwise with over 16,000 views at the time of this post. Click through to watch it.

[…]

Miscellaneous

URS Completes $3.1 Billion Buyout

November 19, 2007 rockman Comments Off on URS Completes $3.1 Billion Buyout

URS Corp. has completed the buyout of Washington Group International Inc. for $3.1 billion in cash and stock. I saw the buyout listed as $3.2 billion somewhere else…hey, what’s another $100 million, right? Read more about the deal.

I used to work for URS, and we used to joke about their seemingly continuous acquisition of companies. Hence the Borg reference in the image I created at left.

"We are URS. You will be assimilated. Your engineering and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own." — Martin Koffel (just kidding)

[…]

No Picture
Standards and Codes

ASFE: Fighting Back Against Expert Witnesses

November 16, 2007 rockman Comments Off on ASFE: Fighting Back Against Expert Witnesses

The ASFE website has an interesting article on the ethics involved in expert witness testimony. They have been at the forefront of that arena since the publication of Recommended Practices for Design Professionals Engaged in the Resolution of Construction Industry Disputes, a document endorsed by 37 major organizations. The most interesting part in my mind was how they point out the role of an expert witness is to provide an opinion as to whether the standard of care was followed or not. According to ASFE, many expert witnesses do not do the necessary research to determine what the standard of care is. More…

[…]