Environmental Compliance '97 is moving to the new Toronto Congress Centre. It will be held in conjunction with the 1997 Ontario Environmental Exposition, a tradeshow organized by Great West Expo Inc., who have ten years experience with environmental shows. Workshop attendees can tour the tradeshow at no extra cost.

For four years, Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine, and Canadian Environmental Regulation and Compliance News have produced the highly successful Environmental Compliance Conference & Workshops. This annual event has proved to be of great value to professional people with environmental responsibilities, and those concerned with occupational health and safety issues.

The Thames Barrier, which protects London from rising water levels and tidal surges, has undergone essential maintenance.

Down river from the City of London, this unique structure spans the river for 520 metres. Its 10 separate 61 metre, moveable steel flood gates - the four main ones are as high as a five storey building - pivot between piers housing the operating machinery.

Using a specially-designed cofferdam, engineers worked below the waterline on the Barrier's main bearings, round which the 3,500 tonne flood gates rotate. The work included installation of Condition Monitoring Equipment to provide future advanced warning of any deterioration to these vital components.

Specially-designed monitoring equipment comprises accelerometers and transducers which measure wear in the 2-metre diameter bearings and lubricating film, providing advanced warning of any deterioration. The condition of these critical items of equipment can now be evaluated quickly and cheaply, without the need to resort to physical examination.

Since the Thames Barrier's completion in 1983, it has protected the capital from flooding more than twenty times.