Business Details
31 Years
experience
Expert Containment Engineering Services
Founded in 1995, Thiel Engineering has established itself as a leader in containment system engineering and construction management. Our firm specializes in geotechnical projects, waste containment, and secondary containment of fuel, with over 30 years of experience guiding our work. We prioritize personalized engineering services tailored to client needs, avoiding commodity-style approaches to maintain high standards of quality and customer service. Our expertise spans landfill design, leach mining applications, and regulatory permitting, supported by extensive participation in national and international conferences. We serve a trusted client base of private industry, government jurisdictions, and engineering firms, delivering repeat business through reputation and referrals.Our team provides construction-level design, peer review services, and expert litigation support, complemented by educational courses on geosynthetics and liner system design. With registrations as a Professional Civil Engineer in California and Oregon, we combine technical rigor with practical solutions for complex containment challenges. Our work includes forensic analyses, slope stability evaluations, and geotechnical investigations, ensuring compliance with evolving industry standards. We maintain strong connections with academia and contribute to developing state solid waste regulations, reflecting our commitment to advancing the field. Through decades of experience, we continue to uphold our reputation for excellence in containment engineering.
Services
Containment System Design
Landfill Development
Geotechnical Evaluations
Construction Management
Expert Litigation Services
Slope Stability Analysis
Regulatory Permitting
Educational Courses
Forensic Engineering
Peer Review Services
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of specialized expertise in containment system engineering.
- Our founder is a licensed expert witness in geotechnical litigation cases.
- We provide tailored solutions for complex landfill and mining projects.
- We combine academic research with practical field experience in design.
- Our team maintains active participation in national engineering conferences.
Associations and certifications
- Registered Professional Civil Engineer (California)
- Registered Professional Civil Engineer (Oregon)
- Registered Geotechnical Engineer (Oregon)
Services
Containment System Design
We design single and double liner systems for landfills, hazardous waste facilities, and surface impoundments. Our solutions include water balance covers, exposed geomembrane systems, and veneer-reinforced designs. Services cover peer reviews, remedial designs, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Geotechnical Evaluations
Our geotechnical services include site reconnaissance, test pit logging, and laboratory testing program coordination. We analyze slope stability, foundation requirements, and waste reclamation challenges using deterministic and probabilistic methods for both static and seismic conditions.
Expert Litigation Services
We provide forensic analyses of slope failures and cover system defects. Our services include expert witness testimony, arbitration support, and mediation assistance for construction disputes involving liner systems and geotechnical projects.
Construction Management
We offer CQA monitoring, contract administration, and materials testing for containment projects. Our team ensures compliance with design specifications during earthwork, piping installation, and geosynthetic material deployment.
Educational Courses
We conduct nationwide courses on landfill design and geosynthetics through ASCE and industry associations. Our training programs cover liner system design, regulatory compliance, and construction best practices for engineers and regulators.
People
Richard Thiel
Principal Engineer
Registered Civil Engineer with 30+ years of experience in containment system design. Specializes in landfill engineering, geotechnical evaluations, and expert litigation support. Developed regulatory frameworks and educational programs for the industry.
Questions
What engineering services do you specialize in?
We specialize in containment system design, geotechnical evaluations, construction management, expert litigation support, and educational training for landfill and mining projects.
Do you provide services outside the United States?
Yes, we've worked on projects in Australia, Brazil, and South Africa through international client partnerships and consulting engagements.
Are your engineers licensed professionals?
Our principal engineer holds active registrations as a Professional Civil Engineer in California and Oregon, and as a Geotechnical Engineer in Oregon.
Can you assist with regulatory permitting?
Yes, we provide regulatory permitting services including compliance documentation, public hearing support, and negotiations with environmental agencies.
Do you offer expert witness services?
Yes, we provide forensic analysis and expert testimony for construction disputes involving slope stability, liner systems, and geotechnical failures.
How long has your firm been in business?
Thiel Engineering has operated continuously since its founding in 1995, specializing in containment engineering solutions for over 25 years.
