Our company provides expertise with a workforce of highly trained and certified personnel with well over 80 years of combined experience.
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Our certifications and specialized services include:
Wetland Delineations
Threatened and Endangered Species Surveying Methods
Mexican Spotted Owl Certification
NEPA Document Preparation
Phase I Audits
Aerial Raptor Surveys
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Our staff includes:
Skilled Biologists
Certified Senior Wildlife Biologist
Landscape Architects
Professional Geologists
Licensed Civil, Structural, and Mining Engineers
Certified Archeologists
Professional Land Surveyors
Draftsmen
WHO WE ARE
Mel Coonrod, Owner/CEO
Mel Coonrod has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Vertebrate Zoology and Chemistry, a Masters Degree in Silviculture, and Post-Graduate work in Ecology. Mel has a wide range of experience in the environmental arena. Beginning as an instructor in two major universities, then into the private sector where he built the largest reforestation TSI contracting firm in the Intermountain West, planting in excess of one million trees per year. In the mid-1970's, he was hired by Getty Oil Company as an environmental coordinator; and completed the second Approved Mine Reclamation Plan in Utah. ​
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When Texaco purchased Getty Oil in 1981, Mel founded EIS Environmental Industrial Service. Under his direction, the firm has implemented numerous NEPA documents, PAP’s, LBA’s, as well as reclamation and engineering plans throughout the west. The first two coal mines to receive Phase II Bond Release were projects in which EIS played a major role in both planning and implementation. Mel is licensed in engineering, landscape architecture, and general contracting. He is certified for Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species surveys; wetland delineation, raptor inventories, asbestos inspection, and numerous MSHA ratings. He is also a licensed pilot and a fully certified diver in open water, with scuba ratings in various areas. In addition to his vast experience in a variety of fields, he has published a number of articles and has worked extensively with several government agencies in developing training films and literature used to instruct both industry and agency personnel in areas of reclamation and wildlife enhancement.​
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Mel’s philosophy relative to development is to create a win-win scenario, wherein the resource can be utilized in a cost-effective manner, while at the same time the environment can be enhanced to such a degree through cost-effective mitigation that there is no net loss for the life of the project.
J.T. "Tom" Paluso, P.E.
Chief Engineer
Carlyle (Carly) Burton
Professional Hydrologist
Tom Paluso started in March 1999 with EIS Environmental & Engineering Consulting as head of the Engineering Department. During his time here, Tom has worked on road design projects, mine sewage systems, mine reserve evaluations, mine equipment evaluation, mine seal approval, and various structural design projects.
Tom has extensive experience in designing large culverts and stream crossing structures, monitoring stream restoration projects, authoring NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA) documents for mine methane drainage projects along with modifications to other EA documents. He also has experience on air quality permitting for new mine development and other various mining and drilling operations. Some recent projects include designing the water and sewer system for the Eagle Gate Subdivision near Kenilworth, Utah. Supervising the design of the water and sewer systems for a proposed 40-unit condominium development north of Scofield, Utah. He has also been involved in numerous small commercial sewage systems in Carbon and Emery Counties.
David Basinger is a professional botanist/taxonomist. David graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Botany with undergraduate studies in taxonomy/plant geography and geology. David has coordinated and managed regulatory documentation and baseline analysis required for state and federal mandates. Specific duties include water, soil and vegetation monitoring; compliance coordination; reclamation supervision and contract management. Coordinate and act as co-author of NEPA and EPA related regulatory documentation produced. Interface with agency personnel. David is also experienced in Hydro seeding, erosion control, erosion blanket installation, reclamation, and native seed collecting, processing and sales.
Senior Botanist/Taxonomist
David Basinger
Jerry D. Spangler is a registered professional archaeologist with more than two decades of archaeological consulting experience in Utah, western Colorado and northern Arizona, both as executive director of the non-profit Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance and owner/principle investigator of Uinta Research, a for-profit entity that specializes in cultural clearances mandated by state and federal law. He is a recognized expert on prehistoric ancestral peoples of the northern Colorado Plateau, having published widely in peer-reviewed journals, monographs and award-winning books. He is currently a leading authority on the archaeology of eastern Utah.
Spangler holds a master’s degree in anthropology from Brigham Young University, and is a member of the Society for American Archaeology, the Register of Professional Archaeologists and the Utah Professional Archaeological Council. He has worked with a variety of public and private entities during his career, including the Utah Museum of Natural History, the Utah Division of State History, the Peabody Museum at Harvard University, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bill Barrett Corporation (Denver) and Hunt Oil (Dallas).
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He has also assisted dozens of Utah communities, special service districts and developers to comply with Utah Section 404 requirements. His clearance work has been widely praised for its professionalism and timeliness (most clearance reports can be completed within one week). He holds archaeological permits from the state of Utah and the U.S. Department of Interior. He has also written extensively on environmental and government issues, developing unique perspectives to problem-solving and public outreach, and he frequently briefs state lawmakers and members of Congress on archaeological issues.
Professional Archaeologist/Principle Investigator
Jerry D. Spangler
Dee Ann Finger brings to EIS 30 years of Secretarial/Administrative Assistance experience. She attended Utah Technical College, Salt Lake City, Utah with a Marketing and Business Management emphasis and received a Secretarial Certification.
The majority of her experience comes from employment with the coal industry, specifically ten years as Administrative Assistant to the Engineering Department for Canyon Fuel Company’s Skyline Mine, when at one time was one of the largest most productive mines in the Intermountain West. Her duties covered many facets of the Engineering Department, including Mining, Electrical, Geology, Environmental and Government Agency involvement. She was also a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician for the staff and underground personnel.
In December of 1998 Dee Ann was hired by The College of Eastern Utah’s Mining Department as Office Manager. During this time duties included student recruitment, Mining Degree Program scheduling, MSHA Part 46 & 48 training for underground and surface miners and organization of the Annual Rocky Mountain Coal Mine Rescue Competition which brought in Mine Rescue Teams from across the country. In 2006 returned to employment with CEU’s Western Energy Training Center as Administrative Assistant to the Program Director.
Currently, Dee Ann is the Office Manager/Administrative Assistant to the President and Associate staff of EIS and. While previously employed by EIS from 2003 to 2006 she completed the Mexican Spotted Owl and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher training courses and has conducted numerous surveys. She also participated in raptor observations and general field work.
Office Manager/Administrative Assistant
Dee Ann Finger
Joe Via is EIS’s Biologist and Environmental Studies Specialist. Joe graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies. He has many years of experience in sensitive species inventories which include Mexican Spotted Owl, Threatened & Endangered plants, and cliff nesting raptors. Joe is experienced in raptor, migratory bird, flying squirrel, Pika and Flammulated Owl and Aspen regeneration surveys, GPS data compilation and reporting. He is also experienced in the creation of upland plant species field guides and wildlife biologist assistance. He is also the lead for mapping and design services using GIS technology. Joe has a great working knowledge of NEPA document preparation, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, as well as in reclamation and wildlife enhancement plans. Before EIS, Joe worked for the US Forest Services as well as the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Service.
Biologist/Environmental Studies Specialist
Joe Via
Carlyle (Carly) Burton Registered Professional Hydrologist with the American Institute of Hydrology, a member of National Water Resources Association and National Water Well Association and a past board member of numerous water associations throughout Utah. Carlyle graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hydrology/Watershed Science with minors in Math and Biology. Carlyle has been providing technical support for securing water permits and water supply for the Ruby Pipeline Project, Contracted by numerous companies to provide training to hydrological engineer, water rights administrator, thermal plant employees, hydro plant employees and others in the organization who deals in water issues. He has been a vital asset in developing account spread sheets for administration of water among irrigation, municipal and irrigation users, developing runoff projections and water supply based on weather patters, snowpack and forecasts, developing simulation models to determine future water supplies, provided ongoing training to plant employees on water entitlements and use as well as provided support in all other related water issues.
He has served as the Executive Director of the Utah Water Users Association, 1998 to present. Duties include administration associated with the 600 active members in the organization, provide lobbying during the annual legislative session on water related bills, conduct conferences and seminars, provide technical support to members and provide support to the National Water Resources Association in dealing with national water issues such as the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.
Surveyor/Draftsman
Cody Ware, PLS
Cody has over 20 years of experience in the surveying-engineering industry. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Cody is the owner of Ware Surveying LLC with his primary work being in the coal industry with consists of high-accuracy underground to surface control surveys. He also has experience in residential developments where he has been involved in Airport study, rezoning, concept-preliminary final designs, and drainage plans. Cody has experience in preparing plans and profile drawings, easement exhibits, and descriptions for power lines and access roads, as-built surveys, creating project maps and plats from proposal to recon, mineral claim surveys and alignment sheets, road construction and mine construction topography and volume determination for coal piles, ponds, etc. Before owning his own surveying business Cody worked for numerous other engineering and surveying companies.
Molly Hocanson
Biological & Natural Resource Specialist
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Molly graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah State University with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Natural Resource Management and minor in Anthropology. While attending Utah State University she completed classes in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Recreation Impacts on Wildlife and Plants and Policies specifically related to the protection and preservation of biological resources.
She has a wide range of education and experience in conducting surveys concerning social, ecological and environmental impacts on natural resources. She also has experience in the NEPA process, writing reclamation and wildlife enhancement plans and performing threatened and endangered species inventory monitoring.
She will be attending all of the training necessary to become certified to conduct surveys in which a certificate is necessary when they become available; Mexican Spotted Owl training in March of 2018, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher in Spring of 2018, and Wetland Certification in Winter of 2017.
Before EIS she worked for the US Forest Service as a Forestry Technician. While employed with the forest Service she conducted Recreation Impact studies in the Joe’s Valley Bouldering area and also designed interpretive sign projects for the Manti La-Sal Forest. Molly is also a licensed Title Agent in the State of Utah and has experience with document retrieval, title, water and mineral searching, examination and abstract.
Ellis B. Powelson
Senior Archaeologist/Principal Investigator
Ellis B. Powelson is an archaeologist with expertise in the cultural background of the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin regions, as well as parts of California. Having graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Anthropology and History, Ellis commenced graduate studies in Archaeology at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, and Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in History.
Before joining the EIS team, Ellis performed consultation work on numerous projects throughout Utah and Nevada relating to grazing impacts, wildfire mitigation, vegetation enhancement, habitat restoration, linear installations, and road designations. Additionally, Ellis spent several years conducting archaeological investigations in downtown San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, along with various other locations throughout the state of California. Throughout this time, he has worked on a wide variety of projects constituting both historic and prehistoric contexts, and under a broad range of physical conditions.
Ellis holds a statewide permit as Principal Investigator through the BLM in Utah, as well as the State of Utah’s Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, and his academic and professional experience meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Professional Qualification in Archaeology and History. He has extensive experience performing pedestrian survey and inventory, data recovery (including human burials), NEPA documentation, geotechnical investigations, artifact analysis and curation, records searches, GIS mapping, and interpretive methodologies. Ellis excels at work in the field, but he is also comfortable in a laboratory or office setting, and interacting with individuals representing a diverse array of public and private interests.