Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Forging a bright and sustainable future together.

Website

About the firm

Pioneer Technical Services is a consulting engineering firm headquartered in Butte, Montana, specializing in environmental, civil, and geotechnical services. The team of engineers and scientists supports clients across the energy, mining, government, oil and gas, and environmental trust sectors, providing solutions for remediation and restoration, water resources management, infrastructure, geotechnical investigations, materials testing, drilling, surveying, and digital services.

Established
1992
Team
Midsize
Firm type
Environmental Engineering · Civil Engineering · Geotechnical Engineering · Land Surveying · Materials Testing

Credentials

NICET · ACI · AASHTO · ASTM · WAQTC

People

Tim RanfPresident and CEO

Duane LoganExecutive Vice-President and COO

Shawn BischExecutive Vice-President and CFO

Capabilities

Environmental

Service website

Pioneer designs and implements environmental remediation projects addressing pollution and contamination of soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water. Services span site assessment, Phase I and Phase II investigations, feasibility studies, remedial action, permitting, regulatory compliance, and habitat restoration.

  • Site Assessment and Investigation
  • Remediation Design and Construction Management
  • Permitting and Regulatory Compliance
  • Habitat Restoration
  • Brownfields Remediation
  • Solid Waste Management and Monitoring

Water Resources

Service website

Pioneer's water resources engineers address groundwater and surface water management challenges through hydrology and hydraulics studies, floodplain mapping, watershed analysis, and water infrastructure design. The practice balances supply and demand alongside economic and social factors for irrigation, municipal, and environmental clients.

  • Hydrology and Hydraulics Studies
  • Floodplain Mapping
  • Watershed Analysis
  • Stormwater Drainage Design

Infrastructure

Service website

Pioneer delivers planning, design, construction inspection, and maintenance services for transportation and civil infrastructure, including roads, highways, railways, bridges, water and sewer systems, and stormwater drainage. Government clients also receive grant writing and administration support.

  • Feasibility Studies and Planning
  • Grant Writing and Administration
  • Design and Construction Inspection
  • Transportation Infrastructure
  • Water and Sewer Systems

Geotechnical Engineering

Service website

Pioneer's geotechnical staff provides subsurface investigations, foundation design, slope stability analysis, and geomechanical modeling grounded in sound understanding of geological conditions. Sub-disciplines include deep and shallow foundation design, reinforced earth and retaining structure design, soil and tailings slope stability, rock slope evaluations, structural field mapping, soil dynamics, geomechanical modeling (FLAC), geophysical investigations, subsidence evaluations, and geotechnical laboratory testing.

  • Subsurface Investigations
  • Foundation Design
  • Slope Stability Analysis
  • Geomechanical Modeling
  • Geophysical Investigations
  • Geotechnical Laboratory Testing
  • Construction Support

Materials Testing

Service website

Pioneer provides professional geotechnical and construction materials testing services to public, commercial, and residential construction industries. The Helena laboratory is certified and accredited through NICET, ACI, AASHTO, ASTM, and WAQTC. Services include field inspections, construction materials testing, and geotechnical testing.

Geoprobe Drilling

Service website

Pioneer offers direct-push and hollow-stem auger drilling services using a Geoprobe 7822DT track-mounted drill rig for soil, groundwater, and geotechnical investigations. The rig collects soil and groundwater samples and installs small-diameter monitoring wells and soil vapor probes with minimal site disruption. The track-mounted design allows access over rough terrain and into confined spaces.

Surveying and Drone Services

Service website

Pioneer's survey group provides comprehensive land surveying services for real estate development, environmental planning, and infrastructure projects. Licensed surveyors apply the latest techniques and equipment to deliver accurate and cost-effective results.

  • Boundary Surveys
  • Topographic Mapping
  • Construction Staking
  • Drone Survey

Digital Solutions

Service website

Pioneer provides data management, software development, AI development and support, IT help desk, network services, and digital transformation consulting to help clients optimize operations in an increasingly digital environment.

  • Data Management
  • Software and AI Development
  • IT Consulting and Help Desk
  • Network Services

Industries

Environmental & Remediation · Mining · Government · Oil & Gas · Renewable Energy · Water Resources

Projects

Prickly Pear Creek Realignment Project

East Helena, MT · Environmental & Remediation · 2017

Project details

Near Helena, Montana, Pioneer led a 5-year remediation of Prickly Pear Creek contaminated by a century of smelter activities depositing arsenic, lead, and other contaminants into soil and groundwater. The project relocated approximately 1.25 miles of creek and its floodplain, removed a derelict dam and impacted reservoir sediments, and permanently lowered groundwater beneath the site. Construction was completed in July 2017. Pioneer received FIDIC 2019 International Merit Award and ACEC 2019 Grand National and Montana Engineering Excellence Awards for this project.

Lower East Fork Ninemile Creek and Dayrock Complex Remedial Action

Wallace, ID · Environmental & Remediation · 2024

Project details

Remediation of riparian areas in the Ninemile Creek Basin affected by historical mining activity. The project involved excavation and removal of over 381,000 BCY of mine waste contaminated with lead and zinc, backfilling with clean materials, reconstructing approximately 1.7 miles of stream channels, and constructing stormwater drainage channels. The four-year construction effort was completed in November 2024, remediating 29 acres.

Butte Reduction Works Smelter Area Site Investigations

Butte, MT · Environmental & Remediation

Project details

Since 2017, Pioneer has led characterization of groundwater and solid materials at the BRW Smelter Area Mine Waste Remediation site in Butte, Montana. Work included drilling approximately 100 boreholes, excavating approximately 60 test pits, performing aquifer pumping tests, installing 52 piezometers, and collecting monthly surface water samples. Pioneer developed a 3D statistical model using Leapfrog Works and a MODFLOW numerical groundwater flow model to guide remedy design.

Gray's Meadow Remedial Action

Kootenai County, ID · Environmental & Remediation

Project details

Remediation and wetland restoration of a 695-acre agricultural field in Kootenai County, Idaho, impacted by mining-related metals deposited through flooding from upstream mining in the Upper Coeur d'Alene River Basin. The design converts the site to functional wetlands with embankment and water control features, loafing islands, and ponds to provide habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds.