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Tom Lion
Engineering Geologist

About Lion Enviro-Geotech

Over 25 years experience as California Professional Geologist (PG) and California Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG) providing engineering geologic and hydrogeologic consulting services and site investigations.  Providing geologic, geotechnical, hydrogeologic, environmental, regulatory agency compliance, insurance claim technnical support, and expert witness testimony for projects throughout Northern California. 

 

Geologic and Geotechnical projects include: subsurface investigations and field construction inspection and testing during construction of custom homes (including fire recovery) and subdivisions, commercial office buildings, subdivisions, hillside roadways and building pads, ponds and earth fill dam sites; steam bank erosion and hillside landslide investigation/slope stability evaluation and repair; and, active earthquake fault investigation and construction setback evaluation.

 

Hydrogeologic services for residences, wineries, and commercial cannabis growers include: hydrogeologic mapping to evaluate new well location; evaluation of groundwater availability in water scarce areas; geologic review of water rights issues for existing wells and springs and water-supply wells; and, aquifer pumping tests to assess potential impacts to surface water and subsurface water at adjacent wells.

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Environmental services include: Phase 1 ESAs, Phase 2 hazardous materials site investigation and Phase 3 remediation/cleanup of soil and groundwater contaminants including gasoline and diesel fuel, heating oil, chlorinated solvents such as TCA and TCE, heavy metals in soil and ground water.

 

Regulatory Agency negotiations for clients with compliance issues including: water supply; road and building pad permitting and construction; culvert crossing design; erosion and landslides/slope stability; and, soil compaction testing verification of hillside grading.

 

Insurance Claim Technical Support related to Erosion, Landslides, and Distressed Foundations.

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Expert Witness Testimony for landslides/slope stability and environmental contamination of soil and groundwater at UST sites.groundwater supply, geotechnical, environmental investigation and remediation projects throughout Northern California.expert witness testimony for litigation support and insurance claims settlements.

Areas of Expertise

  • Soils Reports

  • Landslide Investigation

  • Distressed Foundation Inspection

  • Hillside Grading Inspection

  • Coastal Bluff Stability

  • Soil Compaction Testing

  • Earthquake Fault Studies

Registrations and Certifications

  • Professional Geologist (California PG #5491) since 1992

  • Certified Engineering Geologist (CA CEG #1888) since 1994

Geologic Project Experience

  • Geotechnical Investigation for Office Building, Boy Scouts of America Camp, Willits, CA.

  • Geotechnical Investigation for Fort Bragg High School Addition, Fort Bragg, CA.

  • Geotechnical Investigation and Coastal Bluff Stability Review for Residential Development, Anchor Bay, Mendocino County, CA.

  • Geotechnical Investigation for Commercial Winery, Boonville, CA.

  • Geotechnical Investigation for Pedestrian Bridge Crossings, California Coastal Access Trail, for Mendocino Land Trust, Mendocino County, CA.

  • Gloria-Ferrer Champagne Caves, construction observation and testing of soil compaction related to construction of underground winery, water supply and waste disposal treatment system, Sonoma County, CA.

  • Keyway observations and nuclear gauge density testing for landslide repair during construction of GEO Operators Well Pad, Geysers Geothermal Area, Northern California.

  • Construction observation and documentation for hydrocarbon impacted wood waste piles at former Louisiana-Pacific Lumber Mill site being converted for potential development as a motel, casino, and golf course complex along the Russian River, Sonoma County, CA.

  • Nuclear field density testing of engineered fill placement of backfill following USTs removal at numerous sites, including Avis Car Rental facility within reconstruction area for expansion of the San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco County, CA, and during conversion of a Cheveron Gasoline Station into a Napa Auto Parts Commercial facility in Sonoma County, CA.

  • Landslide Investigation, slope inclinometer installation, landslide mapping for repair recommendations in conjunction with repair of distressed residential foundation and driveway, Ukiah, Mendocino County, CA.

  • Installed multiple exploratory trenches and exploratory borings to define geometry of landslide complex distressing several acres, including roadways, residential foundations, and swimming pool.  Conducted geotechnical investigation for foundation stabilization design, and conducted construction documentation of foundation repairs, Ukiah, Mendocino County, CA.

  • Landslide investigation of fill slope failure and geotechnical evaluation of bridge abutment erosion at Sho-ka-Wah Casino, Hopland, Mendocino County, CA.

  • Slope Indicator installation, monitoring, and investigation of deep-seated landslide threatening existing Water Supply Tank, geohazards and geotechnical investigation for replacement tank site, Millview Water District, Ukiah, Mendocino County, CA.

  • Alquist-Priolo active fault investigation during planning for selection of water supply reservoir on San Gregorio Fault, found evidences of liquefaction sand boils and Riedel Shearing in trenches dug within right step-over of right lateral strike slip fault. San Mateo County Water District, San Mateo County, CA.

  • Retained as Expert Geology Witness for plaintiff in Baima v. Soper-Wheeler Logging Company. Provided litigation support documentation with detailed engineering geologic map of landslide area and surface water drainage diversion.  Plaintiff prevailed and a settlement agreement was established for their reimbursement of damages to private residence destroyed by mudflow below a Timber Harvest Unit in Cazadero, Sonoma County, California.

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