David J. Nicolarsen, P.G.
Qualifications
Registered Professional Geologist (WYPG-32), MSHA Experienced Miner and OSHA Certified
Skills Summary
- Company Management
- Budgeting and Company Financials
- Public Relations
- Feasibility Studies
- Business Plans
- Mining and Oil and Gas Overall Management
- Permit Writing and Water Compliance Programs
Education
B.S., Geology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1970
American Management Association – “The Management Course”
American Bankers Association – National Trust School
Sheridan College – AutoCad 2000
Professional Certifications
Registered Professional Geologist – Wyoming #32
Professional Career
University of Nevada, Reno
Member of NASA ground truth team that developed and tested all remote sensing equipment for geology and vegetation for Skylab.
U.S. Army - Captain Field Artillery & Engineers
Supervised nuclear weapons transport, assembly, and storage and water treatment facilities.
Anaconda Copper Co., Weed Heights, Nevada
General Mine Foreman of an open pit copper mine. Performed mine planning, design pit geology and production supervision.
Tennessee Valley Authority, Casper, Wyoming, Project Manager for TVA Gas Hills Uranium Operations
Conducted site surveys of existing mine sites in South Dakota, New Mexico and Wyoming. Performed budgeting and management duties for 347 person mine in Gas Hills, Wyoming. Coordinated initial startup including equipment purchase, hiring, mill refurbishing, and design of four pits, one underground mine and two adits. NRC Coordinator for tailing dams, permitting, environmental compliance, construction and overall supervision.
Wyodak Resources Development Corporation & Western Production Company, Gillette, Wyoming, President and COO.
Performed corporate public relations for northeastern Wyoming and administered the company scholarship program. Made corporate visits to analysts in New York and Chicago to explain company performance. Prepared all yearly budgets for fiscal operations and presented to Board of Directors. Monitored all monthly and year-to-date P&L’s and percent variance from budget. Marketed coal and negotiated and purchased all equipment for operations. Managed ranch lands and leased lands to local ranchers. Performed economic evaluation studies for acquisition of new companies, such as, oil and gas companies, gold, uranium, coal, and bentonite, as part of diversification efforts. Evaluated and purchased oil and gas reserves and production in the Western United States and Texas. Negotiated rights-of-way for utilities and oil and gas operators together with royalties and surface damage agreements. Served on the pension plan committee for Black Hills Power and Light serving over 750 employees. Coordinated 5 miles of state highway relocation and construction of new highway 14-16 through the mine site. Performed slope stability studies and prevention measures.
For Western Production Company created a $7 million program for new property acquisitions for oil and gas reserves. Performed environmental compliance inspections and report preparation. In charge of exploration and developmental drilling programs including daily operation of over 300 wells, oil and gas sales, new technology using huff and puffs on wells, distribution systems for oil and gas transportation, human resources and over all project budgeting.
Little Horn Energy Project, Wyoming, VP/Project Manager for a $1.2 Billion Hydro-Electric Pump Storage Development Project in the Bighorn Mountains
Formulated strategic plan and budgets for a $1.2 Billion Hydro-Electric Pump Storage Development Project for ABB & Kvaerner. This project included design, formulating strategic plans and budgets, power marketing, citizens advisory group formation, coordinating transmission studies with utility companies and third party contractor EIS with FERC and other agencies. Traveled throughout the western states marketing future electric power sales for new power generation units. Presented quarterly board updates in New York to multinational companies.
First Interstate Bank, Sheridan, Wyoming, Trust Officer
Managed Wyoming mineral trusts. Negotiated oil & gas and CBM royalties, rights-of-way and surface use agreements. Leased out mineral properties, managed ranch properties, performed estate planning and advised on portfolio investments to trust customers. Worked with local foundations and managed donation requests. Reviewed investment portfolios for proper asset allocation and type of investments.
CER Professional Consultants, Sheridan, Wyoming, Chief Operating Officer, Project Manager and Geologic Consultant
Chief Operating Officer of a multi-disciplinary engineering company. Coordinated consulting departments to increase business. Performed community feasibility studies, created business plans, and participated in grant writing, royalty mineral audits, and oversaw all financial areas to include insurance, SAR-SEP, and 401K Plans. Coordinated all landowner contacts along WYDOT Murphy Gulch highway reconstruction. Worked with landowners on education of road reconstruction and water rights. Studied state highway road design with WYDOT using geotech drilling to identify faults and slope stability slump areas. Supervised and performed environmental work and coalbed methane property studies, safety of dam design to include proctors and soil samples and construction and density, water permitting, septic percolation tests and construction, and mineral audits. Onsite mine representative for Kennecott Uranium Company Jackpot Mine, Jeffery City, WY, performing environmental monitoring, mine coordination, and underground stabilization of declines and mine closure. Town of Clearmont Town Engineer overseeing State Grant program for two years for street improvement, curbs and gutters, chip seals, painting water tanks, and sampling and report writing for the closing of the landfill. Worked with Indian Tribes on grants for infrastructure and elderly housing in Wyoming and Montana. Coordinated AML mine site reclamation of uranium and bentonite mines.
Sheridan County, Assistant to the County Engineer
Administered the County municipal water supply system. Inspected all new water line extensions and modifications to the system and performed all accounting on QuickBooks. Performed environmental monitoring for Lake DeSmet and water releases to down stream users. Supervised all environmental remediation at old county dump site and leaking storage tanks. Reviewed all subdivision submittals using AutoCAD 2000 and county property ownership maps and state quad maps. County grant writer and planner for major road improvements both gravel and asphalt. Coordinated coalbed methane operations, quarries, and rights-of-way. Designed county roads, ROW coordination with landowners, and advised on how to prevent and design roads in fault and slump areas.
BKS Environmental Associates, Inc., Gillette, WY
Performed all aspects of baseline soil and vegetation assessments, as well as ongoing project vegetation monitoring. Conducted environmental audits and Phase I Site Assessments of various industrial sites. Field experience includes baseline and reclamation vegetation sampling, topsoil depth determinations, overburden sampling, topsoil depth verification and potentially contaminated soils sampling. Coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, and other administrative agencies.
EPIC Integrated Services, Sheridan, WY
Senior Geologist/Hydrologist for coalbed methane operations. Oversaw the drilling of CBM wells, monitoring wells and domestic water wells. Prepared compliance plans with Wyoming DEQ. Performed geotechnical work on all storage pits and compressor pads. Administered the water compliance program, P&A, and reports to state. Prepared reservoir and pit permits SW-4 and SW-3) to State Engineer, SWPPP plans, WYPDES permits to DEQ, and environmental compliance. Prepared water disposal applications for commercial waste facilities. Prepared oil and gas company reserve studies. Evaluated company management and assessed value of companies for future sale.
