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Accepting Challenges . Developing Solutions . Delivering Results .
Dieffenbauch & Hritz ( D & H ) has been flying under the radar in West Virginia for the past 18 years .
Chris Dieffenbauch , PE , and Mike Hritz , PE started D & H in a small office in Morgantown , WV in August 2005 . The company was mainly a transportation design firm , but quickly diversified into other markets including land development , coal and oil and gas development . Today , it has over 70 employees in four offices with an expanded array of services that has set them up for continued growth and expansion . D & H is currently providing engineering , surveying , environmental and construction services to a variety of private companies and public agencies in West Virginia , Pennsylvania , Ohio , Virginia and North Carolina .
“ We ’ ve always had the mindset to treat our clients like our partners . And we ’ ve asked our clients to do the same with us . I think that ’ s served everyone well over the past 18 years and will be key to our future growth ,” says Dieffenbauch .
That partnership mindset was prevalent in their role with the first ever public / private partnership between a coal company and the West Virginia Division of Highways ( WVDOH ). The Red Jacket section of King Coal Highway in Mingo County was a public / private partnership between the WVDOH and Nicewonder Contracting , Inc ., part of Alpha Natural Resources ( NCI / ANR ). The project involved the construction of 12 miles of four-lane highway and connector roads to subgrade utilizing coal synergy to reduce costs and shorten the project timeline . This project also included the preparation of the site on which the Mingo County High School and athletic fields are currently located . D & H provided engineering , permitting and construction management support throughout the project duration . Their involvement started with the development of plans for NCI / ANR to construct the road to subgrade and finished with the preparation of final paving and drainage plans for the WVDOH to bid and construct the roadway to final grade . The project was completed and opened to the public in 2012 .
This concept of partnership has continued with their oil and gas clients .
“ We recognized early on the opportunity to bring our knowledge and experience , along with our partnership approach , to assist existing and incoming oil and gas operators with the development of their assets in the Marcellus and Utica Shale regions ,” says Hritz .
In 2008 , the company began assisting numerous operators in the development of the Marcellus Shale gas play . D & H ’ s early involvement in implementing new regulations and coordination with various agencies helped move partner company ’ s projects through the permitting process and into completed well pads , pipelines and water management projects . To date , D & H has designed over 2,000 well pads , 200 water / wastewater management facilities and permitted over 500 miles of pipelines . They are currently providing routine monitoring on completed facilities , design and construction monitoring