BP Casper VRP Site

The BP Casper VRP site is a success story for many reasons. The land was occupied by the former Amoco Refinery which operated from 1914 to 1991. Beginning in 1998, DEQ, BP, and the Casper community were able to move through the corrective action process systematically and efficiently; taking what is often-times a ten to twenty year process and condensing it into three years. We were able to do that by making sure we understood each others’ needs, respecting those needs, and collaborating on the best way to meet those needs. We had unlimited resources (i.e. support staff, technical advisors and funding), community support and interest, timely involvement from several other governmental agencies, and we had a company willing to "do the right thing."

The State of Wyoming was instrumental in this success by enacting the Voluntary Remediation law which allowed cleanup of soils based on alternative end uses and institutional controls. Once alternative cleanup levels could be considered, BP and the VRP identified contaminated soils and groundwater that were unsafe for humans and threatened the nearby ecosystems. Innovative remedial solutions were used to cleanup the site, such as water management that uses a sophisticated groundwater treatment system that combines re-use considerations including handling storm water, irrigating the golf course, constructed wetlands, and pumping water to Soda Lake.

The rehabilitated site, complete with an 18-hole championship golf course, now serves as a business park and public recreation area that includes the Casper Whitewater Park for kayaking. Cumulatively, this remediation and redevelopment effort, has led to a site in the heart of Casper that provides environmental, economic, and social benefits to, not only the Casper community, but to the entire State of Wyoming.