Brownfields, GIS, and phytoremediation: The role of monitoring in the redevelopment of a former oil refinery in Casper, Wyoming

The number of brownfield sites in the United States has been estimated to be a number close to one million. Brownfield redevelopment is important to ensure public health and safety, but can also preserve greenfields and control urban sprawl. The cleanup and redevelopment process of a former British Petroleum (BP) oil refinery in Casper, Wyoming is used a brownfield case study. This facility is replete with brownfield characteristics and thus has significant potential for new land uses upon cleanup. Specific policies for the remediation and redevelopment of the BP facility have been defined and agreed upon through a collaborative process involving BP, the Wyoming Department of Enviromnental Quality (WDEQ), and local stakeholders. Included within the agreement is the potential use of the innovative cleanup method of phytoremediation.;Phytoremediation is a broad term used to describe the processes where plant 'systems are used to remove contamination from soil and groundwater. A multidisciplinary team at the University of Wyoming conducted research which provided site-specific information to assist in the future implementation of a field-scale phytoremediation project on Unit 9 of the BP facility. A geographic information system (GIS) was developed to provide an effective tool to store, monitor, analyze and display phytoremediation data. This thesis investigated various elements of brownfields and the relationship of the planning process to the corrective action for this redevelopment project. The role of monitoring was targeted in this investigation. Analysis of the cleanup policy revealed monitoring requirements and related issues of the phytoremediation process. Applications of GIS technology as an appropriate monitoring tool were also studied. Results of this case analysis provide valuable insight to planners, project managers, and scientists about the importance of monitoring in brownfield redevelopment.