Eligibility & Application

Eligibility and Application

This page contains important information about whether or not certain sites are eligible for DEQ’s Voluntary Remediation Program, as well as information concerning the application process.

What sites are Eligible?

Owners, operators, and prospective purchasers of most contaminated sites in Wyoming are eligible for the VRP.

Eligible sites include the following:

Sites where contamination occurred before the effective date of the VRP (March 10, 2000), unless the contamination was from a unit or activity that was or should have been permitted under the Environmental Quality Act at the time of the release.
Sites where contamination occurred after March 10, 2000 provided the site owner or operator is implementing a pollution prevention plan consistent with rules promulgated by DEQ. Note: approved pollution prevention plans are not required until the DEQ completes the pollution prevention plan regulations.
Releases from permitted waste management or disposal units, if DEQ determines that it is not technically practicable to cleanup the release in accordance with permit requirements.

What sites are Ineligible?

Ineligible sites include the following:

Sites that are listed on the Federal National Priorities List under the CERCLA or Superfund.
Commercial waste incineration or disposal facilities.
Sites regulated under the DEQ Storage Tank Program, except in cases where the release is from a source other than the regulated tank(s).
Radioactive waste storage facilities.
Sites regulated under the Abandoned Mine Lands Program.
Sites where contamination is the result of continuous or repeated violation of any law, rule, regulation or order under the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act.
Sites where remediation is required by an order (except for orders on consent) issued by the DEQ, Environmental Quality Council, any court, or required by an administrative or judicial order to which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a party.

You can apply for the VRP by filling out the Application for the Voluntary Remediation Program

Once completed, the application form must be submitted to DEQ with a $550 application fee mailed to DEQ. This fee is only refunded if a site is not eligible for the VRP. DEQ will determine site eligibility within 45 days of receiving the application. For additional information on the VRP application process, please review Factsheet #3

The SHWD Voluntary Remediation Program has enabled the successful cleanup and restoration of contaminated lands in a number of communities around Wyoming. The impacts made through the VRP are not only enduring for these communities – they're also achieved through economically feasible practices that encourage the long-term, productive usage of these lands.

Browse through the following stories to learn more about the program's established successes.

Jackson Hole VRP Site

The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort maintenance shop was a classic brownfield site. A developer was interested in purchasing this property and turning it into a world-class hotel complex. However, potential environmental issues presented an obstacle for obtaining financing for the hotel complex.

The VRP worked diligently with the environmental consultant and the developer to move the site through the independent cleanup process (ICP). Earlier site investigations, combined with soil removals, revealed no remaining environmental concerns; therefore, the VRP was able to provide the environmental liability assurances necessary to secure funding for the purchase of the property and construction of the hotel complex. Today, in the place where a small maintenance shop once stood, a beautiful four-star hotel and condominium complex rest in the shadow of the beautiful Teton Mountains near Jackson Hole.

City of Evanston VRP Site

In 1972, the Union Pacific Railroad gifted the City of Evanston with the historical Roundhouse and Railyard Complex, which is also located in Evanston. The buildings, soils, and groundwater on the site were contaminated with a variety of organic and inorganic contaminants.

The City of Evanston, in an effort to remediate and restore this site, applied and was accepted into the DEQ's VRP on February 4, 2003. VRP staff worked extensively with the City of Evanston to evaluate and identify different options for addressing the contamination that were protective of human health and the environment and were cost effective and economically feasible. In addition, VRP staff worked with the City of Evanston to help identify potential funding sources for remediation and restoration efforts. In 2006, DEQ determined that the Roundhouse and Railyard Complex met the definition of a brownfield and that the City of Evanston was a favorable candidate to receive Brownfields Cleanup Assistance.

The City of Evanston is using a phased approach to remediate and restore the site. The first phase has focused on cleaning up and restoring the historic machine shop, and constructing a paved parking lot and pedestrian plaza. The machine shop and parking lot are completed and the pedestrian plaza is underway. The Brownfields Cleanup Assistance was used for the cleanup of the parking lot area. The next phase (2) will focus on remediation and restoration of the Roundhouse and surrounding area. The City of Evanston is currently pursuing additional funding sources to help with Phase 2.

Once cleaned up and renovated, the Roundhouse and Railyard Complex will provide a tremendous revitalization focus for downtown Evanston and a significant economic benefit for the community.

Eligibility & Application

Eligibility and Application

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