Environmental groups are taking legal action against the owner of an oil refinery near Denver for years of pollution violations. Suncor Energy, the owner of the refinery in Commerce City, has exceeded pollution standards and limits over 1,000 times between 2019 and 2023. The groups, including GreenLatinos, 350 Colorado, and the Sierra Club, have sent a notice to sue Suncor, alleging that state regulators have not held the company accountable for its actions. The plant’s pollution poses a significant health risk to residents in the surrounding area, particularly in poorer regions of metro Denver.
Despite a $10.5 million settlement with the state earlier this year for three years of air quality violations, environmental groups believe that state regulators have failed to enforce rules against Suncor effectively. The settlement included a $2.5 million cash fine, but activists argue that this is not enough to deter the company from continuing to violate pollution standards. Lucy Molina, an organizer with 350 Colorado who lives near the refinery, expressed concerns about the impact of pollution on her community’s health and well-being. Residents in the area face constant stress and uncertainty about the safety of letting their children play outside due to the lack of enforcement against Suncor.
The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, which oversees pollution rules, has not responded to requests for comment on the matter. The violations at the Suncor refinery include exceeding limits on hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide emissions. Environmental groups are calling for stronger enforcement measures to hold Suncor accountable for its pollution violations and protect the health of residents in the affected areas. The ongoing pollution from the refinery poses a significant threat to the well-being of the community, particularly those living in close proximity to the facility.
The legal action taken by environmental groups against Suncor highlights the urgency of addressing pollution violations at the refinery and holding the company accountable for its actions. The repeated exceedances of pollution standards over the years have had a detrimental impact on the health and well-being of residents in the surrounding areas. Activists are calling for stricter enforcement of pollution rules to ensure that Suncor complies with regulations and reduces its harmful emissions. The lack of enforcement against the company has caused significant stress and uncertainty among residents, who are concerned about the long-term health implications of living near a polluting facility.
Suncor’s history of pollution violations underscores the need for more robust regulatory oversight and enforcement to prevent further harm to the environment and public health. The lawsuit filed by environmental groups aims to push for greater accountability and stricter penalties for companies that fail to comply with pollution standards. The impact of pollution from the Suncor refinery on the community’s health and well-being cannot be ignored, and residents are calling for action to address the ongoing environmental hazards posed by the facility. It is essential for regulatory agencies to prioritize the health and safety of residents by ensuring that companies like Suncor are held responsible for their pollution violations.
