Suncor Needs Refining

We'll spare you the commentary and just say this: The Suncor oil refinery, located six miles northeast of downtown Denver, has been bad. Take a look:

• On July 27th, the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division issued a Compliance Advisory to Suncor because of over 70 violations of air quality laws at the refinery between 2005 and 2007. A Compliance Advisory is basically a notice that Suncor broke clean air laws. According to the advisory, Suncor violated toxic air pollution laws, sulfur dioxide limits, failed to operate its flares for days on end, failed to monitor its emissions, and failed to accurately calculate emissions throughout the refinery.


• Around July 30th, neighbors near the refinery reported a smoking flare to the Air Pollution Control Division. The picture below was taken by one of the neighbors (also one of our members) showing the smoky flare, which is located on the west side of the refinery. A smoking flare is a sign of incomplete combustion, meaning harmful and stinky gases like hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide were spewed into the air. According to the refinery's air pollution permit, a smoky flare is illegal.

• In late August, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action learned that so far in 2007, Suncor has reported 437.5 hours, or over 18 days, where the refinery released more pollution than it was allowed. These are called "excess emissions." Among the "excess" pollution, Suncor reported 281 hours of "excess" sulfur dioxide in the first quarter of 2007 and 7 hours of "excess" hydrogen sulfide in the 2nd quarter.


• And just yesterday, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action spotted yet another smoking flare at the refinery, this time on the east side of the refinery. The smoky plume could be seen all the way from downtown. The picture below, showing the black wisps, is up close.
  

Suncor is a self-proclaimed environmental leader, but this latest string of incidents seems to reflect nothing more than an oil company that utterly disregards public health. You know the old saying; if it looks bad, smells bad, and acts bad, it must be bad. With Suncor, it's hard to reach any other conclusion.