Environmental groups are taking legal action against Canadian oil producer Suncor Energy (SU.TO) for alleged air quality violations at its refinery in Commerce City, Colorado.
Repeated Violations and Community Concerns
Represented by Earthjustice, a non-profit environmental law organization, the groups claim Suncor self-reported over 1,000 emission violations to the state of Colorado between January 2019 and December 2023. This lawsuit comes after years of issues at the refinery, including a fire in December 2022 and ongoing complaints from residents about air quality.
"If someone was given 1,000 speeding tickets, we'd take away their license," said Margaret Kran-Annexstein, director of Colorado Sierra Club, one of the groups suing Suncor. This statement highlights the severity of the alleged violations and the potential impact on public health.
Seeking Accountability and Cleaner Operations
The lawsuit, filed under the U.S. Clean Air Act, seeks civil penalties from Suncor and aims to deter future violations. Earthjustice attorney Ian Coghill emphasizes the group's desire for accountability and meaningful change: "The state has taken action against Suncor but it doesn't seem to have changed anything... What we're looking for is to hold Suncor accountable and (find) meaningful deterrents to bring Suncor into compliance." The potential penalties could be significant, with Coghill estimating a maximum of $121,000 per day of violation, amounting to a potential fine of over $1 billion.
Previous Actions and Ongoing Issues
This lawsuit follows a $10.5 million fine levied against Suncor by the state of Colorado in February 2024 for air pollution violations between 2019 and 2021. Despite these actions, the refinery continues to be a source of concern for residents and environmental groups.
Additional Information:
The Commerce City refinery is the only one in Colorado, processing a substantial amount of crude oil daily.
Suncor claims to be implementing improvements to address emissions, following a 2020 settlement with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
This lawsuit highlights the ongoing battle for cleaner air and stricter regulations on oil refineries. The outcome will be closely watched by environmental groups, residents of Commerce City, and the oil and gas industry as a whole.
Source: Reuters
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