By Michael Booth, Colorado Sun
Citing 9,205 Suncor air pollution violations in five years and inadequate enforcement by state and federal regulators, a coalition of environmental groups Wednesday filed notice of intent to sue the Commerce City refinery as a citizen-led action under the federal Clean Air Act.
Suncor’s pollution incidents continue despite state health department claims of achieving “record” financial settlements over past violations, said Earthjustice attorney Ian Coghill, leading a coalition that includes the Sierra Club, 350 Colorado and GreenLatinos that will sue the refinery in Denver’s federal district court.
Colorado’s most recent “record” fine against Suncor included only $2.5 million in financial penalties, when the cited violations called for up to $32 million in fines, Coghill said. That settlement included violations more than four years old, and machinery upgrades required in the recent settlements have themselves failed and caused pollution, he added.