Suncor released sulfur dioxide spikes, state says

Commerce City refinery had equipment failure

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

e Suncor re nery in Commerce City sent potentially dangerous spikes of sulfur dioxide into the surrounding neighborhood early April 12 after an equipment failure, though the state health department’s notice didn’t go out until that evening.

Sulfur dioxide detected from Suncor leapt to 155 parts per billion and 186 parts per billion, while the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards are 75 parts per billion. But to reach an o cial exceedance, the sulfur dioxide levels must be that high for over an hour. Within hours, a state news release said, the levels had “dropped signi cantly.”

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Chris Valesey drove his large truck up to the edge of Mann-Nyholt Lake, extended a giant funnel, and released 2,400 rainbow trout.

e habitat technician with a Colorado Parks and Wildlife hatchery stocked the 67-acre lake in Brighton’s Riverdale Regional Park for anglers and prey.

e temperature was just right on April 13. Valesey performs tests of the water before he released the sh. “I needed to gure out the temperature to see if its within limits that could be too high in either direction to stock the sh,” Valesey said. “If the water temperature reaches 70 degrees, we can’t stock the sh.” Valesey said it takes 10 minutes for e state release said that early Wednesday, “the Suncor facility reported that #2 Sulfur Recovery Unit and associated Tail Gas Unit in Plant 1 brie y tripped o ine due to a level indicator issue, resulting in: excess sulfur dioxide from the Tail Gas Unit Incinerator (H-25); aring of acid gas (gas with

Despite the drop in the monitored sulfur dioxide levels, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment urged families in the future to limit outdoor exercise, keep windows closed and consider an air puri er.

“ e short exposures to sulfur dioxide that occurred earlier could have exacerbated asthma and made breathing di cult, especially during exercise or physical activity,” the health department said.

SEE SUNCOR, P3

Performance and Leadership Academy is now open to external applicants e city of Brighton is opening its Performance and Leadership Academy to external applicants who work for government or non-pro t organizations. e academy is a ve-week program that teaches participants skills for identifying, analyzing, and solving problems in their day-to-day work and empowers participants to be leaders, to build winning teams and deliver exceptional customer service both internal and external.

Participants in the academy attend four-hour training sessions each ursday for ve weeks. Sessions are from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Brighton City Hall, 500 S. Fourth Ave. e cost to apply for external candidates is $1,800. Upcoming sessions can be found here.

To learn more about the academy and to apply, visit the Performance and Leadership Academy website. For more information, contact budget@ brightonco.gov.

Trash Bash disposal program set for April 28-29 e city of Brighton’s popular Trash Bash for Brighton residents is set to return Friday and Saturday, April 28 and April 29. e drop-o trash disposal program for large items will take place both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Brighton Wastewater Treatment Facility 325 North Kuner Road (Brighton Street entrance). In addition, the city will provide pick-up service for those with special needs Wednesday and ursday, April 26 and 27. To request a pick-up, call 303-655-2087.

Acceptable items include furniture, appliances (no refrigerators or freez- ers), bicycles, carpets that have been cut up, doors, lawn/yard equipment, mattresses/box springs and branches cut to less than ve feet in length and bundled securely. e collection will also accept nail-free sheeted material, wood, or lumber less than ve feet in length. is service is for Brighton residents only. A city of Brighton water bill or suitable proof of residence (i.e. driver’s license) is required. No commercial or industrial facilities will be allowed. A suggested donation of $10 will help to defray the cost of the service.

Car and light pickup tires will be accepted for $7 each; oversized pickup tires for $10 each and semi-truck tires for $20 each.

Trash Bash will return for a second time in September.

For more information, call 303-6552087.

Art in the Park announces call for artists e City of Brighton will host its annual Art in the Park festival from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern Street. ose artists interested in showcasing and selling their artwork can visit www.brightonartinthepark.com for more information and to apply. e deadline for booth applications is Aug. 18. is one-day festival will give attendees the opportunity to visit the artist market, meet and talk with artists, enjoy music performances, artist demonstrations and children’s interactive art activities.

For more information, contact Arts and Culture Coordinator David Gallegos at 303-655-2176 or dgallegos@ brightonco.gov.

Ongoing

‘Taking No Chances’ e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, are o ering free, 10-week programs to families of Adams county teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drug-resistance skills.

Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-292-2811.

Brighton adds new ChargePoint stations e city of Brighton announced it was opening three new charging stations for electric vehicles. e stations are at the Brighton Recreation Center at 555 N. 11th Ave. Eagle View Adult Center at 1150 Prairie Center Parkway. and Platte Valley Medical Center at 1610 Prairie Center Parkway. e rst hour of charging is free at each location. e locations have two stalls and two charging stations each that operate much like a parking meter, with a $2-per-hour charging rate after the rst hour.

For other ChargePoint station locations, visit https://uk.chargepoint. com/charge_point. For more information, please contact Assistant Director of Public Works Chris Montoya at cmontoya@brightonco.gov.

Museum volunteers e Brighton City Museum needs volunteers to help with visitors, research and collection project-based duties.

Call Bill Armstrong, museum specialist, at 303-655-2288.

Water audit program e city of Brighton and Resource Central teamed up to provide a free water audit for businesses and homeowner associations. e program aims to help residents and cities increase water use e ciencies and reach conservation goals.

Call 303-999-3824 or visit https:// www.brightonco.gov/589/WaterAudit-Program

Legal self-help clinic e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. the rst Tuesday of every month. e program is for customers who don’t have legal representation and need help navigating through legal issues.

Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss such topics as family law, civil litigation, property and probate law. Call 303-405-3298 and ask for Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24 hours in advance.

Sidewalk, curb and gutter program e city of Brighton’s 50.50 Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter program is underway. e program helps ease the nancial costs of maintenance and replacements, according to a statement. Property owners are responsible for that maintenance work. e program halves the replacement costs between the city and the property owner. e program began in 2004. Last year, it assisted 14 homeowners. e city says the program has saved about $75,000 worth of repairs.

Visit www.brightonco.gov/50-50 to apply. Call 303-655-2036 with questions.