SECOND CHANCE EPA again blocks air pollution permit for Suncor

Federal agency bars state from giving green light

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

e EPA’s Denver regional o ce is once again blocking a renewed state air pollution permit for the Suncor re nery in Commerce City, agreeing to objections from environmental groups that Colorado should crack down harder on carbon monoxide dangers and past plant modi cations.

Suncor has had numerous air and water pollution violations in recent years, and the regional Environmental Protection Agency had its own objections to Suncor permit renewals last year, ordering the state to make changes. After Colorado issued revisions, neighbors and environmental groups had the chance to make new objections.

While Suncor’s Plant 2 will be allowed to continue producing petroleum products for Colorado and the region, state air pollution o cials must now “resolve EPA’s objections” based on the environmental groups’ two petitions “before issuing a revised permit.”

“Improving air quality for the underserved communities a ected by harmful air emissions from the Suncor re nery is a shared priority for EPA and CDPHE,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. Becker is the former Democratic Speaker of the House for Colorado, and has placed an emphasis on carrying out environmental justice initiatives while at the EPA.

“EPA will continue to work with Colorado to secure the re nery’s compliance with laws and regulations and protect the health of nearby residents,” Becker said.

Representatives of the environmental groups welcomed the new scrutiny on Suncor, which has been releasing excessive levels of dangerous materials

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Spaceport Eyes Expansion

Facility adds new fences as work continues P3

Back-to-School Bash Partnership

Opportunities e Adams County Human Services Department is once-again hosting their annual Back-toSchool Bash event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 12. ere are currently opportunities for organizations to partner with Adams County on this program –whether that’s through donations or attending as a vendor. e event is exclusively for Adams County families. In 2022, the Back-toSchool Bash provided over 3,000 kids with backpacks and school supplies. If your organization is interested in partnering, reach out to Karla Ojeda at kojeda@adcogov. org. e O ce of Emergency Management plans, coordinates and supports activities that help our community reduce its vulnerability to disaster. ey o ce works to mitigate certain dangers before they become an emergency and plans, trains and equips county sta to prepare for emergencies. In case of an emergency, the o ce leads e orts to respond and aids recovery e orts. e o ce location in the Adams County building at 4430 S. Adams County Parkway and contact phone numbers for the Emergency Management O ce will remain the same, ensuring seamless access to emergency management services for residents and stakeholders.

Adams County puts EMA under sheri Adams County’s Emergency Management O ce will be managed by the Sheri ’s Department rather than the Community Safety and Well-Being Department, county o cials announced Aug. 1.

A written statement from the county said that the County Manager and the Sheri agree that aligning emergency management with the Sheri ’s O ce will lead to improved coordination, comprehensive services, and e ective response capabilities during emergencies.

Naloxone Training for Employees and Community Members e Adams County Health Department’s Harm Reduction Team will be supplying all Automated External De brillator (AED) cabinets in government building with Naloxone this month. In addition to this resource, the team will be offering Overdose Prevention Trainings for all sta who are interested in learning how to prevent, identify, and reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone will be made available to take home after these trainings. If you have any questions about the training or other resources, contact our Harm Reduction team at: 303-363-3077 or by email: harmreduction@adcogov.org

Premier Members Credit Union hosting food drive

Premier Members Credit Union will be collecting donations for local food pantries during the entire month of August. Visit your local Premier Members Credit Union branch, or their corporate o ces in Broom eld to donate. Each branch chose a local food pantry to donate to ensure all donations stay local to that community.

Locally, ve branches of the credit union are hosting collections sites. ey include locations at 755 E. 144th Ave. in ornton, the sites at 10339 N. Federal Blvd and 8440 Federal Blvd. in Westminster and the locations in Firestone and Erie.

“We always want to provide support to our local communities,” said Carlos Pacheco, CEO of Premier Members Credit Union. “One of our company pillars is Premier: Gives, where we provide the communities we serve with funds and employee volunteers to support initiatives of education, nancial literacy, and basic needs. is food drive will help many members of our communities to thrive.”

Farm to Market tickets on sale e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. e foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. ey conduct multiple fundraising e orts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event. e event garners so much support that it often sells out long before the date. is year, Muñoz reserved a block of tickets that are available to the public for $75 each. ey are available at https:// ftt2023.cbo.io.

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 or on sale now.

Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 on the hospital campus. Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce donated by area farmers to create a gourmet meal for about 450 guests.

Platte Valley Medical Center earns recognition for breastfeeding program

Platte Valley Medical Center is one of 45 hospitals recognized by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for e orts to promote breastfeeding and o er healthier food and beverage options through the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Collaborative. e initiatives are part of the state’s work to promote healthy eating and active living to reduce rates of death and disease from chronic illness among Coloradans.

Platte Valley was recognized at the Gold Level for the Healthy Hospital Compact.

Learn more about the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative at cdphe.colorado.gov/ colorado-healthy-hospital-compact and at BreastfeedColorado. com.

A Stroll in the Garden for CASA e Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA, for the 11th Judicial District is promoting one of its major fundraisers now scheduled for September.

CASA is inviting supporters to come enjoy a Stroll in the Garden at this year’s Indulge for CASA Gala from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Denver’s Balistreri Vineyards, 1946 E 66th Ave. is Garden Party will be full of delicious food and drinks, fantastic auction prizes, exciting entertainment, and more! Indulge for CASA is presented by the Kenneth & Myra Monfort Charitable Foundation.

CASA’s mission is to provide court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth from the child welfare system so every child can be safe, have a permanent home, and have the opportunity to thrive.