FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
VOLUME 118
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021
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ISSUE 52
W , N rules 25 Colo. eyes tougher water-quality for, 2020 South Platte, Clear Creek
VOLUME 117
EDNESDAY
OVEMBER
ISSUE 48
THE SEASON FOR SHARING
Advocacy groups demanded reversal of previous decision
for the group to consider the “strong reaction” from community groups and conservationists over the past year and a half. “It is probably not fun to go back and look at these issues again, but I think it’s our responsibilBY MICHAEL BOOTH ity,” she said. THE COLORADO SUN The reversal is the latest in a series of moves by adThe state Water Quality vocacy groups to cite recent Control Commission has state legislation mandating reversed itself and agreed environmental justice conto consider tougher protecsiderations when seeking tions for urban streams, specific change. And regulaanother sign of activists detors respond that they have ploying recent environmenstudied and feel compelled tal justice laws in safeguardby the same legislation. ing local water, land and air. In November, a coalition The commission on Dec. of advocacy groups pushed 13 unanimously accepted the Air Quality Control demands in a petition from Commission to toughen a coalition of conservation their update of an EPAand advocacy groups that required regional haze plan they revisit staff recommenthat can force cuts to indusdations rejected in 2020 that trial emissions for cleaner would have upgraded proair in national parks and tections for the South Platte River and Clear Creek. other wilderness sites. State The upgrades rejected staff had recommended the commission stay on a at a June 2020 commission meeting would have made pre-set schedule of pollution it harder for industries and cuts without adding a new other water polluters to get layer of haze regulations. effluent permits in stretches But the conservation of heavily impacted urban groups pointed to justice waters that nevertheless legislation in demanding show some signs of fish and more cuts for the Suncor wildlife recovery. refinery in Commerce City, which neighbors in north That 2020 decision, and a Denver say has long subcommissioner’s statement jected their communities that higher protections The South Platte River is seen on Aug. 8 in north Denver. PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN/THE COLORADO SUN to health problems. The air were reserved for “pristine protection, Shaun McGrath, said the decision confirms commissioners agreed, and mountain waters,” infuriof the commission’s history invoked the justice direcput more restrictions on ated a coalition of dozens that petitioners had success- that “no river is beyond repair, and state policy should tives of House Bill 1266 Suncor. of conservation groups and fully forced such a reversal. passed earlier this year support that fact. Justice and cultural conlocal governments, from The commission staff will when recommending the “Revisiting a bad decision cerns are also coming into Colorado GreenLatinos to now set a schedule for forthat allowed industry to pol- commissioners accept the Trout Unlimited to Denver mal reconsideration of the play for Xcel Energy’s plans petition and revisit their lute our rivers is the right City Council members. decision in 2022. to criss-cross portions of 2020 decision. choice for our waterways “This is a first for imThey wrote to Gov. Jared Colorado with much-needed “The department has reand our communities — pacted environmental Polis ahead of the Dec. 13 new transmission lines. ally learned a lot about how especially in North Denver communities,” Colorado meeting arguing that the Many advocacy groups want to more properly engage where residents have been GreenLatinos director Ean statewide commission was the transmission lines in environmental justice harmed by pollution for too Tafoya said. He called it “a “prioritizing industrial order to link together clean issues and to ensure that long,” Kuhn said. “We urge huge step forward for our profits over the safety and energy farms and provide disproportionately impacted reliable energy, but the community,” and encourage- the commission to listen to well being of residents who communities are considered planned routes may also their own experts and imment to community groups have been historically diswhen we’re proposing or prove protections for Clear to “use every tool available proportionately affected by interfere with valuable culEvery year before Thanksgiving,inFirst United Methodist ChurchCreek in Fortand Lupton and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank provide community considering rules and polithe South Platte our collective pursuit for pollution.” tural sites and other envimembers with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with Change 4 Change, cies,” McGrath said. River.” environmental liberation.” Commission staff told the ronmentally sensitive areas. Commissioner Jennifer Colorado’s Conservation Colorado advocacy groups it was thehelps with another organization that the food drive. See more on Page 2. director of SEE WATER, P5 Bock said it was important environmental health and first time in their knowledge water advocate Josh Kuhn
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