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 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.

SEE SUNCOR, P11 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 ofcials 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.

Back-to-School Bash Partnership Opportunities e Adams County Human Services Department is once-again hosting their annual Back-to-School 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-to-School 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.

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 o ering 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.”

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 courtappointed 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.

Healthy Farmers Markets

Adams County and Anythink Libraries are o ering Healthy Farmers Markets in ornton for residents this summer through Sept. 28. e markets will provide $20 produce vouchers for residents who are 65+ or are enrolled in WIC, SNAP, or Medicaid. ere will also be recipes and nutrition information available.

Tuesday markets will be from 9 a.m. to noon through Sept. 26, at Anythink Huron, 9417 Huron St. ursday markets will be from 9 a.m. to noon through Sept. 28, at Anythink Wright Farms, 5877 E. 120th Ave.

See all upcoming Adams County outreach events at adcogov.org/ outreach-events.

Work Options FREE Culinary Training Program e Adams County Human Services Department is partnering with local nonpro t Work Options to provide a free culinary training program for residents.

Program participants train with professional chefs over a six-week course and earn certi cations and up to $400 per month. Work Options also o ers food truck internships.

In addition to the training program, Work Options provides the Human Services Center 11860 Pecos St., Westminster, with a full menu of breakfast and lunch options including breakfast burritos, pastries, burgers, pizza, daily specials, and more in the Mountain View Café. e café is located on the third oor of HSC. Learn more about the program at workoptions.org.

Anythink mySummer returns e Block Party Trailer is intended to build and strengthen neighborhoods in Adams County. e program is administered by the Neighborhood Services division in the Community Safety and Well-Being Department on a rst come, rst served basis.

Anythink’s annual mySummer initiative returns with programs inspired by the theme of “Let’s Play.” is year’s summer experience includes opportunities for local residents to learn in fun, new ways, nd joy through games and embrace carefree moments.

Anythink has partnered with Colorado artist Jessica Moon Bernstein-Schiano to o er art workshops for children at Anythink Commerce City and adults at Anythink Huron Street. In addition, community members can expect visits with live goats, children’s improv workshops with 5280 eater Company, gaming sessions with Denver Extreme Game Truck and interactive performances by the Colorado Symphony.

Bernstein-Schiano also crafted “Animal Lore,” a card deck exclusively available when participants register for mySummer at their local Anythink. Limited edition poster prints of the “Animal Lore” illustrations will be available for purchase at the Anythink Backyard Concert Series. Funds raised will support the Anythink Foundation.

Community members are encouraged to sign up online and visit their local Anythink to kick o mySummer 2023.

Block Party trailers return Unincorporated Adams County residents can apply and reserve a complimentary Block Party trailer for their next event.

For more information, go to https://adcogov.org/block-party, call 720 523-6465 or email blockparty@ adcogov.org.

‘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.