Report: Suncor violated pollution permits for 900 hours during shutdown

Suncor Energy’s oil refinery in Commerce City exceeded its permitted pollution limits for more than 900 cumulative hours during its three-month shutdown in late 2022 and early 2023, according to a study by an environmental group — and Colorado regulators say they are investigating potential violations during that incident.

350 Colorado , an environmental group that advocates for the elimination of fossil fuels, says in its recently released report that it reviewed Suncor’s self-reported documents connected to the shutdown and determined there was a notable increase in the frequency of permit violations while the refinery was offline.

During that time, the plant released excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter such as soot, according