Suncor is being fined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to violations related to chemical accident prevention and reporting. The settlement pertains to the violations discovered during an inspection carried out at the refinery Sept. 14-17, 2020, according to an Aug. 18 news release.
"Facilities must properly handle hazardous substances to prevent dangerous chemical accidents and follow reporting requirements when releases occur,” EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker said in the release. “If they don’t, EPA will hold them accountable. We are pleased that Suncor is implementing critical safety measures to protect workers and the community."
The EPA reached a settlement of $300,030 with Suncor Energy USA Inc., Commerce City Refinery (Suncor) to resolve alleged violations of regulations pertaining to toxic chemicals, the release reported. The settlement pertains to chemical accident prevention, toxic chemical release reporting, and community right-to-know violations at the refinery. As part of the settlement terms, Suncor will pay $60,000 in civil penalties.
The settlement entails various actions to rectify the violations. Suncor will allocate a minimum of $240,030 for the enhancement of emergency response equipment, designated as a Supplemental Environmental Project, the release said. This allocation aims to bolster the chemical release accident response capabilities of the South Adams County Fire Department situated in Commerce City, Colo.
The investigation that prompted the settlement focused on a range of aspects, including the catalyst release incident Dec. 11, 2019. Among the violations identified by the EPA were non-compliance with the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act and failure to meet toxic chemical release reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, according to the release.
Suncor has taken steps to address the violations ascertained by the EPA during their inspection. The company certified their commitment to rectifying the findings and adhere to the stipulations of the settlement. By reaching this settlement, Suncor aims to redress the regulatory shortcomings and enhance its adherence to regulations concerning chemical safety and release reporting, the release reported.
