Suncor’s recent shutdown has received an appalling lack of scrutiny from the press. The narrative has been that with the shutdown gas prices will increase. I suspect this is Suncor’s attempt to distract the public and press from delving more deeply into the issues. 

There has been no coverage of what led to the shutdown in the first place. Temperatures were extremely cold. However, Denver is known to see temperatures in the -15ºF range every few to several years. With the advanced notice of the bomb cyclone, why wasn’t Suncor prepared? What happened to the two workers who were injured? Are they okay? Were there any OSHA violations that led to this incident? 

There is still smoke coming out of the refinery in Commerce City. Has the plant truly shut down? Why has Suncor been allowed to operate on an air permit that expired ten years ago? I encourage all media outlets to explore these questions for the health of the Commerce City residents and the health and safety of Suncor’s workers. They matter.

Ruth L. Hund, Golden