Two environmental groups are suing the Polis administration for missing air pollution permit deadlines and allegedly giving two metro Denver fossil fuel terminals \u201ca free pass to pollute.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 3 in in Adams County District Court, says the state\u2019s Air Pollution Control Division has missed key deadlines to issue or renew permits required under the Clean Air Act to operate Magellan Pipeline\u2019s Aurora terminal bulk fuel and tank compound, and Crestone Peak Resources\u2019 oil and gas processing plant in east Aurora.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finishing the initial permit for Crestone should have happened in April, according to state and EPA rules, and a renewal for Magellan Pipeline should have been finished in June, the lawsuit claims. Writing the rules and requiring compliance \u201cwould likely reduce pollution and improve air quality\u201d for the Front Range, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, which joined with 350 Colorado in the lawsuit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cToxic air pollution can cause serious health effects ranging from neurologic disease, respiratory compromise, reproductive problems, cancer and more,\u201d Dr. Nikita Habermehl, a pediatric emergency physician and 350 Colorado member, said in a statement accompanying the lawsuit. \u201cThis is an urgent public health issue, and we need action to ensure polluters are held accountable to protect people and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Air Pollution Control Division said officials could not comment on litigation matters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the health of Coloradans, the state\u2019s foot dragging has to stop,\u201d said Jeremy Nichols, a senior advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. \u201cPolluters need to be held to modern pollution control standards so their neighbors can stop choking on these filthy emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emissions from the two facilities contribute volatile organic compounds and other chemicals to the dirty air that bakes on hot summer days and creates toxic ozone, a danger for kids with asthma and adults with respiratory conditions. The counties on Colorado\u2019s northern Front Range have been severely out of compliance with EPA ozone limits in recent years<\/a>, and the state is under deadlines to write emissions-reductions plans to lessen the violations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nichols said the lawsuit is aimed at forcing Colorado to meet deadlines for finalizing permits and holding public hearings, and then enforcing tighter regulations contained in the new permits.\u00a0<\/p>\n