Suncor Letter: Sulfur Dioxide Released 150 Times Beyond 24-Hour Limit
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4)- According to a company letter obtained by the Denver Post, the orange cloud released from Suncor two weeks ago contained 75,600 pounds of sulfur dioxide.
That was far more released than previously known. That amount is 150 times beyond a 24-hour limit that triggers an investigation.
On Oct. 14, the yellow-orange cloud released from the Suncor plant in Commerce City could be seen for miles across the Denver metro area. Interstate 270 was shut down for hours and people living near the plant were asked to stay inside for several hours.
Officials told CBS4 there was a power transmission interruption to the plant. Following the power issue Suncor was shutting down the refinery to test operating systems and that's when one of the units burned "catalyst dust."
After hours of testing the air, officials told CBS4 they believed no dangerous chemicals were released from the refinery.