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Colorado regulators are considering whether to impose further limitations on Suncor Refinery’s PFAS allowances in their renewed water quality permit. Suncor’s refinery officials claim that recent testing has not revealed higher than normal contamination downstream from their site on Sand Creek or in nearby South Platte River. However, state regulators have stated that PFAS levels in the outflows from Suncor in December and January exceeded proposed effluent limits outlined in a draft water quality permit.
Suncor acknowledges the high November reading but contends that it is not representative, pointing to downstream sampling results taken on the same day that showed lower PFAS concentrations. Environmental groups and neighbors are pushing for stricter permit conditions to limit PFAS allowances to levels recently set by the EPA for drinking water.
While the firefighting foam used at Suncor no longer contains restricted PFAS variants, concerns over ongoing spills of other substances and benzene exceedances also persist. Any additional revisions to the permit will be subject to public comment and review by the water quality division.