Colorado officials committed to cleaner air and reducing reliance on fossil fuels have reached a turning point on whether to tolerate the hulking oil refinery north of Denver that ranks among the state’s major polluters and regularly malfunctions . They must approve or deny Suncor Energy’s applications to renew its operating permits, which serve as contracts governing the emission levels of toxic pollutants that can cause cancer and serious heart, lung and other health problems. This is oversight power Colorado air pollution regulators have declined to use over nearly a decade of letting Suncor run the refinery under the equivalent of an expired driver’s license — a perk granted to companies if they submit timely renewal applications. Suncor’s outdated permits, which records show were issued in 2006 and 2012, allow emissions of 866,100 tons a year of heat-trapping gases and toxics including sulfur dioxide, benzene and hydrogen cyanide . During malfunctions, pollution … [Read more...] about Suncor refinery north of Denver faces state review of outdated permits, plans $300 million push to be “better not bigger”
Rcmp 100 million settlement
AstraZeneca’s vaccine contract with the UK is based on ‘best efforts,’ just like its deal with a frustrated EU
London (CNN) AstraZeneca's contract to supply the UK with 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses commits it to making "best reasonable efforts," the same language used in its deal with the European Union , which critics blamed for the bloc's faltering inoculation program. The details of the contract are contained in a redacted version published online without fanfare months ago, long before the UK and the EU became embroiled in a bitter dispute over vaccine supply. British officials had earlier declined to provide the contract to CNN, making no mention of the redacted version, and have repeatedly refused to give details on the country's vaccine supplies, citing "security reasons." A junior UK government minister said in a recent interview that publishing the contract would risk national security. Yet in response to a Freedom of Information request from CNN, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) this week provided CNN a link to the redacted … [Read more...] about AstraZeneca’s vaccine contract with the UK is based on ‘best efforts,’ just like its deal with a frustrated EU
EU and AstraZeneca fight over vaccine delays while death toll mounts
London (CNN Business) A war of words between the European Union and AstraZeneca escalated on Wednesday as the two sides argued in public over coronavirus vaccine delays that threaten the bloc's fragile recovery from the pandemic . The dispute began on Monday when EU officials said they had been told by AstraZeneca ( AZN ) that the company intended to supply "considerably fewer" doses in the coming weeks than had been agreed because of production problems. The European Commission has ordered 400 million doses on behalf of EU member states and is poised to start rolling them out across the bloc once the vaccine is approved, possibly this week. "Pharmaceutical companies and vaccine developers have moral, societal and contractual responsibilities which they need to uphold," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told reporters on Wednesday. "The view that the company is not obliged to deliver [vaccines] ... is neither correct nor acceptable." "We are in a … [Read more...] about EU and AstraZeneca fight over vaccine delays while death toll mounts
Opinion: Cultivando has a better Suncor plan — continuous real-time pollution reporting
A Denver Post editorial recently congratulated the Suncor corporation for planning to introduce air-monitoring equipment into the communities surrounding the refinery it has owned for 19 years. We, Cultivando, a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the Latino community develop a stronger sense of civic importance and cohesiveness, have a better proposal. It was developed over the past year with the help of several other grassroots organizations with expertise in public health, engineering, environmental science, and public policy. As background, Suncor is the second largest corporation in Canada. Its primary business is mining tar sands for oil and gas, with significant amounts transported 1,200 miles for refining in Denver. Suncor’s community-involvement initiative is not simply goodwill. It’s part of a settlement agreement negotiated with the state after a $9 million fine in 2019 for repeated violations of its two air pollution permits. Both permits … [Read more...] about Opinion: Cultivando has a better Suncor plan — continuous real-time pollution reporting
The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote
Presented by Facebook Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. Today is Friday! We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the co-creators. Readers can find us on Twitter @asimendinger and @alweaver22. Please recommend the Morning Report to friends and let us know what you think. CLICK HERE to subscribe! Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported each morning this week: Monday, 513,091; Tuesday, 514,657; Wednesday, 516,608; Thursday, 518,453; Friday, 520,356. Senate Democrats voted by the narrowest margin on Thursday to take up a sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus bill, teeing off what's expected to be a sprint through the weekend to help millions of struggling Americans. President Biden Joe Biden Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw … [Read more...] about The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote
