STATE: SUNCOR EMISSIONS ARE NOT A CONCERN

The public does not need to worry about the yellow-orange smoke that billowed last week from a Commerce City refinery, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said Thursday.

Air quality modeling of the emissions malfunction at Suncor on Oct. 14 did not create a public health concern, according to a health department tweet.

Suncor has returned to full operation and the plant is in compliance with emission limits, the state health department said.

A power failure at the refinery caused an emergency shutdown and sent sulfur dioxide into the air as part of the shutdown procedure. The billowing smoke led officials to warn nearby residents to stay indoors and close roads for a few hours.

The plant resumed operations on Sunday.