Suncor Energy Commerce City Refinery — Emissions Trend

Commerce City, CO · 2019–2023 · Parent: Suncor Energy (usa) Inc

This page assembles 5 consecutive years of EPA Toxics Release Inventory Form R filings for Suncor Energy Commerce City Refinery, spanning 2019–2023. Each annual total aggregates on-site air emissions, surface-water discharges, land disposal, and off-site transfers reported by the facility under EPCRA Section 313, which requires disclosure whenever a listed chemical is manufactured, processed, or otherwise used above threshold quantities.

Reported releases opened at 104.1K in 2019 and closed at 86.7K in 2023 - a decreasing of -16.7% over the window. The chart below stacks the four TRI release media (air, water, land, off-site) and overlays the yearly total. The top contributor by cumulative mass is Hydrogen cyanide at 124.1K, followed by Propylene at 80.7K.

Because TRI figures are estimated, not metered, year-over-year deltas can reflect methodology revisions, ownership changes, or shifts in what a facility classifies as reportable, not only physical emission changes. Treat the trajectory as a disclosure record, and cross-reference with the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) system for the fuller regulatory picture on this petroleum facility.

Overall Trend
↓ Decreasing (-16.7%)
2019 Total
104.1K lbs
2023 Total
86.7K lbs

Total Releases by Category

Air
Water
Land
Offsite Transfer
020.8K41.6K62.5K83.3K104.1K 20192020202120222023 Pounds Released

Year-over-Year Comparison

Year Total Chemicals YoY Change
2019 104.1K lbs 30
2020 79.4K lbs 30 -23.8%
2021 88.2K lbs 29 +11.1%
2022 101.9K lbs 29 +15.5%
2023 86.7K lbs 29 -14.9%

Top Chemicals by Year

Chemical 20192020202120222023 Total
Hydrogen cyanide 33.0K 22.0K 24.0K 22.7K 22.4K 124.1K
Propylene 14.8K 12.8K 12.8K 23.6K 16.8K 80.7K
Xylene (mixed isomers) 10.2K 5.1K 13.2K 14.5K 4.4K 47.4K
Hydrogen sulfide 7.5K 4.9K 6.4K 9.0K 5.8K 33.7K
Toluene 6.9K 5.2K 6.8K 7.2K 4.9K 30.9K
n-Hexane 3.3K 3.0K 3.8K 5.3K 14.3K 29.6K
Benzene 4.3K 4.4K 5.9K 5.8K 5.7K 26.1K
Ethylene 4.4K 3.8K 4.6K 5.1K 4.6K 22.5K
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) 9.8K 11.0K 20.8K
Ammonia 2.8K 2.3K 3.6K 2.6K 2.5K 13.7K
Cyclohexane 982 894 889 914 919 4.6K
Ethylbenzene 887 508 1.2K 1.3K 616 4.5K
Zinc compounds 697 654 635 1.2K 675 3.8K
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 799 609 946 975 399 3.7K
Nickel compounds 2.4K 138 133 146 513 3.4K

About This Data

Trend data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Facilities report annually. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. Year-over-year changes may reflect changes in production, pollution control measures, reporting methodology, or chemical thresholds.

A decrease in reported releases does not necessarily indicate improved environmental performance, as it may reflect production cutbacks, facility closures, or changes in reporting requirements. Similarly, increases may reflect expanded production rather than degraded environmental practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Suncor Energy Commerce City Refinery getting cleaner or dirtier?
Based on EPA TRI data from 2019–2023, Suncor Energy Commerce City Refinery's total toxic releases have decreased by approximately 17%.
What time period does this trend data cover?
This page shows 5 years of EPA Toxic Release Inventory data from 2019–2023. Release quantities are self-reported estimates filed annually by the facility.