US EPA
 Region 8
 999-18th St. Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202-2466
303-312-6312
1-800-227-8917
           Colorado Department
             of Public Health
             and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, Colorado 80246-1530
                303-692-2000
          1-800-866-7689 (Within Colorado)
                                                                  Community
                                                                    Supplemental
                                                              Environment
                                                                  Project
                                                                Suncor Dt
                                                             nr Refinery
                                                                  (Formerly
                                                              Conoco)
                                                                        fiegion 8
                                     c Health

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PAGE 2
                                    SUNCOR SEPS
US EPA REGION 8
                                         PAGE 27
                                                                                 University of Colorado at Boulder
                                                                                       CU Science Discovery
                                                                        General Category: Environmental Education
                                                                        Funding: $19,000 (CDPHE)
                                                                        Location: Northeast Denver/ Commerce City

                                                                        The goals  of  the  project  are  to  connect economically
                                                                        disadvantaged and minority students to the natural world
                                                                        through ongoing outdoor experiences, to instill respect for
                                                                        the planet and  to gain individual  and community skills to
                                                                        work more  effectively with each  other.  This project will
                                                                        engage fifth grade classes from North Denver public schools
                                                                        in outdoor learning and environmental education.   Students
                                                                        will participate in day trips to Bluff Lake, Echo Lake, a local
                                                                        park, an overnight trip to Highlands Camp and the high
                                                                        adventure ropes course at Exempla West  Pines  Training
                                                                        Center.

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PAGE 26
                                   SUNCOR SEPS
   Colorado Energy Scionco Contor
General Category: Pollution Prevention/Energy Efficiency
Funding: $30,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Northeast Denver
CESC has partnered with Cross  Community  Coalition to
increase energy efficiency education  in  the  schools and
perform home energy audits in the Clayton, Swansea, Elyria
and Globeville neighborhoods. Professional auditors will be
assisted by individuals and organizations in the community
to perform the audits.  The home occupant will receive a
consultation with the auditor regarding ways to save energy
in their home.  This will result in lower home  energy costs
and lower environmental impacts resulting from the energy
consumption.   Additionally, they will  support energy
education in the schools in the area.
US EPA REGION 8
PAGE 3
What  are Supplemental  Environmental Projects?
A Supplemental Environmental  Project (SEP)  can be
part of an enforcement settlement when there is a viola-
tion of an environmental law or regulation.
As part of the enforcement settlement, a violator volun-
tarily agrees to contribute funding to an environmentally
beneficial project in exchange for  a reduction in the
monetary fine for the violation . This reduction is de-
cided on a case-by-case basis, and is equal to a percent-
age of the voluntary contribution.

The  Goal of a SEP is to  further the ability of the  EPA
and  CDPHE to protect and enhance public health and
the  environment, by encouraging violators to invest in
community based projects that benefit affected environ-
ments.  SEPs do not include any activities that a violator
must carry out in order to return to compliance with the
law.
SEPs can be  external or internal. External SEPs are
those that focus on communities surrounding the area
affected by  a  violation. Internal SEPs are carried out
within the  violating  organization,  and  are  typically
modifications to equipment or procedures that go above
and beyond the required level of compliance.

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PAGE 4
                                   SUNCOR SEPS
How did these SEPs happen?
These SEPs came into existence because of

(1) The willingness of Suncor Inc. (Formerly Conoco)
   to direct a part of its monetary settlement to the pro-
   jects described in this booklet.
(2) The commitment of the Region 8 and  Colorado De-
   partment of Public Health and Environment Air En-
   forcement staffs.
(3) The efforts of the Region 8  Environmental Justice
   Program.   The  Environmental Justice  Program is
   committed to providing  assistance to Technical and
   Legal enforcement staffs,  to State partners, to com-
   panies and to affected  communities  to implement
   community-based SEPs  in the settlements resulting
   from enforcement actions.

If you are interested in exploring SEPs as part of your
settlements, please contact the staff of the Region 8 En-
vironmental Justice program.

Karen Kellen: kellen.karen@epa.gov (303) 312-6518

Michael Wenstrom: wenstrom.michael@epa.gov
      (303)312-7009
US EPA REGION 8
                                       PAGE 25
                                                                       Commerce City Community Enterprise
General Category: Pollution Prevention/ Environmental Education
Funding: $25,926 (CDPHE)
Location: Commerce City

Commerce  City   Community  Enterprise  will  perform
environmental  education  and outreach projects with the
Holly Park Youth Council,  a group of youth residents, in
Holly Park apartments.  Holly  Park apartments are low-
income housing with approximately 300 youth. This is an
avenue to get  them involved  in  their community while
learning valuable skills for the future. The projects that will
be carried out are: a tree-planting project, a clean hallway
project, a recycling center, community and property clean-up
days, creation of a community garden/compost project and
outreach to the community.

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PAGE  24
                                   SUNCOR SEPS
                 YouthBz
         Business— Academics—Leadership
General Category: Pollution Prevention/ Environmental Education
Funding: $41,600 (CDPHE)
Location: Cole Neighborhood
YouthBiz will  use  the funds to initiate the  "77  Alleys"
project, which recognizes the correlation between cleanliness
of alleys and larger social issues,  and  seeks to organize
community  youth to clean  up  the  alleys  of the Cole
Neighborhood.   The project is  supervised by a program
manager. However, it is run completely by Northeast Denver
inner city youth. The goals of the project are to create a self-
sufficient program within two years and to provide ongoing
education  to  Cole  residents  on  environmental  issues
associated with  recycling.
US EPA REGION 8
PAGE 5
                                                                     This Settlement...
      In 2000, as part of a national refinery initiative
under the Clean Air Act, EPA contacted Conoco, Inc.
regarding violations of the Act.  In the spirit of coopera-
tion, Conoco agreed to seek a quick resolution of the al-
legations and  settle with EPA and the four States in
which they have refineries: Colorado, Louisiana, Okla-
homa and  Montana.   Pursuant to these  settlements,
Conoco agreed to make changes to their facilities and
pay penalties.  They also agreed to perform  Supplemen-
tal and  Beneficial Environmental Projects in all  four
states.  They agreed to spend $400,000 on SEP(s) and
BEP(s)   in   Louisiana,   $400,000   in   Oklahoma,
$1,225,000 in Montana and $2,075,000 in Colorado.
      The  State of Colorado and Region  8 agreed to
take  all  of its penalty money in the form of SEPs, thus
increasing the  amount of funds  directed  to SEPs in
Colorado. SEPs normally allow companies to put pen-
alty  money  back into facility operations to make up-
grades to pollution devices that go beyond requirements
of the law.  In this instance Conoco, the State and EPA
agreed that approximately 25% of the SEP  funds could
be placed directly with community groups  working on
pollution prevention activities that directly benefit the
communities most affected by the pollution from the fa-
cility.  The Colorado  facility in Commerce City, Colo-
rado has since been purchased and is  operated by Sun-
cor Inc.  In accordance  with a  revised consent decree,
Suncor Inc. is now responsible for the SEPs.

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 PAGE 6
                                      SUNCOR SEPS
 Eight Steps to Creating  Community-Based (SEPs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^•^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^•i
 If SEPs are a possibility in a settlement:
 1. Meet with both the legal and technical enforcement staffs
   handling the settlement to secure agreement on a process
   and coordinate activities.

 2. Meet with company staff to discuss how they would like
   to proceed.

 3. Reach out to community organizations to invite participa-
   tion in the development of SEPs.

 4. Work with the company to help in soliciting the proposals.

 5. Work with regional enforcement staff, Headquarters
   OEC A staff and the Department of Justice to determine
   which of the projects comply with the EPA SEP Guid-
   ance.

 6. Make adjustments in project budgets and descriptions to
   match the total amount of the SEP settlement.

 7. Meet with the company periodically to assess progress on
   each project and contact each community organization to
   assure that progress is being made as scheduled.

 8. At the end of the process, meet to determine Lessons
   Learned and integrate these lessons in future processes.

 (Note: The language in these steps is directed toward a fed-
 eral process.  However, you can easily apply these steps to a
 state-level process by simply substituting equivalent state
 agency references.)
US EPA REGION  8
                                          PAGE 23
         Northeast Denver Housing Center
               Household Lead Hazard
General Category: Environmental Health and Education
Funding: $50,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Clayton Neighborhood

The SEP funds will fill the gap left by a HUD grant for lead
abatement and  other lead hazard control work in homes.
This project will target homes in the Clayton Neighborhood
that are at risk  but that do not qualify for the  HUD grant.
This includes: pre-1940 homes of senior citizens who baby
sit young children and other pre-1940  homes  with  young
children not yet poisoned.  Additionally,  100 homes will be
investigated and each family  educated  about  lead.   The
investigation will include a survey, a visual inspection, the
collecting of five dust or paint samples and general education
of the resident.  If results are positive, families will receive a
cleaning kit and instructions on  how to control lead safely.

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PAGE 22
                                     SUNCOR SEPS
         Northeast Denver Housing Center
          Asthma Outreach and Education
                      General Category: Environmental
                      Health and Education
                      Funding: $13,325 (CDPHE)
                      Location: 5 schools in
                            Northeast Denver
Presentations will be made to the students about asthma and
asthma triggers  found  in  the  home  in  middle  school  art
classes in Commerce City and the surrounding NE Denver
neighborhoods.  NDHC will also provide information  on
asthma to send home to  parents and for teachers in  other
classes to use  as activities.  After the presentation the  art
teachers  will ask  students to make a  drawing depicting
something  they  learned  about asthma.    The wining  13
pictures will be  made into a calendar to be  given  to each
participating  class  and   be  available  to   schools   for
fundraisers.
US EPA REGION  8
                                          PAGE 7
List of Conoco/Suncor Community SEPs

 Groundwork Denver                                  8
 Sand Creek Regional Greenway                        9
 NEMPPA                                           10
 Adams  City HS Environmental Club                     11
 Adams  School  District Green City Project                12
 Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education            13
 Earth Force School Program                           14
 Breathe Better Foundation                             15
 Adams  14  Educational Foundation                      16
 Earth Force at Cole Middle  School                      17
 Cross Community Coalition                            18
 University of Colorado and  Cross Community Coalition     19
 Regional Air Quality Council                          20
 Commerce  City Community  Health Services              21
 Northeast Denver Housing Center—Asthma Outreach      22
 Northeast Denver Housing Center—Lead Outreach        23
 YouthBiz                                           24
 Commerce  City Community  Enterprise                   25
 Colorado Energy Science Center                        26
 CU  Science Discovery                                27

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PAGE 8
                                   SUNCOR SEPS
        Groundwork Denver
CHANGING LIVE
General Category: Parks
Funding Amount: $20,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Northeast Denver
Groundwork is an initiative to empower the community to
take control and redevelop brownfields and abandoned lands
in Denver in order to make them community assets.  It
supports  citizens  being  in  control  of  the  process.
Groundwork Denver serves as a catalyst, the glue and the
keeper  of   the  vision.     Communities  participate  in
determining Groundwork projects, including increasing open
green  space,  affordable  housing,  daycare  centers  and
commercial areas.  Green  space is  always  included as a
component of the  project if not the major purpose.
US EPA REGION  8
                                        PAGE 21
General Category: Environmental Health/Asthma Supplies
Funding: $16,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Adams County 14 Schools

CCCHS is a non-profit organization providing health care to
children  and adolescents.  They have a contract with the
Adams County School District 14 to assist schools with their
health needs. The school nurses have identified the need for
nebulizers  and  peak flow  meters to assist the students in
managing their asthma. The funds will be used to purchase
1000 peak  flow meters, which are hand held instruments that
a student  blows into to measure lung  capacity, and  10
nebulizers, which  are machines  that are used  to  give
breathing treatments to a student with an asthma attack when
their standard inhaler is not working.

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PAGE 20
                                    SUNCOR SEPS
        Regional Air Quality Council
           REGIONAL AIR QUALITY COUNCIL
General Category: Poll Prevention, Outreach and Awareness
Funding: $50,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Denver Metro

These funds will be used for a Fleet Outreach and Awareness
Program, which will encourage initiatives by  diesel  fleet
operators to reduce emissions.   The program will launch a
collaborative outreach and awareness effort with private and
public fleets in the Denver region and will  recognize fleet
operators that undertake voluntary  programs to  reduce
emissions from their fleet of diesel vehicles.  This will  be
accomplished through workshops, one-on-one meetings with
fleet  owners,  distribution of  educational  materials and
retrofitting projects.
US EPA REGION 8
                                         PAGE 9
    Sand Creek Regional Greenway
 General Category: Parks
 Funding Amount: $50,000 (CDPHE)
 Location: Sand Creek Wetland Park
The  Sand Creek Urban  Trail is a  13-mile long trail that
passes through  Commerce  City,  Denver,  Aurora and
Stapleton Redevelopment Corporation. The trail gives urban
residents  greater access to nature  and wildlife via access
from several trailheads. The wetland park is a parcel of land
just over  19 acres.  The funds will  be  used  to create  an
interpretive trail system,  to purchase plantings for the site
and to support volunteer efforts.  The proposed final use of
the site is natural open space  with educational  opportunities
through select access of the restored riparian habitat area.

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PAGE 10
                                     SUNCOR SEPS
General Category: Xeriscape - water conservation
Funding Amount: $20,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Cole, Clayton andElyria Swansea Neighborhoods

Northeast Metro Pollution Prevention Alliance  (NEMPPA)
is   a   community   partnership   that  promotes  pollution
principles  in Northeast  Denver.   Funds  will  be  used to
educate community  members about  water conservation.
Information   will   be  shared   about  xeriscaping   and
demonstration yards in the area will be created.  The project
will build a program that will be capable of providing further
reduction in water use beyond the life of this project.
US EPA REGION 8
                                          PAGE  19
General Category: Environmental Health Study
Funding: $24,525 (CDPHE)
Location: Northeast Denver and Commerce City
The   goal   of  the  project  "Speciation   of  Airborne
Carbonaceous Paniculate Matter Samples Collected During
2001 in Adams County, Colorado" is to better understand the
composition and origin of the PM present in north Denver/
Adams County.   This  will  be accomplished by analyzing
particulate  matter samples collected at regulatory sites in
North Denver/Adams County  from an entire  year.  The
chemical composition of the samples will be determined and
then quantitatively compared.

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                                     SUNCOR SEPS
        Cross Community Coalition
General Category: Environmental Education
Funding: $50,000 (CDPHE/EPA)
Location: Northeast Denver

The funds will contribute to the "green building" elements of
the new Family Resource Center facility,  which will serve
the Elyria,  Globeville,  Swansea  and Cole neighborhoods.
The current building is underneath 170 and relocation will
facilitate an increase in children's programs.  The activities
in the Center  include, but are not limited to: social services
applications and certification, tax preparation for low-income
families, computer training,  English  as a Second Language
classes,  GED  classes,  training  in hazardous  materials
removal, Youth Pollution Prevention Corps and Estoy Listo
(I am Ready) school  program.
US EPA REGION 8
                                          PAGE 11
General Category: Environmental Education/ Recycle
Funding: $1,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Commerce City
The Environmental Club at Adams City High School is only
three years old and is trying to start a school wide recycling
program. They see all of the waste that the school is creating
and want to do something about it. The project will provide
them  money  to purchase proper recycling  containers to
collect cans, bottles, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic bags and
print cartridges. Additionally the funds will be used to create
fun activities  to encourage students  to get involved  in the
club.

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                                    SUNCOR SEPS
   Adams School District Green City Project
General Category: Environmental Education
Funding: $10,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Commerce City

Students from Adams City High School and Kearney Middle
School will participate in the Green City Project.  Green City
is an innovative, field-based science education which bridges
what students are learning in school to the real world.  The
Green City Project's  mission is  to foster an understanding
and stewardship of local ecosystems by involving students
with nature in their own communities. The students will take
monthly excursions to a local natural area where they apply
lessons learned in the classroom.
US EPA REGION 8
                                         PAGE 17
        Earth Force at Cole Middle School
                                                                       General Category: Environmental Education
                                                                       Funding: $20,000 (CDPHE)
                                                                       Location: Cole Middle School
Funds will be used to develop an Earth Force program at
Cole Middle School.  Earth Force is a year-round effort to
engage youth in environmental problem  solving in their
community through:  an intensive  summer  literacy  and
leadership program for incoming 6th graders and a weekly
3-hour Wednesday block of environmental service learning
for the entire 6th grade class during the school year.  The
Community Action and Problem Solving (CAPS) program
will be used to provide students with skills needed to make
long term sustainable change to a local environmental issue
that the youth identify.

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                                 SUNCOR SEPS
   Adams 14 Educational Foundation
        ADAMS COUNTY *
 SCHOOL DISTRICT 14
General Category: Environmental Education
Funding: $10,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Commerce City
The foundation is trying to improve the science curriculum
in  Adams County School District #14.   The foundation
currently  awards  mini-grants to  teachers to implement
innovative approaches to improving student achievement and
literacy. With this grant they will increase the mini-grants to
$1,000 each for Environmental Education Projects.
US EPA REGION 8
                                     PAGE  13
                                                                                 caee
                                                                                 Colorado Alliance
                                                                                 For Environmental
                                                                                    Education
General Category: Environmental Education
Funding: $30,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Colorado
CAEE  will  coordinate  the  more  than  two  hundred
organizations in the Denver Area involved in Environmental
Education in a state wide web-based database. The database
will be a "one stop shopping" for busy teachers who may be
unaware of materials which could supplement classroom
content.  It will also increase the usability of these resources
by encouraging providers  to link their  programs to the
Colorado academic   standards   and  also  review   them
according to national quality guidelines.

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PAGE  14
                                   SUNCOR SEPS
        Earth Force School Program
General Category: Environmental Education
Funding: $20,000 (CDPHE)
Location: Northeast Denver/ Commerce City
The project will provide exemplary after-school and summer
environmental leadership programs in Commerce  City and
Northeast Denver communities, working with at least 200
youth who will  accomplish  at  least  10  environmental
projects. It will engage the students in environmental issues
where they live and give them the opportunities, skills and
support needed to participate in their solutions.
US EPA REGION 8
                                       PAGE 15
      Breathe Better Foundation
General Category: Environmental Health and Education
Funding: $16,337 (CDPHE)
Location: Commerce City School District #14
On behalf of the American Lung Association the Breathe
Better Foundation will provide  the following educational
services: Breathe Better Bus,  Open Airways for Schools,
Smoke-free Home Pledge Initiative, Community  Education
Sessions and Lung tests.  The program will be  offered to
seven elementary  schools in  Adams County.   The Open
Airways for Schools program will consist of six  40-minute
sessions to these students.

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