Gov. Polis Friday formalized Friday an earlier disaster declaration after the Dec. 24 fire at Suncor's refinery.
File Photo
Staff Report
Gov. Jared Polis has formally declared a disaster emergency in the wake of the Christmas Eve fire at Suncor and its subsequent shutdown.
The formal declaration for the Commerce City refinery, issued Jan. 27, was a move meant to protect Colorado's fuel supply chain.
The Executive Order formalized his verbal order in late December that highlighted the emergency, which has been ongoing since. That initial activation allowed Polis to activate National Guard assistance with planning and logistics. It also activated the State Emergency Operations Plan.
State agencies are able to continue coordination with response and mitigation efforts. The order also paves the way for potential "regulatory relief" to reduce strains on the state economy amid rising gas prices throughout the metro area that are linked to the shutdown. That relief may include changes to industries like trucking, which may see changes in operation hours and weights as well as the oil industry, which may see pipeline regulations "streamlined."
We will update this story.
