CCND Air Monitoring program overview
Air monitoring is the measurement of compounds and particles present in the ambient air using advanced instruments and analytical methods. Suncor’s Commerce City North Denver (CCND) air monitoring stations are equipped with state-of-the-art federal equivalent method (FEM) or near-FEM sensors to collect high-quality, continuous air quality data.
The CCND air monitors measure the following:
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
- Particulate matter (PM₂.₅)
- Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
- Total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs)
- BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes)
The CCND Air Monitoring program was voluntarily developed in 2021 in coordination with regional air monitoring networks and input from the public and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Suncor engages Onterris, a third-party consultant, to operate and maintain the program, conduct health risk assessments, and publish monitoring reports.
CCND air monitor locations:
- Rose Hill Elementary School — E. 58th Ave. & Oneida St., Commerce City
- Suncor Business Center — Brighton Blvd. & York St., Commerce City
- Focus Points Family Resource Center — E. 48th Ave. & Columbine St., Denver
- Kearney Middle School — E. 62nd Ave. & Kearney St., Commerce City
- E. 64th Ave. & Monroe St., Commerce City
- Alsup Elementary School — E. 68th Ave. & Birch St., Commerce City
Regional air monitoring network
The CCND Air Monitoring program is part of Suncor’s comprehensive regional air monitoring program, which includes multiple networks and technologies, all providing data to the public. Collectively, these systems support public health data needs in the region and emergency response.
The network includes:
- CCND Air Monitoring program — data publicly available
- Six stations in CCND neighborhoods with FEM and near-FEM sensors
- Quarterly summa canister monitoring for volatile compounds
- Mobile van monitoring through six CCND neighborhoods
- Suncor fenceline monitoring around the perimeter of refining operations — data publicly available
- Suncor Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) monitoring at emission sources — data publicly available
Suncor’s air monitoring programs are part of a larger regional system of air monitoring including:
- Three Love My Air community air monitors — data publicly available
About Onterris
The CCND Air Monitoring program is operated by Onterris, one of the largest air quality measurement groups in the world. Onterris specializes in measuring air quality and evaluating emerging technologies in the field.