EPA Investigating If State’s Systemic Failure To Regulate Big Polluters Is Violating People’s Civil Rights

On today’s show, we talk about the ongoing struggle between Colorado regulatory agencies, the federal government, and Suncor refinery, the state’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases that’s in a mostly Latino residential North Denver community. The Environmental Protection Agency announced this month that they are moving forward with an investigation into the state agency responsible for issuing permits to regulate industrial polluters like Suncor to evaluate whether the state is violating the civil rights of communities around these emitters by failing to enforce federal air quality standards.

Ian Coghill, an attorney with Earth Justice, joined KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon to discuss the lawsuit and what it could mean for industry that, with little government oversight, has pumped toxins into the Colorado’s air for decades.

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EPA Investigating If State’s Systemic Failure To Regulate Big Polluters Is Violating People’s Civil Rights Alexis Kenyon

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EPA Investigating If State’s Systemic Failure To Regulate Big Polluters Is Violating People’s Civil Rights Alexis Kenyon

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Alexis Kenyon

Alexis Kenyon is an experienced radio reporter with more than 15 years of experience creating compelling, sound-rich radio stories for news outlets across the country. Kenyon has master's degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism in radio broadcast and photojournalism. She has worked in KGNU's news department since 2021 as a reporter, editor, and daily news producer. In all her work, she strives to produce thought-provoking, trustworthy journalism that makes other people's stories feel personal. In addition to audio production, Kenyon runs KGNU's news internship program and oversees the department's digital engagement.