Rubbertown

New Clean Water Technology Will Be Tested in Louisville

Erica Peterson — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:27:51 +0000

A new nanotechnology to clean up contaminated water will soon be tested in Louisville. It will use two precious metals—gold and palladium—to remove chloroform from contaminated groundwater at the DuPont plant in Rubbertown.

Nanotechnology is a term that refers to materials made in a lab that manipulate chemicals at an atomic level. They’re smaller than a red blood cell, hence “nano.”

Budget Cuts May Lead to Reduction in Toxic Air Monitoring in Louisville

Erica Peterson — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Without some additional grant funding, the air toxics monitoring run out of the University of Louisville will have to scale back next year.

Air Pollution Control District Fines Rubbertown Company

Erica Peterson — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:46:12 +0000

The Air Pollution Control District and Momentive Specialty Chemicals have reached an agreement on alleged violations at the company's Rubbertown plant. The proposed settlement fines Momentive $13,500 for failing to report excess emissions. There will be a public hearing on the fine next Wednesday at 10am, and the Air Pollution Control Board will vote on the settlement.

Residents Welcome More Regulations for Rubbertown Plants

Gabe Bullard — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 02:44:14 +0000

After concluding that a deadly 2011 explosion at the Carbide Industries plant in Rubbertown could have been prevented, the Federal Chemical Safety Board has approved recommendations aimed at making sure industries won't have a chance to replicate the unsafe conditions—a move Rubbertown residents welcomed.

Update: Carbide Ignored Warning Signs Before March 2011 Explosion in Rubbertown

Gabe Bullard — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:28:44 +0000

The federal Chemical Safety Board says Carbide Industries ignored warning signs and could have prevented a deadly explosion at a plant in Louisville two years ago.

Today, the CSB released the results of its investigation into the March 2011 furnace explosion at Carbide's Rubbertown facility that killed two workers and injured two others. (Read the report here.)

Chemical Safety Board to Release Findings of Investigation Into 2011 Rubbertown Explosion

Erica Peterson — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:49:16 +0000

The Chemical Safety Board will be in Louisville next week to present the results of its investigation into the March 2011 explosion at the Carbide Industries plant in Rubbertown.

The explosion killed two workers and injured two others on March 21, 2011, when an electric arc furnace over pressured and emitted hot gases and debris.

Rubbertown and Health: The Whole Series

Erica Peterson — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

During the month of January, WFPL aired nine features on the issues posed in regulating toxic air emissions in Rubbertown—and the past, present and potential health concerns of residents. Here's a collection of those stories.

No End in Sight for Clash Between Residents, Rubbertown Industry

Erica Peterson — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Eboni Cochran says there’s a lot to like about her neighborhood in Louisville’s West End.

“You make a right and you will hit lots of green space, beautiful parkway with beautiful tall trees, with nice houses,” she says.

Cochran is a leader with a volunteer group called REACT: Rubbertown Emergency ACTion.

"But then to the left, you are going to run into lots of railroad tracks, you’re going to see railcars that are parked behind trees throughout your little route. And on the right you’re going to start seeing the beginnings of Rubbertown, chemical plants.”

And there’s the ‘but.’ Pretty much everyone I spoke with for this series—from Park DuValle to Riverside Gardens—said they like living where they live. But the health and safety problems—past, present and potential—seriously affect their quality of life.

So, what’s the answer? Do you kick out the industry? Move the people? Or find some middle ground where everyone can coexist? And for people who have spent their lives worried about toxic emissions from Rubbertown, is it even possible to coexist?

Interstate Traffic Makes Air Quality in Rubbertown Worse

Erica Peterson — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Start your car. See that puff from the tailpipe in your rearview mirror? Benzene, butadiene, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide.

Southwest Louisville Residents Still Concerned About Long-Dormant Landfill

Erica Peterson — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:30:00 +0000

For 35 years, the Lees Lane Landfill in Southwest Louisville took in everything the city wanted to throw out, from household trash to toxic chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates more than two million cubic yards of waste went into the landfill. And though it’s been closed and remediated, there are still unanswered questions about contamination at the site.