Former Black Leaf Chemical Site — Center for Environmental Policy and Management

The former Black Leaf Chemical site was identified for Superfund clean-up in 2011 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The site is located within the study area for the 18th Street Corridor planning process, facilitated by the Center for Environmental Policy and Management at the University of Louisville and the Louisville Metro Department of Economic Growth and Innovation. Both the US EPA and the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection have been involved at this site. A listing of EPA related documents related to the site can be found here. In October of 2016, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection received two proposals for cleaning up the Black Leaf Chemical Site. The two proposals can be found below under "Black Leaf Related Documents". In March of 2018, Arcadis submitted a Final Corrective Action Plan to KDE. This document is available below under "Black Leaf Related Documents".

On Saturday, January 11, 2014 Councilman David James was joined by Dr. Matthew Cave of the University of Louisville School of Medicine and Lark Reynolds, University of Louisville Research Coordinator. Dr. Lauren Heberle served as the facilitator of this meeting. The meeting discussed the overall results of the medical testing performed on residents who may have been affected by the former Black Leaf Chemical Site. For further information, contact Councilman James at 574-1106.

On September 17, 2013, the West Jefferson County Community Task Force held a meeting where EPA updated community members on yard clean up.

On August 1, 2013, Councilman David James hosted a community meeting regarding the testing for exposure to contaminants related to the Blackleaf Chemical site at the California Community Center, 1600 West Saint Catherine Street. Dr. Matthew Cave, UofL School of Medicine, and Lark Reynolds, Research Coordinator, discussed the testing and answered questions from community members. A list of pertinent contacts was provided and can be found here.

On June 27, 2013, the EPA and Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection held a public meeting to discuss cleanup plans. The meeting was held at St. Stephen Church, 1018 S. 15th Street, in the multi-purpose room on the 2nd floor. Please see the meeting notice here.

On June 14th, 2012, the EPA, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, along with Louisville Metro Councilman David James, held a public meeting to discuss the Black Leaf Chemical site with area residents and stakeholders. The EPA provided background information about the site, described their soil testing process and results, and detailed their current, known plans for future action. The EPA's PowerPoint of the presentation that includes maps and test results can be viewed here.

Black Leaf Related Documents

Arcadis Final Corrective Action Plan March 2018

Industrial/Commercial Plan

Residential/Berm Restriction Plan

KY Dept. of Environmental Protection Archives

U.S. EPA Update on Black Leaf Chemical site January 2014

Black Leaf Chemical Site Fact Sheet No.7, October 2013

State of Kentucky Request to U.S. EPA to consider site for time critical removal:
www.epaosc.org/sites/7247/files/Time Critical Removal Request 7-25-11.pdf

U.S EPA links about the Black Leaf Assessment:
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=7247

U.S. EPA documents about the Black Leaf site:
http://www.epaosc.org/site/doc_list.aspx?site_id=724

Black Leaf Residential Site Testing Results

EPA Communication February 2013

EPA KDEP Black Leaf Public Meeting June 27, 2013

Freedom of Information Act (FOIFA) Black Leaf Documents

Student Designs (University of Louisville and University of Kentucky)

As part of the 18th Street Corridor planning process, students from the University of Louisville Urban Planning program and the University of Kentucky Landscape Architecture program were asked to develop conceptual reuse plans for the former Black Leaf Chemical Site. Click here to view a sample of these plans.