Environment

Update 6 p.m.: The two train cars containing hydrogen fluoride have been stabilized, and the shelter-in-place for the surrounding area is no longer in effect. The evacuations that were in effect for those within 1.2 miles of the site has also been lifted, and there are no longer any restrictions on air and water traffic.

Dixie Highway will remain close until further notice.

MetroSafe spokeswoman Jody Duncan says there were no complications today when stabilizing the hydrogen fluoride cars.

The Kentucky Division of Waste Management's efforts to clean up illegal dumps are showing positive results.

From the Department of Environmental Protection's Naturally Connected blog:

Louisville’s fourth annual Bluegrass Bioneers conference begins today.

Bioneers is a conference held annually in California, then streamed to groups around the country. It’s meant to present innovative, pioneering solutions to some of the world’s most serious environmental issues.

Regulators are still working to extinguish a fire at the site of the train derailment and chemical spill in southwest Jefferson County. But work has also begun to determine the environmental and health effects of the toxic chemicals that have already leaked.

Right now, workers on the scene of the train derailment in southwestern Jefferson County are worried about extinguishing the fire that’s been burning since yesterday, likely caused by residual butadiene. But once that’s under control, they’ll turn their attention to two train cars full of a chemical called hydrogen fluoride. And as they’re working to stabilize and drain those cars, it’s likely there will be another shelter-in-place in effect for the surrounding areas. Why?