Series of explosions in Louisville, Kentucky (1981)
On February 13, 1981, a series of explosions destroyed more than 13 miles (21 km) of sewer lines and streets in the center of Louisville in Kentucky, United States.[1][2][3] The explosions resulted in extensive damage to property and infrastructure; there were no fatalities, but four people were injured.[4][5]
The blasts were caused by the ignition of hexane vapors which had been illegally discharged from a soybean processing plant owned by Ralston-Purina and located on Floyd Street. The plant had been a processing facility for cottonseed or soybeans since at least 1900.[6]
Repairs to the sewers and streets took about two years.[7] Ralston-Purina paid $18 million to the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District, about $9 million to about 17,000 plaintiffs in a lawsuit settled in 1984, $4 million to the city, and $2 million to affected members of the public that did not sue the company.[8] The company admitted that it had released hexane into the sewers, but initially did not accept responsibility for the blasts[1] and continued to deny negligence for years[9]
until eventually pleading guilty to four counts of violating federal environmental laws and paying the maximum possible fine, $62,500.[5][10][11][12]
^ abWilliams, Winston (February 18, 1981). "Louisville's cleanup begins in Wake of Sewer Explosion". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
^Cite error: The named reference BigBang was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Garvin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Area of Louisville Damaged by Blasts". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 14, 1981. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
^ abSheeran, Thomas J. (December 31, 1981). "Ralston Purina, indicted in sewer blasts, apologizes". Retrieved February 24, 2018.
^Cite error: The named reference ULbuys was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference GAO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Bruggers, James (July 13, 2003). "Blasts Ripped Louisville streets, Spurred Hazardous Material Law". The Courier-Journal.[dead link]
^"Company Pays Millions in 1981 Sewer Explosion". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 9, 1984.
^"A Time of Crises – MSD History". Metropolitan Sewer District of Louisville official website. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
^"Ralston Purina Indicted in Louisville Sewer Blast". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 31, 1981. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
^Bernstein, Adam (March 20, 2012). "Obituaries – Raymond W. Mushal, Justice Department lawyer". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
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