Hazardous Material

Hazardous materials (hazmat) incidents involve accidental or intentional release of chemicals, gases, or other substances that pose risks to human health, property, and the environment. In the BRADD region, such incidents may arise from industrial facilities, transportation (rail, highways, pipelines), storage tanks, or waste handling operations. While many releases are small or contained, major events can trigger evacuations, environmental contamination, and long-term remediation. Incorporating hazardous materials into hazard mitigation planning enables jurisdictions to evaluate chemical risk, map potential exposure zones, and adopt land-use, response, and prevention strategies to reduce impacts.

Description Extent, Past Events, & Location Probability Impact Vulnerability Summary Analysis

Types of Hazardous Material

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines hazardous materials as liquid, solid, contained gas, or sludge wastes that contain properties that are potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous materials are typically released in the form of spills, leaks, or vapor emissions. These are known as either a point source release that can be traced back to a single origin, or a non-point source releases that occur incrementally, slowly polluting the environment.

These chemicals are used in industry, agriculture, medicine, research, and consumer goods. Hazardous materials come in the form of explosive flammable and combustible substances, poisons, and radioactive materials. In all its forms, hazardous materials can cause death, serious injury, long-lasting health effects, along with damage to buildings, homes, and other property.

Facilities that Contain Large Quantities of Hazardous Materials

Many products containing hazardous chemicals are used and stored in homes routinely. These products are also shipped daily on the nation’s highways, railroads, waterways, and pipelines. Varying quantities of hazardous materials are manufactured, used, or stored at an estimated 4.5 million facilities in the United States from local dry cleaning establishments, service stations, and garden supply stores to hospitals and major industrial plants. Facilities that contain large quantities of hazardous materials are regulated to reduce the risk of point source spills. These facilities are categorized as Tier II facilities, which are defined as those that are equal or exceed the thresholds of hazardous materials under Section 311(e) of Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA).

Tier II facilities are required to complete a Tier II Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory report by the Kentucky Emergency Response Commission (KyERC). These facilities are also required to report to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and local fire departments. Tier II storage facilities are required to comply with federal safety requirements and are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Title III of SARA regulates the packaging, labeling, handling, storage and transportation of hazardous materials. The law requires facilities to furnish information about the quantities and health effects of materials used at the facility, and to promptly notify local and State officials whenever a significant release of hazardous materials occurs.

Other Federal laws that regulate hazardous materials include: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA), Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Clean Air Act, and Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act of 2004.

Extent

The extent of a hazardous materials release is characterized by the type of substance, quantity released, state (gas, liquid, solid), dispersion behavior, and weather/terrain conditions. Releases may be constrained and local (e.g. a leaking drum or tank) or large and far-reaching (e.g. vapors spreading over multiple miles, groundwater contamination migrating). Depending on the chemical’s toxicity, volatility, and persistence, an incident could produce acute health effects, long-term environmental harm, or chronic exposure zones. In the BRADD region, credible scenarios include a small spill alongside a highway, a rail car release near populated areas, or a storage tank failure, each producing different spatial footprints and hazard zones.

Past Events

The BRADD region (and the broader state) has a record of hazardous materials incidents, particularly associated with transportation and industrial operations. Kentucky has experienced several costly hazmat transit incidents in recent years.  In rail transport, derailments involving chemical cargo have spurred evacuations and environmental response. For example, in 2007, a major derailment in Kentucky released hazardous materials and required area evacuation.  Nationally and regionally, chemical spills from industrial plants have caused injury, property damage, and remediation efforts. Some incidents, such as the 1981 Louisville sewer explosions (driven by hexane vapors in sewer lines), illustrate how improper chemical disposal can lead to infrastructure destruction. These past events highlight the potential for both acute and lingering impacts of hazardous material releases.

Probability

The probability of a hazardous materials incident in the BRADD region is moderate. Most releases tend to be small and localized due to equipment failure, human error, or transportation-related accidents. However, given the presence of chemical transport corridors (rail, interstate highways) and industrial facilities, the chance of a more serious event cannot be discounted. Natural hazards (storms, flooding) may also trigger secondary releases from damaged tanks or infrastructure. Planning for hazmat risk typically involves mapping potential release sites and integrating them into probabilistic risk models.

Impact

Hazardous materials releases can produce widespread and cascading effects across built, natural, and social environments:

Chemical releases may cause structural damage to buildings, bridges, roadways, and utility systems (water, gas, electric) through explosive force, fire, or corrosive action. Contaminated structures often require decontamination, repair, or demolition. Infrastructure such as pipelines and storage tanks may rupture or fail.
Releases can pollute soil, surface water, and groundwater, altering ecosystems, killing flora and fauna, and affecting sensitive habitats. Chemicals may persist or bioaccumulate, causing long-term ecological damage. Riparian zones and wetlands are especially vulnerable to contamination from runoff or seepage.
Human health may suffer via inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure leading to acute injuries, chronic illness, or fatalities. Evacuations and temporary displacement strain social services. Public fear and mistrust can increase, especially if communication is poor. Economic losses accrue from business interruption, agricultural damage, and costly cleanup efforts. Liability disputes and property devaluation may persist long after the initial event.
As climate change impacts other sectors and hazards, such as increased severe storms, heat waves, and flooding, there is a chance that hazardous materials will become more unstable due to potential disasters. During flood events, materials may be spilled or introduced into waterways and severe wind or winter storms may cause the spillage of materials during vehicular accidents or building and infrastructure damage. Sinkholes opening may introduce hazardous materials into the groundwater system. An increased use in hazardous materials may also occur as part of other mitigation and adaptation activities, such as development, and may increase the exposure for these impacts to occur.

This hazard presents a moderate risk to the BRADD region, due to the large amount of manufacturing and development, sensitive groundwater and surface water resources, and probability for severe events to occur.

Potential impacts include:
  • increase spillage of hazardous materials
  • more frequent transport and storage of hazardous materials
  • threat to environmental and human health during a spill or contamination event
  • threat from exposure during increased use to mitigate other impacts
  • threat to infrastructure during a spill or other event
  • economic loss from cleanup or health impacts

Vulnerability to hazardous materials incidents in the BRADD region spans the built, natural, and social environments. Facilities, pipelines, transport routes, and storage tanks located in or near populated areas are particularly exposed to risk. Ecological systems—including waterways and karst aquifers—are susceptible to contamination from chemical releases. Socially, communities with limited emergency response capacity, lower socioeconomic status, or older infrastructure may experience disproportionate harm and slower recovery. Understanding these vulnerabilities is critical to informing land-use controls, buffer zones, monitoring, and public awareness programs.

Vulnerability Summary Analysis

Allen County’s vulnerability is primarily related to the transport of fuels and agricultural chemicals along U.S. 31E, KY 100, and local farm routes. While large-scale industrial facilities are limited, the county’s agricultural base and fuel storage operations pose localized risks. Karst terrain throughout the county increases the potential for groundwater contamination if spills occur. Scottsville’s proximity to regional transport corridors and its reliance on groundwater resources heighten environmental and public health sensitivity to releases.
Barren County’s vulnerability is moderate to high due to industrial activity, warehousing, and frequent transport of hazardous materials along major routes such as U.S. 68, the Louie B. Nunn Parkway, and KY 90. Glasgow’s manufacturing and logistics facilities handle fuels, paints, and other chemical products, creating localized exposure zones. Additionally, karst topography and sinkhole features increase the risk of rapid contaminant migration into aquifers. Emergency response resources in Glasgow improve readiness but may be stretched by large or simultaneous incidents.
Butler County’s vulnerability is relatively low but notable along the William Natcher Parkway and local routes used for agricultural and petroleum transport. Rural characteristics and lower population density reduce overall exposure, yet limited emergency response resources and long distances to specialized hazmat teams can delay containment. The Green River corridor also presents environmental sensitivity, as spills could affect aquatic systems and downstream users.
Edmonson County’s vulnerability stems largely from through-traffic of hazardous materials on state highways and the environmental sensitivity of Mammoth Cave National Park and surrounding karst systems. Even small spills near surface waters or sinkhole features could quickly impact groundwater quality and cave ecosystems. Limited local response capacity underscores the importance of regional coordination with neighboring counties and federal partners for rapid mitigation.
Hart County is moderately vulnerable due to its location along Interstate 65 and multiple state routes that support commercial freight. Hazardous cargoes moving through the county pose risks to communities such as Munfordville and Horse Cave, where rail and roadway infrastructure converge. The county’s karst landscape, tourism activity, and water-dependent industries amplify the potential consequences of chemical releases affecting air or groundwater quality.
Logan County’s vulnerability is shaped by its agricultural and manufacturing base, which includes facilities handling fuels, fertilizers, and cleaning chemicals. The City of Russellville serves as a regional hub with moderate traffic of tankers and delivery vehicles. Industrial zones and transportation corridors near residential areas create overlapping exposure pathways. Rural areas may experience slower response and longer cleanup times following an incident.
Metcalfe County’s vulnerability is low overall, with few industrial operations but consistent agricultural use of pesticides, fuels, and fertilizers. Most potential incidents would involve small spills during transport or handling. The county’s karst features increase the risk of localized groundwater contamination. Limited hazmat response resources mean the county relies on mutual aid and regional support for major incidents.
Monroe County faces modest but regionally significant vulnerability due to its cross-border transport links with Tennessee and local fuel distribution operations. The county’s primary risks stem from tanker traffic, agricultural chemical storage, and small industrial sites in Tompkinsville. Its rural character limits exposure density but also constrains response capacity. Karst and well-water reliance amplify the importance of groundwater protection.
Simpson County’s vulnerability is elevated due to Interstate 65, the presence of industrial parks, and proximity to the Nashville metropolitan freight corridor. The transport of petroleum products, solvents, and manufacturing chemicals through Franklin and along I-65 poses both traffic-related and fixed-site risks. Industrial and distribution facilities increase exposure potential, though robust local coordination and access to mutual aid enhance preparedness.
Warren County has the highest hazardous materials vulnerability within the BRADD region due to its population density, extensive industrial base, and heavy transportation activity. Bowling Green’s manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and Interstate 65 corridor represent significant exposure points. The combination of industrial growth and karst terrain creates elevated risk of both surface and subsurface contamination. The county benefits from a strong emergency management infrastructure and trained hazmat response capability, but large or multiple incidents could still strain resources and impact nearby communities.