Environmental Justice Policy
Protecting Louisville’s Most Vulnerable Communities
$75M investment in environmental justice with special focus on Rubbertown
$75M
Total Investment
15
Air Quality Monitors
Rubbertown
Priority Focus Area
⚠️ The Problem: Environmental Racism in Louisville
Louisville’s West End communities—predominantly Black neighborhoods—bear the brunt of industrial pollution from Rubbertown’s chemical plants. Residents experience higher rates of asthma, cancer, and respiratory illness.
This is not coincidence. This is environmental injustice that demands immediate action.
Priority Initiatives
📊 Air Quality Monitoring ($5M)
- 15 real-time monitoring stations in environmental justice communities
- Public dashboard at AirQuality.Louisville.gov – check your neighborhood air quality anytime
- Mobile monitoring units for hotspot identification and incident response
- School-based sensors – every school within 2 miles of industrial facilities
- Alert system – text/email notifications when air quality deteriorates
⚖️ Industrial Accountability ($15M)
- Dedicated enforcement unit – 10 new environmental inspectors
- Stricter emissions standards – exceed EPA requirements where legally possible
- Enhanced penalties – 5x fines for repeat violations
- Community notification systems – mandatory alerts within 30 minutes of industrial incidents
- Annual environmental audits of all Rubbertown facilities
- Public reporting – violations database searchable by company
🏥 Community Health Protection ($35M)
- Free health screenings for all residents within 3 miles of industrial facilities
- Asthma treatment programs – medication assistance, home visits
- Indoor air quality grants – up to $5,000 per home for filtration systems
- Cancer screening initiative – partnerships with U of L and Norton Healthcare
- Long-term health tracking – epidemiological study of affected communities
🌳 Green Infrastructure ($20M)
- Urban forestry program – 10,000 trees in West End neighborhoods
- Green buffer zones between industrial areas and residential
- Park improvements – Chickasaw, Shawnee, Algonquin Parks
- Community gardens – 25 new sites with soil testing
- Stormwater improvements – reduce flooding and contaminated runoff
Rubbertown Action Plan
Rubbertown—home to major chemical manufacturers including Dow, Dupont, and Chemours—will receive focused attention:
Immediate (Year 1)
- Deploy 5 air monitors in Rubbertown area
- Begin baseline health study
- Establish community advisory board
Short-term (Years 2-3)
- Complete health screenings for all residents
- Green buffer installation begins
- Enforcement unit fully operational
Long-term (Year 4+)
- 30% reduction in air quality violations
- Measurable health improvements
- Model program for other cities