LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to make an announcement early next week on its plans to begin disposing of hazardous materials inside a Highview home that landed a Louisville man in jail.
Marc Hibel was charged July 27 with two counts of burglary and wanton endangerment after officials found more than 20 dangerous chemicals at the home on Applegate Lane in Highview.
Hibel has been released on home incarceration and is getting in-patient mental health treatment for at least two weeks. He is not allowed to go to his home.
James Pinkney, a spokesman for the EPA, said there will be an announcement early next week but that the EPA is planning to begin its work the first week of October.
"We will have full control of that site here shortly," he said.
Hibel's attorney, Thomas Rasinski, had asked a judge to issue an order that would prevent the city or state from "burning, demolishing, or destroying," his home. He claims destroying his home would damage evidence in his defense.
Rasinski has not returned repeated phone messages seeking comment.
Mayor Craig Greenberg's office has referred comment to the EPA.
City officials initially said there would be a "controlled mechanical demolition of the property" but later announced the house would be slowly dismantled by an excavator.
A demolition order filed by the city says both the home and the adjacent garage have "known explosives, explosive fumes or vapors or the presence of toxic fume gases, or material ..." It also said that if the buildings were ignited, they'd be in "imminent danger" of collapse, possibly endangering anyone around.
Testing by the EPA identified mercury outside and inside the home at 6211 Applegate Lane. The agency has previously recommended a cleanup at the site before any possible demolition or controlled burn of the home next door, at 6213 Applegate Lane, where explosives were found.
Rasinski has said Hibel is a retired chemist who "collected a lot of things," with the intention of disposing of some and using other materials to start his own business with another chemist.
Rasinski also said they have been working with law enforcement to identify what is in the buildings to make sure no one is hurt.
"In terms of any dangerous intent, it's simply not present in this case," Raskinski said in a Sept. 5 bond hearing. He also argued there were no bombs in the buildings.
But in court records filed by the prosecution, Hibel invited undercover police into the home and showed them what he called homemade explosives, using a substance similar to TNT. Police said he also made statements that he had made explosives and homemade blasting caps in the past, which he detonated in his backyard.
The arrest report says that while Hibel was being mirandized, he admitted to possessing TNP, or Picric acid. According to the National Library of Medicine, TNP is an explosive.
The property is currently fenced, secured and under 24-hour surveillance by Louisville Metro Police.
Hibel and another person bought the property in 2004, though he's been the sole owner since 2010. He's received fines from Metro inspectors 21 times in the last three years for property maintenance violations such as junk on site, tall grass and exposed wiring.
Hibel is due back in court Oct. 25.
Related Stories:
- Highview home containing hazardous materials to be dismantled and removed via excavator
- Judge lowers bond for man accused of hoarding hazardous materials in Highview home
- EPA cleaning up mercury at house next to Highview home where explosives were found
- Attorney files motion to stop city from burning down Highview home where explosives, dangerous chemicals found
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