Lawsuit filed against Exxon for Mayflower oil leak

A lawsuit has been filed against ExxonMobil by the Department of Justice and Arkansas's attorney general, Dustin McDaniel, in response to the oil leak that occurred in March this year. The leak in the Pegasus pipeline resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 210,000 gallons of heavy crude oil spilling into the Mayflower neighbourhood and resulted in oil in water throughout the area.

It has been alleged that the majority of residents of the Mayflower neighbourhood did not know that there was an oil pipeline in the area. The Pegasus pipeline was used to transport tar sands crude oil from Canada to Illinois and had been in operation for over 70 years before the leak occurred.

The lawsuit calls for costs of $45,000 (£29,000) per day since the spill occurred on March 29th, along with other penalties. The lawsuit alleges that the oil spill caused damage to 22 homes in the area, resulting in the evacuation of residents who have yet not been able to return to their homes. It has also been alleged that the company broke federal environmental laws during the clean-up of the spill. The lawsuit is claiming for civil penalties to remunerate those whose homes were damaged.

The lawsuit claims that Exxon did not handle the clean-up of the spill in an appropriate and legal manner. According to Mr McDaniel, Exxon did not get the permits that were required for some of its activities during the clean up. The company also transported large quantities of hazardous material - that had been affected by the pill - over several miles of public roadways to be dealt with at a facility that the state had previously ordered to be closed.   

Mr McDaniel said: "This spill disrupted lives and damaged our environment. It sullied our previously pristine water and our clean air. As a party responsible for the incident, Exxon is also responsible for the penalties imposed by the state for damage to our environment, and the company should foot the bill for the state's clean-up costs."