Exxon Mobil Cleaning Up Oil Spilt in Arkansas Suburb
The incident, considered a major oil spill by the EPA, caused 22 residents to be evacuated from their homes.
An Exxon Mobil pipeline that burst in Little Rock, Ark. Friday leaked thousands of barrels of crude oil into a suburb in what the Environmental Protection Agency called a major oil spill.
Twenty-two Mayflower, Ark. residents were evacuated from their homes to prevent health risks from oil fumes and possible fire hazards. Emergency responders were on the scene within 30 minutes of leak detection.
A few thousand barrels of oil were spilled, according to Exxon Mobil, but the company has responded with resources enough to clean up 10,000 barrels. Exxon Mobil said Sunday that 12,000 barrels of oil and water mixed have been recovered, with no estimate of total oil recovery.
According to Exxon Mobil, about 120 of the company’s employees are working on the cleanup, in addition to the assistance of federal, state, and local resources.
While the cause of the spill is still under investigation, cleanup will continue.