MAYFLOWER, Ark., April 18 (UPI) -- Residents affected by the oil spill in Mayflower, Ark., could be reimbursed for the value of their homes, Exxon Mobil said.
About 5,000 barrels of oil spilled from a 22-foot rupture in the Pegasus oil pipeline in late March. The pipeline was moving diluted tar sands oil from Canada.
Exxon said it had replaced the damaged section of the pipeline and sent it to third-party investigators. The accident remains under investigation.
The company said it's working to clean marshland soiled by oil but stressed drinking water and air quality standards were within safe limits. Some residents in the neighborhood affected by the spill have returned to their houses.
"Exxon Mobil is paying for the cleanup and will honor all valid claims," the company stated."Exxon Mobil has developed a plan to address concerns about the long-term value of homes in the Northwoods neighborhood up to and including home purchases."
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., called on the company to relocate parts of the pipeline, installed in the 1940s. He said the topography and location of certain sections of the pipeline presented an environmental risk.
"We must do all we can to prevent accidents like this from happening, and I remain committed to ensuring that the concerns of the residents of Mayflower are addressed truthfully and fairly," his letter reads.
