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Oil rivers in the streets: Many 'didn't even know' 1940s pipeline ran under their homes
Excerpt of an interview with resident Chris Harrell
RT: Have there been any local protests against ExxonMobil regarding the spill? How are Mayflower residents reacting?
CH: There is some anger. There was some shock in the community. A lot of people weren't even aware that the pipeline ran through the area. There was a community meeting on Saturday afternoon with some Exxon officials present, and there was a lot of frustration shown at the meeting. Very few answers were given, and the people in attendance were quite angry.
RT: Have you been given any indication when the cleanup will be over and life can return to normal? Are the crews communicating with residents in any way?
CH: No one has a definite time frame on how long the crews will be in the area, but some folks are saying months. There's been no official communication with me from any of the crews. I have spoken to a few of the workers on a one-on-one basis, just standing around in my yard.
RT: Has any effort been made by ExxonMobil to apologize or provide compensation to residents?
CH: On Sunday afternoon I returned home from celebrating Easter with some family, and there was a letter from Exxon on my front door with ‘apologies for the inconvenience.’ I've been told that there is an Exxon agent at City Hall who is providing compensation for any receipt shown for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by residents from the effects of the oil spill.
Those who have been evacuated are being provided the hotel they're staying in. I have not received any indication of any kind of compensation or settlement offers. The major concern for many people in our neighborhood is a longer-term impact from the spill, both environmentally and financially. For example, what's this going to do to our property values?
RT: The spill comes amid growing opposition to the Keystone XL project, which would see an oil pipeline run across the Midwest. Environmentalists have raised concerns about pollution risks from the project. How do you and other locals feel about such projects, considering what has just happened to your community?
CH: An oil pipeline is fine until it ruptures in your backyard. I would personally rather have a new pipeline than the one that just ruptured, that is supposedly from the 1940s. I think you have to pay the piper. I don't know what the other options are, as long as America remains so oil-dependent.
CH: There is some anger. There was some shock in the community. A lot of people weren't even aware that the pipeline ran through the area. There was a community meeting on Saturday afternoon with some Exxon officials present, and there was a lot of frustration shown at the meeting. Very few answers were given, and the people in attendance were quite angry.
RT: Have you been given any indication when the cleanup will be over and life can return to normal? Are the crews communicating with residents in any way?
CH: No one has a definite time frame on how long the crews will be in the area, but some folks are saying months. There's been no official communication with me from any of the crews. I have spoken to a few of the workers on a one-on-one basis, just standing around in my yard.
RT: Has any effort been made by ExxonMobil to apologize or provide compensation to residents?
CH: On Sunday afternoon I returned home from celebrating Easter with some family, and there was a letter from Exxon on my front door with ‘apologies for the inconvenience.’ I've been told that there is an Exxon agent at City Hall who is providing compensation for any receipt shown for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by residents from the effects of the oil spill.
Those who have been evacuated are being provided the hotel they're staying in. I have not received any indication of any kind of compensation or settlement offers. The major concern for many people in our neighborhood is a longer-term impact from the spill, both environmentally and financially. For example, what's this going to do to our property values?
RT: The spill comes amid growing opposition to the Keystone XL project, which would see an oil pipeline run across the Midwest. Environmentalists have raised concerns about pollution risks from the project. How do you and other locals feel about such projects, considering what has just happened to your community?
CH: An oil pipeline is fine until it ruptures in your backyard. I would personally rather have a new pipeline than the one that just ruptured, that is supposedly from the 1940s. I think you have to pay the piper. I don't know what the other options are, as long as America remains so oil-dependent.
http://rt.com/usa/exxon-oil-spill-arkansas-168/
https://www.facebook.com/MayflowerArkansasOilSpill
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