Katie Rucke
Weeks after an oil spill in Mayflower, Ark., ExxonMobil has released information to homeowners regarding how the company will compensate them for any damage they incurred from the March 29 incident.
While the cause of the spill is still under investigation, it’s estimated the rupture in ExxonMobil’s Pegasus pipeline spilled 157,500 gallons of oil. Much of the oil spilled into yards and streets, in addition to land, such as marshes.
Media coverage of the spill has been largely muted since reporters attempting to cover the spill have reported that they have been threatened with arrest for entering areas affected by the spill.
As Mint Press News previously reported, Michael Hibblen, a reporter for radio station KUAR who was also covering the event for National Public Radio (NPR), said that sheriffs’ deputies referred to ExxonMobil as the decision makers in the event and threatened reporters who did not comply with the possibility of being arrested.
Kim Jordan is the media relations advisor for ExxonMobil. She says the company met individually with households in the neighborhood to determine who was most impacted by the oil spill.
Information regarding compensation was provided to residents on Tuesday, with the company’s announcement they will pay $100,000 to each household for the disruption and inconvenience. The company also provided information packets that states ExxonMobil will also pay for one whole-house cleaning. Maintenance for re-landscaping yards will be paid for up to two months.
Exxon representative David Eglinton said acceptance of any part of the compensation package would not prevent home and property owners from pursuing future litigation against the company, or from receiving compensation for claims filed with the company.
Eglinton declined to comment on whether any home or property owners had accepted compensation from the company Tuesday.
Since the oil spill occurred, Arkansas State Attorney General Dustin McDaniel vowed to hold ExxonMobil accountable.
“The people of Arkansas deserve a full explanation from Exxon about how this incident occurred and the extent of damages to private property and to our State’s natural resources,” McDaniel said. “My office is determined to get that explanation through our investigation because, at the moment, we still have many more questions than we do answers.
“I want to know how long was that rupture releasing before it saturated the ground before it came up to the surface,” he said. “I want to know what the chemicals are in the mixture of this crude that is also been released into our environment. I want to know what they’ve done to cap it, the history of the inspections, who’s going to secure the pipeline.
“I have been reminded by Exxon’s representatives that this is a relatively small spill and cleanup is going just great,” McDaniel said. “I hope they realize that to the homeowners in this area, this is not small — it is catastrophic. And for those who fear for their drinking water, it is not ‘great.’”
Complete offer from Exxon Mobil:
Compensation Information for the Residents of Northwoods Subdivision
We sincerely apologize for this incident and the disruption it has caused to you and to your family.
Our goal is to leave your neighborhood just as beautiful as it was before this incident. ExxonMobil workers and contractors, together with federal, state, county and other local officials, continue to work on restoring affected lands, ensuring a safe environment, and enabling those of you who were evacuated as a result of the spill to return to your homes as quickly as possible. ExxonMobil remains fully committed to the cleanup effort and we will stay until the job is done.
We also want to ensure you are compensated for the inconvenience, disruption and loss of use and enjoyment of your home due to the cleanup effort. This leaflet provides information on the options available to you. Our ExxonMobil Claims specialists are available to discuss these options with you in greater detail at 1-800-876-9291.
Resident Compensation Package
For all Northwoods subdivision residents, ExxonMobil will provide payment of $10,000 per household to compensate you for the disruption and inconvenience. ExxonMobil will also pay for one whole-house cleaning to be scheduled at your convenience.
If your yard was re-landscaped as a result of the cleanup, ExxonMobil will pay for yard maintenance service for two months.
For tenants – if your landlord sells the home in which you are residing due to the spill, ExxonMobil will provide you with moving expenses and three months’ rent.
Landlord Compensation Package
If your tenant decides to move out as a result of the spill, ExxonMobil will reimburse landlords for rental income for up to one year.
Home Purchase Offer
If you decide to sell your home or lot in the Northwoods subdivision as a result of the spill within the three-year period ending March 28, 2016, ExxonMobil will commit to purchase your property. At the time of the sale, the value you will receive will not be reduced due to any diminution in property value caused by the spill. This value will be established by HUD-approved appraisers.
Directly impacted homes or lots can be sold immediately to ExxonMobil. Non-impacted property or lots can be marketed by the homeowner. If there is no buyer or the best offer reflects that the spill has adversely impacted the sales price, as determined by qualified appraisers, ExxonMobil will buy the home or lot or make up the difference in the sales price caused by the spill.
ExxonMobil will also cover all your closing costs and provide moving expenses up to $8,000.
Home Value Protection Offer
For residents who decide to remain in the Northwoods subdivision, ExxonMobil will provide a one-time payment for any diminution in property value caused by the spill on any date of the homeowner’s choosing, until March 28, 2016.
Property values will be established by local HUDapproved third-party appraisers who are capable of determining any loss of value due to the spill. Each homeowner and ExxonMobil will choose an appraiser, with both being paid for by ExxonMobil. The largest amount of lost value will be chosen if values are within 10 percent of each other. If the difference is more than 10 percent, a third appraisal will be obtained and a value negotiated.
Please note: your acceptance of these offers will not affect your right to assert any claims that you may have against the company. ExxonMobil will continue to work with you to resolve such claims.