On March 31, an oil pipeline named Pegasus owned by ExxonMobil ruptured, spilling an estimated 84,000 barrels of crude oil in the town of Mayflower, Ark. Homes were evacuated and cleanup crews deployed in an attempt to contain the damage, which has already resulted in the devastation of local wildlife and the onset of respiratory problems among local residents.
News of the disaster unfolding in Mayflower is a timely reminder of the dangers of oil production and transport and further blackens the reputation of the oil industry. Indeed, images of crude oil flowing down the streets of a suburban neighborhood will surely expand the ranks of the environmental movement.
Footage of the scene, however, has been severely restricted by the efforts of ExxonMobil, which succeeded in securing a “no-fly zone” over the area, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The huge oil monopoly has also cleverly avoided paying any money into a cleanup fund, citing a technicality that classifies the substance leaked as “diluted bitumen” rather than oil.
This calculated and obstructive response by ExxonMobil reveals the conflicting class interests at play in the activities of the oil industry. As companies like Canadian oil giant TransCanada continue to pressure President Obama to approve projects like the massive Keystone XL pipeline, they seek to expand their already bloated profits at the expense of the environment and people of both countries.
As “accidents” like the disaster in Mayflower or the six other spills that occurred across the U.S. and Canada this past week become more frequent, industry giants will continue pulling strings and citing technicalities to avoid responsibility while expecting others to suffer the costs. It will be important for activists and environmentalists alike to carry this message in the debate over plans for more oil pipelines.
