Storm Drain in Oil Leak Area to Be Replaced

Work is to begin to replace a storm drain in a Mayflower subdivision where an ExxonMobil pipeline ruptured on March 29 and spilled thousands of barrels of oil.

Faulkner County Judge Allen Dodson told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that work to excavate and replace the drain that collected oil runoff is to begin Monday. Dodson says the project will take 10 to 14 days to complete.

Dodson says replacement of the drainage system will include removal of contaminated soil and precautionary sampling to ensure complete cleanup. Crews from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and contractors the agency has hired have been testing air quality and soil samples since the spill.

Dodson says he’s confident both the fauna and wildlife native to the area will eventually come back.