Exxon Mobil Corp will make a payment of $10.75 million to New York State towards costs on oil spill cleanup. The payment will cover New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation fund's costs. New York State has reached an accord that transfers the responsibility of cleanup from tax payers to Exxon Mobil.
The payment is a part of reimbursement to New York State and includes removal costs over petroleum contamination at eight gas stations in addition to oil spill cleanup. Exxon Mobil's reimbursement includes some dating to the 1930s as well. New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation fund's costs also include interest at sites of eight gas stations across the State.
Reuters reports that State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced this settlement. DiNapoli says the latest accord will transfer the responsibility of the cleanup from tax payers to the spiller, Exxon Mobil, where it belongs. Exxon Mobil has agreed to assume future remediation activities at four of the sites.
The eight sites, as part of the reimbursement, are Hilltop Service Station in Mahopac, Putnam County, Joe's Country Convenience Store in Campbell Hall, Orange County, Raceway Exxon in Monticello, Sullivan County, and Courtney George Service Station in Albany.
New York officials have entered into an agreement with Exxon Mobil on reimbursing the State's oil spill fund on cleaning up spill over sites at eight gas stations. The fund started making payment for remediation of the oldest of spill locations dating back to 1989 also. Some of the gas stations of Exxon Mobil have been operational right from 1930s and the reimbursement includes these sites as well, according to WIVB.
This apart, Exxon Mobil is facing a regulatory investigation over its Torrance refinery fire accident and its impact on climate change. In 2015, an explosion and fire accident took place at Exxon Mobil Torrange refinery in California. Government officials are seeking more details about climate change from Exxon Mobil.
Attorneys general from Massachusetts and Virgin Islands will join Eric T Schneiderman, New York's attorney general's investigation to find out whether Exxon Mobil lied over decades to its investors and the public about the threat of climate change, as reported by The New York Times.
The company has provided thousands of documents in response to the inquiry. Other sites include Zanella's Market Hill Service in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, Harry's Service Station in Jordan, Onondaga County, Scio Mini Mart in Scio, Allegany County, and Boller's Auto Sales in West Seneca, Erie County.
Legal experts question the practice of Exxon Mobil over decades can be construed as criminal and outside protection of the First Amendment.
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