Arkansas spill shows ‘nightmare scenario’ if Keystone approved, group warns

CALGARY – Environmental groups say a leak from an ExxonMobil pipeline in Arkansas over the weekend shows why the Keystone XL project should be rejected.

Jim Murphy, senior counsel at the National Wildlife Federation, says the spill in the city of Mayflower, Ark., highlights the “nightmare scenario” for many people concerned about the much larger proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

He says it’s a “sad illustration” of why it’s not worth the risk to build new oil pipelines.

Warren Mabee, a professor at Queen’s University, says the Exxon Mobil spill poses a big problem for TransCanada Corp., the Canadian company looking to build Keystone XL.

He says while the Arkansas event doesn’t change the facts around the safety of Keystone XL, it could further turn public sentiment against that $5.3-billion project.

ExxonMobil says as of Sunday, some 12,000 barrels had been recovered and crews are still working on the cleanup.