Examining Exxon’s Greenpoint oil spill cleanup methods

Exxon Mobil, which is being sued by the Attorney General over its failure to expediently clean up a decades-old oil spill in Greenpoint, currently uses two water treatment facilities connected to 11 oil recovery wells in its ongoing efforts to remove the estimated 8 million gallons of oil and petroleum byproducts that are believed to still be under the Brooklyn neighborhood. Exxon officials say the company, which has been cleaning up the spill since 1979, also plans to add 10 more oil recovery wells by 2009. Some environmental activists say Exxon’s cleanup efforts have been unimpressive. “For far too long, Exxon Mobil has done the bare minimum to address the very serious environmental impact,” said Alex Matthiessen, the president of Riverkeeper. more [NYT]