Recent Highland Oil Spill Could Have Long Lasting Impact
We all know that oil spills are messy and dangerous. Certainly the now infamous 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico taught us that. But now we are seeing how devastating these oil spills can be in our own backyard. Over the past weekend in Highland, Illinois, an oil spill occurred causing real harm to our friends, family, and neighbors. This is showing us first hand how devastating of an impact oil spills can have on the environment and community. Not only is the oil spill in Highland having a detrimental affect on the surrounding environment and wildlife, but it also may contaminate Silver Lake, which is the water source for Highland residents and other surrounding communities.
This recent disaster is just another example of a large corporation putting profit over safety at the expense of innocent people and wildlife. The pumping station where the spill occurred in Highland is owned and operated by Houston based Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. This is the same company that is responsible for a recent oil spill in California that dumped over 21,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean. The spill in California was attributed to a broken pipeline. The spill in Highland is attributed to a “blown fitting.” Clearly, both spills are a result of the negligence of Plains All American Pipeline, and their failure to properly maintain and inspect their equipment to prevent these spills.
Recently, a class action lawsuit was filed by some California residents to ensure that Plains All American Pipeline is held responsible for the recent oil spill in their area and that the contaminated area is cleaned up properly and the affected wildlife are cared for.
Currently, the law firm of Hipskind & McAninch, LLC is investigating bringing similar claims on behalf of the affected residents of Highland to ensure that the oil is properly cleaned up and that Highland’s water supply is monitored until the threat of possible contamination no longer exists. If you, or someone you know lives in the affected area, please contact one of our attorneys to discuss your options: 618-641-9189 (IL) | 314-312-2930 | info@www.hm-attorneys.com.
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