Get A Free Legal Consultation
- We fight to maximize your results
- No out-of-pocket costs
- Over $10.6 billion recovered for families
If you are a homeowner, farmer or business owner who has been affected by the recent oil spill near Highland, Ill., you may be entitled to compensation. Attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy are currently investigating the legal rights of those in the vicinity of the Plains All American oil spill located at the company’s Pocahontas pump station in Illinois.
Simmons Hanly Conroy is no longer accepting claims related to the Plains All American Oil Spill at Pocahontas Station.
Oil spills are serious hazards that can wreak havoc on an area. Clean-up is costly and time consuming, and the damages suffered throughout the process can add up. It is important to know your legal rights in the matter before you file a claim.
Contact our attorneys for more information.
On July 10, 2015, the Plains All American Pipeline experienced a crude oil release at the Pocahontas pump station. Located nearly 40 miles from St. Louis, Mo., the pump had released nearly 4,200 gallons of oil to the surrounding areas, including a nearby creek which feeds into Highland Silver Lake. This lake is what supplies the city of Highland, Ill. with its drinking water.
A unified command including the Texas- based company Plains Pipeline that owns the pump, the city of Highland and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been established to organize the clean-up of the spill. In addition, a corrective action order was put in place by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which will suspend operations to preform safety improvements to the failed pipeline.
Farmers, business owners and others living near the oil spill are most likely to be affected by this event.
Land surrounding the pipeline consists of mainly farmland, which is a primary source of income for many. Loss of crops due to oil contamination can add up and result in a devastating loss for those family farms. If you are a farmer who has contaminated crops or land, or if you are a resident who has also suffered property damage from the oil spill, click here to Contact Us to learn more about your legal rights.
At the time of the oil spill, Silver Lake was closed. It was re-opened on July 22. Local officials caution boaters to refrain from going near the containment booms that still remain in the lake and from traveling near Silver Creek, as these areas are still off limits. Because the lake supports many recreational activities that bring tourism to the region, local businesses may have experienced a decrease in visitors while Silver Lake was closed. If you are a business owner and you believe that news of the Pocahontas pump station failure has lowered traffic to your business, Contact Us to see what you can do.
If you have suffered property damage or loss of income as a direct result of the failed pipeline, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Simmons Hanly Conroy today by filling out this form or calling 855-264-6270 to learn what your legal rights are and to discuss what you should do next.