Arkansas' attorney general has filed papers in federal court saying a lawsuit against the operator a pipeline that soiled the town of Mayflower should be allowed to proceed.
ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. wants a judge to dismiss the lawsuit, saying state and federal officials who complained about pollution failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted.
Thousands of barrels of oil spilled near Lake Conway in late March.
The governments want a judge to declare that ExxonMobil broke pollution laws and didn't have permission to store recovered oil in a manner that creates a "public nuisance or a public health hazard." They're also seeking civil penalties, costs and damages.
In court papers filed Monday, the state says ExxonMobil's in-house documents classify portions of the material as "hazardous."