The energy giant ExxonMobil continues a cleanup of thousands of barrels of crude oil following the rupturing of a pipeline near Mayflower, Arkansas. The pipeline leaked for around 45 minutes, releasing more than 12,000 barrels of oil and water. Around two dozen homes have been evacuated. The pipeline was carrying tar sands oil from Canada. Inside Climate News reports the type of crude oil involved is especially difficult to clean up when it spills into water. Efforts are underway to prevent the contamination of the nearby drinking source, Lake Conway. The Environmental Protection Agency has designated the incident as a “major spill.” It came two days after a train also carrying Canadian crude derailed in Minnesota, spilling at least 15,000 gallons of oil. It also comes as the Obama administration prepares to issue a decision on whether to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which would expand the transport of Canadian tar sands oil on a massive scale.