SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office have reached an agreement with ExxonMobil to settle a 2010 lawsuit that alleges the company presented false claims for reimbursement from the New Mexico Corrective Action Fund (CAF). The lawsuit, filed by a whistleblower, alleges that ExxonMobil obtained reimbursement from the CAF to clean up leaking petroleum storage tanks while also having collected insurance money for the same costs. ExxonMobil denies these allegations.

The CAF provides funding for the clean-up and monitoring of petroleum storage tank leaks and spills around the state. The CAF is often the only way leaks from petroleum storage tanks can be cleaned up, as many former tank owners and operators are financially unable to fund clean-up activities.

ExxonMobil has agreed to pay $500,000 into the CAF as part of the settlement.