http://wgno.com/2015/11/19/3-companies-3-people-charged-in-2012-oil-platform-explosion-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/
[NOT BP Macondo, which was in 2010.]
Three companies, 3 people charged in 2012 oil platform explosion in the
Gulf of Mexico
Posted 2:50 PM, November 19, 2015, by Brit Stack, Updated at 03:23pm,
November 19, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WGNO) — Three companies and three people have been
charged with crimes related to the November 2012 West Delta 32 platform
explosion. The Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources
Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of
Louisiana made the announcement Thursday.
Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC, Grand Isle Shipyards Inc.,
and Wood Group PSN Inc., as well as Don Moss, 46, of Groves, Texas,
Curtis Dantin, 50, of Cut-Off, and Christopher Srubar, 40, of Destrehan
have been charged.
Each company and person is facing three counts of involuntary
manslaughter, eight counts of failing to follow proper safety practices
under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and one count of
violating the Clean Water Act. Wood Group PSN Inc., Moss, Dantin and
Srubar are also charged with felony violations of OCSLA and the Clean
Water Act.
The explosion on an oil production platform resulted in the death of
three workers, the injury of others and an oil spill.
According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in different
capacities while construction work was being done of the West Delta 32
platform when it exploded.
“Workers lives can depend on their employer’s faithfulness to the law,
not least of all those working in oil and gas production where safety
must be a paramount concern,” said Assistant Attorney General John C.
Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and natural Resources
Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the
nation’s bedrock environmental laws that protect the environment, and
the health and safety of all Americans.”
“The energy sector represents a vital industry in this region, but its
work must be performed responsibly,” state U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite
for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Today’s indictment underscores
that we will hold accountable all parties – both businesses and
individuals – whose criminality jeopardizes our environment or risks the
loss of life.”
“Developing domestic sources of energy must be done responsibly and
safely,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dan Pflaster of EPA’s
Criminal Enforcement Program in Louisiana. “EPA will continue to work
with its law enforcement partners to hold companies fully accountable
for illegal conduct and to assure compliance with laws that protect the
public and the delicate Gulf Coast ecosystem from harm.”
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and federal regulations govern
welding and activities that generate heat or sparks, known as “hot
work,” on oil production platforms in U.S. waters. Because this work
can be hazardous and cause explosions, regulations mandate specific
precautions that must be taken before the work can commence. For
instance, before hot work can be performed, pipes and tanks that had
contained hydrocarbons must be isolated from the work or purged of
hydrocarbons. Gas detectors and devices used to prevent gas from
travelling through pipes must be used. According to the Indictment,
these safety precautions were not followed and an explosion causing the
deaths of three men and a spill resulted
An indictment is only an allegation of wrongdoing and the defendants are
presumed innocent unless proven guilty at trial.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Interior Office of
Inspector General and EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division. The case
is being prosecuted by Emily Greenfield of the U.S. Attorney’s Office
for the Eastern District of Louisiana and by Kenneth E. Nelson of the
Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice.
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