Three firms and three people have been hit with legal expenses associated to a November 2012 explosion on an oil manufacturing platform within the Gulf of Mexico that resulted within the demise of three staff, the harm of others and an oil spill, the U.S. Justice Dept. has introduced.

The defendants listed in case are Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC, Grand Isle Shipyards Inc., Wood Group PSN Inc., in addition to Don Moss, 46, of Groves, Texas, Curtis Dantin, 50, of Cut-Off, Louisiana, and Christopher Srubar, 40, of Destrehan, Louisiana.

According to the indictment, the defendants have been concerned in numerous capacities whereas building work was being executed of the West Delta 32 platform when it exploded.

Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC and Grand Isle Shipyards Inc. are charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, eight counts of failing to comply with correct security practices below the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and one depend of violating the Clean Water Act. Wood Group PSN Inc., Moss, Dantin and Srubar are charged with felony violations of OCSLA and the Clean Water Act.

“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,” stated Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and pure 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,” said 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,” stated 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 rules govern “hot work” carried out on oil manufacturing platforms in U.S. waters. Because this work may be hazardous and trigger explosions, rules mandate particular precautions that have to be taken earlier than the work can begin. For occasion, earlier than sizzling work may be carried out, pipes and tanks that had contained hydrocarbons have to be remoted from the work or purged of hydrocarbons. Gas detectors and gadgets used to stop fuel from travelling by pipes have to be used. According to the Indictment, these security precautions weren’t adopted and an explosion inflicting the deaths of three males and a spill resulted.

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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