Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources Committee Democrats Request Briefing on Grand Isle Shipyard Involvement in Gulf Oil Spill
Today Reps. Henry A. Waxman, Ed Markey, Bobby L. Rush, Diana DeGette, and Rush D. Holt, the leading Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to Grand Isle Shipyard Owner Mark Tregeant to request a briefing regarding Grand Isle Shipyard’s involvement in the recent deadly explosion on a Black Elk Energy oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Reports indicate that the explosion may have involved maintenance welding work by Grand Isle Shipyard, which has a history of accidents.
The members are seeking more information about the company’s role in the Black Elk rig explosion, as well as further information on Grand Isle Shipyard’s history of accidents and enforcement actions against them. The members have also requested a briefing from Black Elk Energy to better understand how and why this incident occurred.
The full text of the letter is below and is also available online here.
December 3, 2012
Mr. Mark Tregeant
Owner
Grand Isle Shipyard
18838 Highway 3235
Galliano, LA 70354
Dear Mr. Tregeant:
On November 26, 2012, our Committees launched an inquiry into the events surrounding the recent deadly explosion on a Black Elk Energy oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that the accident “involved maintenance welding work being conducted by Grand Isle Shipyard, which has its own history of accidents that have been cited by [Department of Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement] and its predecessor, the Minerals Management Service."
In order to better understand your company’s role in the recent Black Elk rig explosion, we ask that you provide our staff with a briefing on your understanding of the reasons for the explosion and the extent to which they may involve work done by Grand Isle Shipyard workers. We also ask that you provide us with a briefing on your company’s track record on safety, including a description of any prior accidents and any enforcement actions taken by federal or state officials against you or your company. We understand that you are currently focused on responding to this emergency but would appreciate your assistance in scheduling this briefing by December 6, 2012. Please contact Tiffany Benjamin with the Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic staff at (202) 226-3400 or Morgan Gray with the Natural Resources Committee Democratic staff at (202) 225-6065 to schedule this briefing.
Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Edward J. Markey
Ranking Member
Natural Resources Committee
Bobby L. Rush
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rush D. Holt, Jr.
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Natural Resources Committee
Diana DeGette
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Committee on Energy and Commerce
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