Transocean Refuses to Release Gulf of Mexico Safety Audits to Government

[The Straight Story]

Transocean Refuses to Release Gulf of Mexico Safety Audits to Government

Transocean, owner of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform, has continually stonewalled federal attempts to learn all the details leading up to the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The Department of Justice has filed suit in federal court demanding Transocean turn over 12 years of records pertaining to safety audits of the oil rig that exploded and sunk in April. The litigation comes after the company refused three times to comply with federal subpoenas issued in August, September and October seeking safety reviews from the years 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Last summer, nine witnesses cancelled or postponed their appearances before an inquiry panel run by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Among those avoiding testifying were four Transocean supervisors who oversaw the equipment on the oil well that was supposed to keep a blowout from occurring.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Transocean_Refuses_to_Release_Gulf_of_Mexico_Safety_Audits_to_Government_101204

[hobbit709]

1. You don't suppose they've got something to hide?

"Trust us" seems to be any corporate mantra.

[ananda]

3. Like the fact that the Gulf of Mexico has been virtually killed.

nt

[social_critic]

11. Gulf of Mexico is doing well

Most researchers agree, the Gulf of Mexico is recovering quite well from the oil spill. The bacteria present in the water had evolved to eat oil from seeps, and were quite useful eating a lot of the oil. Here's some information. And don't forget lots of fisherment and individuals in the tourist industry live down there, irresponsible statements hurt their livelyhood, so please read a little before you "kill the gulf", ok?

Oil budget (what happened to the oil?):

http://www.restorethegulf.gov/release/2010/11/24/transcript-oil-budget-press-call

This site has a map showing the latest impact estimates:

http://gomex.erma.noaa.gov/erma.html#x=-88.58276&y=28.22697&z=7&layers=5723+13905+13906+13589+13952+13989

To understand what the map says, click on the "LEGEND" tag to the right.

The Obama administration has done a pretty good job handling the spill, they got BP to agree to pay for the damage, and thus far the impact seems to be less than expected last summer. Science is going to take a huge leap forward understanding oil spills, and the oil industry has learned a huge lesson - it will have to improve its safety record or else.

[dgibby]

14. Shouldn't your first sentence read:

Most GOVERNMENT researchers agree, considering you've only linked to GOV sources to support your claim?

[social_critic]

16. They are not only government researchers

I linked two government sites, but the researchers are from both government, universities, and corporate backgrounds. I also wonder, do you think government researchers working for say NOAA or the EPA have an agenda to protect the oil industry, or BP in particular? I am curious.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Throw them in jail until they come up with the records

Happens to other people

[malaise]

9. Ditto n/t

[NV Whino]

4. And why aren't these assholes in jail for contempt

Oh, I forgot...they are a Corporation.

[City Lights]

5. Why are these maggots still walking freely?

More proof that laws are for little people.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. cool website, btw.

:hi:

[The Straight Story]

10. Content changes every morning at 8am

Love going there and this place:

http://publicintelligence.net/

[Poboy]

7. k&r

[madrchsod]

8. the transocean platform was`t a us registered vessel.

they`ll sit on the requests until the regime change and it will be forgotten.

[footinmouth]

12. Where did you get that information?

The platform is part of the ship and the ship is an American flagged ship. The crew is comprised of American mariners licensed by the US Coast Guard.

[dgibby]

13. Transocean moved it's headquarters from US to Switzerland in '99.

Deepwater platform was flying the Marshall Islands' flag.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/5/14/866460/-Meet-BPs-partner,-Transocean

[social_critic]

17. I believe the Deep Water Horizon was registered in....

The Marshall Islands.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/30/oil-spill-deepwater-horizon-marshall-islands

The Marshall Islands are a pretty interesting place to visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islands

[footinmouth]

18. I stand corrected

Thank you for the links and you are correct. My son was in the midst of applying for a job with TransOcean when the disaster happened and knows several captains of their fleet. I think I just assumed that since the crew was American, so was the ship. The crew members he knows expressed safety concerns long before the blowout.

[L0oniX]

15. Message: We Transocean are one of your bosses so shut up.