BP contests a record $87M US fine for lax remedies since fatal 2005 Texas refinery explosion

By SAM HANANEL | Associated Press | Oct 30, 09 2:23 PM CDT

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday imposed a record $87 million fine against oil giant BP PLC for failing to correct safety hazards after a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers at its Texas City refinery.

The fine _ the largest in OSHA's history _ comes after a 6-month inspection revealed hundreds of violations of a 2005 settlement agreement to repair hazards at the refinery.

UPDATE 4-BP Texas refinery hit with record safety fine

* U.S. OSHA fines BP $87.4 million for safety violations

* $56.7 million stems from 2005 explosion that killed 15

* $30.7 million for 439 new violations found by inspectors

* BP says contesting fines levied by OSHA (Adds union, survivor, victim attorney, US attorney comment, tightens throughout))

By Erwin Seba

BP fined record $87 million for refinery blast

Associated Press

OSHA: BP failed to correct safety hazards at plant after 15 were killed

BP Fined Record $87 Million on Texas Refinery Safety

By Holly Rosenkrantz

Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc will be fined a record $87 million by the U.S. for failing to correct safety shortfalls at a Texas refinery after a 2005 explosion that killed 15 workers, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said.

“This administration will not tolerate disregard of our laws,” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said today on a conference call, announcing the fines.

BP Faces Record Fine for ’05 Refinery Explosion

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
Published: October 30, 2009

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the largest fine in its history on Friday, $87 million in penalties against the oil giant BP for failing to correct safety problems identified after a 2005 explosion that killed 15 workers at its Texas City, Tex. refinery.

Judge approves plea deal in BP plant blast

Originally posted by Juan Lozano - Houston Chronicle - March 12, 2009

HOUSTON — A federal judge on Thursday approved a highly criticized plea deal that fines BP PLC $50 million for its criminal role in a deadly 2005 blast at its refinery near Houston that killed 15 people.

The plea deal, which has a BP subsidiary pleading guilty to a violation of the Clean Air Act, a felony, also sentences the oil giant to three years probation.

BP Blast Victims Want Time to Appeal

Compiled from Herald News Services
Friday, June 27, 2008

Victims of BP Plc's deadly 2005 Texas refinery explosion asked a U.S. Supreme Court justice to bar lower court action on what they called a "shockingly lenient" criminal plea deal until the plaintiffs can file a formal appeal.

The request, filed Thursday with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia in Washington, seeks to delay U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal from accepting the deal. Scalia is responsible for handling such requests from Texas.

BP Blast Victims Ask High Court to Block Plea Deal

June 26, 2008
By KRISTEN HAYS
Houston Chronicle

Lawyers for victims of the deadly 2005 explosion at BP's Texas City refinery today asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block any action on a blast-related criminal plea deal so they can argue before the high court that it should be scrapped.

The plaintiffs' lawyers asked the high court to prohibit U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal in Houston from accepting or rejecting the plea so they can seek a Supreme Court review of whether the deal should be thrown out because prosecutors didn't properly consult victims while crafting it.

Air Expert Claims BP Knew Risks of Blow-down Stack Use

6/19/2008
By John Suayan, Galveston Bureau

GALVESTON - The third trial arising from the March 2005 explosion at a BP facility in Texas City enters its fourth week with a California-based air quality expert on the stand.

The trial involves 10 plaintiffs allegedly injured in the blast.

Witness Says BP Misled Officials

June 17, 2008
By Brad Hem
2008 Houston Chronicle

GALVESTON — An air pollution expert testifying on behalf of 10 workers suing BP for injuries they blame on the 2005 Texas City refinery explosion said the oil company deceived regulators about the existence of outmoded equipment.

BP failed to report the refinery's use of a blowdown drum and stack to release flammable and toxic hydrocarbons into the air, said Jim Tarr, president of California-based Stone Lions Environmental Corp., a private consulting firm.