Precautions questioned
Jury indicts oil company
WASHINGTON (UPI)—Chevron Oil Company was indicted Tuesday for willfully failing to take safety precautions in 90 oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana where runaway wells created a giant oil slick last winter.
A federal grand jury in New Orleans accused Chevron, a division of Standard Oil Company of California, of 900 separate offenses. Attorney General John N. Mitchell said the indictment was the first under the Outercontinental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 which sets regulations for offshore wells.
Under that law, each day of violation is a separate offense carrying a maximum fine of $2,000. Thus, the indictment could result in millions of dollars in fines against the company.
The jury accused Chevron of knowingly and willfully failing to install and maintain storm
chokes or similar sub-surface devices on 90 oil wells in the gulf to protect against blowouts.
Fire broke out Feb. 10 on Chevrores "Charley" platform in Breton Sound, 75 miles southeast of New Orleans.
It raged for four weeks until finally extinguished by a dynamite blast. Then oil spewed into the gulf for 20 days before the wells under the platform were capped.
As a result of the oil slick generated by the runaway wells, Louisiana shrimp and oyster fishermen have filed damage suits totaling more than $100 million.
The Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission said last week, however, that tests which have been completed showed no evidence of damage to the fishermen's oysters or shrimp.
Wells specified in the indictment are covered by seven oil
leases dating back to 1947. The government said the wells are situated 9.5 to 13 miles off the coast of Louisiana from the Mississippi delta area.
The indictment said most of the alleged offenses violated Outer-continental Shelf Order No. 5, issued Aug.28,1969, by the Geological Survey's gulf coast region supervisor.
This required that all wells capable of flowing oil or gas be equipped with a storm choke or similar subsurface safety device.
Eight of 12 wells under the platform were involved in the fire and oil leakage.
After the fire was extinguished, 600 to 1,000 barrels of oil a day continued to spurt into the gulf. Attempts to contain it with booms and skimming equipment were doomed by bad weather. It was not until March 30 that the oil spill was finally controlled.
Graduation changes made
The rescheduling of the University of Kansas commencement exercise has been completed. Rescheduling of the exercise was made necessary from the $2 million fire that swept through the Kansas Union April 20.
McCollum Residence Hall will be used for the general registration and information headquarters. Lewis Hall has scheduled the two main luncheons of the commencement weekend.
The Kansas Union still has scheduled those events not involving large groups of persons.
Free shuttle bus service will be running from dormitories to Dyche Museum, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. May 30, 31, and June 1. There will also be special bus service from the
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dormitories to Memorial Stadium for exercises May 31 and June 1.
Jerry Hutchison, assistant director of the KU Alumni Association, was in charge of relocating events and making commencement preparations. Hutchison recognized Union officials and J. J. Wilson, dormitory systems director, for their help in relocating events and their aid in the programing.
Hutchison said that one good thing about the relocation of activities is that registration and the commencement activities themselves are nearer the areas where alums will be staying. There is also ample parking space.
McCollum will provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and guest housing for visitors.
Lewis Hall dining room has scheduled the All-Alumni Lunch- on May 31 and the Senior-Parent Luncheon June 1.
The significant changes caused by the fire were the relocation of registration headquarters and the reunions of the classes of 1920, 1930 and 1945, the Law School Class of 1940 and the Tau Gamma sorority.
The reunions of the classes of 1920, 1930 and 1945 will be held in McCollum Hall. The Law School of 1940 and the Tau Gamma Sorority will hold their reunions at Ramada Inn and McCollum, respectively.
The total length of the Atlantic coastline of the United States is 2,069 miles.
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