Maritime Environmental Crimes

After a government investigation, it was revealed that between 2002-2004, employees on the Rig Midland, an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, routinely discharged waste hydraulic oil, used paint, and other pollutants and garbage into the Gulf of Mexico.  The government charged the company with violations of the Clean Water Act and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.  In addition, two supervisory employees of Rowan Companies were charged with CWA violations for failing to report knowledge of a felony, while two other employees were separately charged with misdemeanors for negligently discharging waste oil in violation of the CWA.

Rowan Companies, Inc., pled guilty on October 10, 2007 to three felonies and will pay a $7 million fine, along with an additional $1 community service payments to five state governments for environmental training, education, and enforcement of CWA violations.  They will also make a $1 million payment to the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation. Supervisory employees David Burcham and Murphy Comardelle each pled guilty and were sentenced to pay $5,000 in criminal fines, while Terry Glen Fox and Michael Friend, the rig employees, pled guilty and will pay $2,500 in fines.