[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1661-1662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-727]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 95-092]


Greenhill Petroleum Corporation, Blake Drilling and Workover 
Company, Inc., and Mike Hicks Tools and Services, Inc.; Proposed 
Penalty; Opportunity To Comment

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed penalty; opportunity to comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard gives notice of and provide an opportunity to 
comment on the proposed assessment of a Class II administrative penalty 
to Greenhill Petroleum Corporation; a Class II administrative penalty 
to Blake Drilling and Workover Company, Inc; and a Class II 
administrative penalty to Mike Hicks Tools and Services, Inc., for 
violations of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA). The 
alleged violations involved the spill of approximately 96,000 gallons 
of oil as defined in Sec. 311(a)(1) of the FWPCA, 33 U.S.C. 1321(a)(1), 
and in 33 CFR 153.103(m) from the vessel BLAKE IV, into or upon 
Timbalier Bay and adjoining shorelines beginning on September 29, 1992, 
and continuing through and including October 8, 1992. Interested 
persons may submit written comments on the proceeding, including 
comments on the amount of the proposed penalty, or written notice of 
intent to present evidence at any hearing held in the proceeding. If no 
hearing is held, an interested person may, within 30 days after 
issuance of an order, petition to set aside the order and to provide a 
hearing.

DATES: Comments or notice of intent to present evidence at a hearing 
must be received not later than February 21, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for a hearing may be mailed to the 
Hearing Docket Clerk, Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, 
Commandant (G-CJ), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 6302 at the same 
address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. Filings should reference docket number 95-0003-CIV. 
The administrative record for this proceeding is available for 
inspection at the same address and times.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. George J. Jordan, Director of Judicial Administration, Office of 
the Chief Administration Law Judge, Commandant (G-CJ), U.S. Coast 
Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, telephone 
(202) 267-2940.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this proceeding is given pursuant 
to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), as 
amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The proceeding is initiated 
under Sec. 311(b) of the FWPCA (33 U.S.C. 1321(b)).

    This proceeding results from an alleged spill of approximately 
96,000 gallons of oil discharged beginning on September 29, 1992, and 
continuing through and including October 8, 1992, from the vessel BLAKE 
IV, into or upon Timbalier Bay and adjoining shorelines. Under the 
Coast Guard's Class II Civil Penalty regulations in 33 CFR Part 20, the 
Coast Guard publishes notice of the proposed issuance of an order 
assessing a Class II penalty in the Federal Register (33 CFR 20.402). A 
person who wishes to be an interested person must file written comment 
on the proceeding or written notice of intent to present evidence at 
any hearing held in the proceeding with the Hearing Docket Clerk not 
later than February 21, 1996 (33 CFR 20.404). Interested persons will 
be given notice of any hearing, a reasonable opportunity to be heard 
and to present evidence during any hearing, and notice of the decision. 
Although no hearing is yet scheduled, the Coast Guard has asked that 
any hearing be held in New Orleans, LA. If no hearing 

[[Page 1662]]
is held, an interested person may, within 30 days after issuance of an 
order, petition the Commandant of the Coast Guard to set aside the 
order and to provide a hearing (33 CFR 20.1102).
    The following additional information is provided:
    Respondent: Greenhill Petroleum Corporation, 3300 West Esplanade 
Avenue, Suite 500, Metarie, LA 70002.
    Respondent: Blake Drilling and Workover Company, Inc., 230 Gunther 
Lane, Belle Chase, LA 70037.
    Respondent: Mike Hicks Tools and Services, Inc., Louisiana Highway 
23, Port Sulfur, LA 70082.
     Complaint Filed: December 4, 1995; New Orleans, LA.
    Docket Number: 95-0003-CIV.
    Amount of Proposed Penalty: $100,000 to Greenhill Petroleum 
Corporation.
    Amount of Proposed Penalty: $100,000 to Blake Drilling and Workover 
Company, Inc.
    Amount of Proposed Penalty: $100,000 to Mike Hicks Tools and 
Services, Inc.
    Charges: Count 1--Discharge of Oil.

    Dated: December 11, 1995.
George J. Jordan,
Judicial Administrator, Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, 
U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 96-727 Filed 1-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M