Lake Charles, LA – Luke Allen Ball, a contract operator, received time served after pleading guilty to discharging pollutants into the Gulf of Mexico from an oil production platform in 2015. The case, stemming from actions aboard the ERT platform Vermilion 195A, highlights a pattern of negligence and cover-up that led to multiple convictions and financial penalties. The incident underscores the ongoing risks of environmental crime in the Gulf Coast region and the EPA’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for violations of the Clean Water Act.
According to court documents, on June 9, 2015, Ball and fellow contract operator Daryl Plaisance were bleeding pressure from a plugged well on the VR 195A platform. This routine procedure often results in the release of potentially harmful fluids, including well bore fluid, acid, and hydrocarbon residue. Despite knowing the risks and the requirement for precautions to prevent unpermitted discharge, Ball and Plaisance intentionally directed a hose from the pressure release valve over the side of the platform, allowing a mixture of well bore fluid and hydrocarbons to flow directly into the Gulf of Mexico.
Investigation and Subsequent Convictions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) launched an investigation into the incident following reports of the unauthorized discharge. The investigation quickly revealed a deliberate act, rather than an accidental release. Beyond Ball and Plaisance, the investigation broadened to include supervisory personnel who were found to have been complicit in the illegal activity and subsequent attempts to conceal it.
On February 23, 2018, former field supervisor William Smith was sentenced to 36 months of probation and a $2,500 fine after pleading guilty to violating the Clean Water Act. Daryl Plaisance received a similar sentence of one year’s probation and a $2,500 criminal fine. Further investigation revealed that Kenneth Johns, another supervisor, had made false statements to the BSEE’s Safety and Incident Investigation Division regarding the incident. Johns pled guilty to this charge on March 22, 2018, and was sentenced to 24 months of probation and a $750 fine.
Legal Ramifications and Penalties
Luke Allen Ball was sentenced on January 29, 2018, to time served, having been incarcerated since August 9, 2017. The case hinged on violations of several key statutes, including Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, and the Clean Water Act specifically 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1), 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2), 33 U.S.C. 1311, 33 U.S.C. 1311(a), and 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2). These laws prohibit the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters without a permit and criminalize the making of false statements to federal investigators. The penalties levied – including fines, probation, and imprisonment – demonstrate the severity with which the courts and regulatory agencies view such offenses.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Luke Allen Ball
- Location: ERT Oil Production Platform Vermilion 195A, Gulf of Mexico
- Date of Offense: June 9, 2015
- Crime: Illegal discharge of pollutants into navigable waters
- Statutes Violated: Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1), 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2), 33 U.S.C. 1311, 33 U.S.C. 1311(a), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2))
- Penalties: Ball received time served. Smith received 36 months probation & $2,500 fine. Plaisance received 1 year probation & $2,500 fine. Johns received 24 months probation & $750 fine.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on further developments in environmental crime across the Gulf Coast. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and strict adherence to environmental regulations within the oil and gas industry.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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