Deepwater joint investigation board concludes 1st day in 3rd session of hearings

KENNER, La. - The Deepwater Horizon joint investigation concluded the first day of the third session of hearings Monday into the circumstances surrounding the explosion, fire, pollution and sinking of the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon, with multiple loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. 
The joint investigation has the powers of both convening agencies, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regualtion, and Enforcement (BOEM), and is co-chaired and staffed by representatives of both agencies. For the public hearing, the joint investigation is following the policies and procedures for a U.S Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation contained in 46 Code of Federal Regulations Part 4 and USCG policy (available on the joint investigation Web site: www.deepwaterinvestigation.com ).  The facts collected at this hearing, along with the lead investigators' conclusions and recommendations, will be forwarded to Coast Guard Headquarters and BOEM for approval. Once approved, the final investigative report will be made available to the public and the media. No analysis or conclusions will be presented during the hearing. 
The joint investigation is conducting the hearings in sessions.  Session one was held May 11-12, 2010, and investigated the circumstances surrounding the fire, explosion, pollution and sinking of the MODU.  The second session was held May 26-29, 2010, with the focus on gathering information on the MODU's materiel condition, crew qualifications, emergency preparedness, and casualty timeline. The third session  is being conducted this week, with the focus on the "how" and the "why" (which might also be considered the "technical verification" phase).
The third session of hearings began Monday and will continue through Friday.  As part of the third session, testimony Monday began at 8 a.m. and continued until 4:45 p.m.  Testimony was given by four witnesses.
The witnesses Monday were:
1. Stephen Bertone - Transocean, Chief Engineer;
2. Lance John - Weatherford, Rig System Specialist;
3. Leo Linder - MI-Swaco, Drilling Fluid Specialist.
Tuesday’s public hearing is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at the Radisson New Orleans Airport, 2150 Veterans Blvd., Kenner, La. in the Bayou meeting room.  Tuesday’s witnesses are scheduled to be:
1. R. Sepulvado - BP, Well Site Leader, providing information on the operations on the Deepwater Horizon MODU.
2. Ross Skidmore - BP, Subsea Well Supervisor, providing information on BOP-related issues, certification, modifications and compliance.
3. Lee Lambert - BP, Well Site Trainee, providing information on his job responsibilities and his role immediately following the explosion.
As of the conclusion of Monday's hearings, Robert Kaluza, who was scheduled to testify, will be taking the Fifth Amendment.



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