Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team

Retired U.S. District judge and Coast Guard Captain to join Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) – Retired U.S. District Judge Wayne R. Andersen and U.S. Coast Guard Captain Mark R. Higgins will join the Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team to increase the depth and diversity of the team, Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation chairmen David Dykes and Capt. Hung Nguyen announced on Thursday.

"The addition of Judge Andersen and Capt. Higgins to the Joint Investigation Team will enhance our work and help us to move expeditiously through the proceedings. They will assist us with some of the legal and procedural issues they are experienced, and allow the other members of the team to continue to focus on gathering the facts," said Dykes.

The Joint Investigation Team is comprised of Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM) and U.S. Coast Guard personnel exercising both agencies’ authorities.

Andersen is a retired U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. He retired on last July after 19 years of service. He is currently a mediator and arbitrator for JAMS, a national alternative dispute resolution provider. He is donating his time and will not receive compensation for his service.

Higgins is currently serving as the Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. He is the regional counsel for all legal issues within the Atlantic Area, including operations and international maritime issues involving five Coast Guard Districts and Coast Guard operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

The Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team was formed following the April 20 BP oil spill disaster. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano directed BOEM and the Coast Guard to conduct a joint investigation.