Xcel indicted in fatal 2007 hydro-plant fire; utility calls fire an 'accident' (5 dead)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/08/24/daily72.html

Friday, August 28, 2009 | Modified: Sunday, August 30, 2009

Denver Business Journal - by Mark Harden

Xcel Energy Inc. and its Colorado subsidiary have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver in connection with a 2007 chemical fire at an Xcel hydroelectric-power plant that killed five workers.

Minneapolis-based Xcel and its Colorado unit, Public Service Company of Colorado, are accused in the criminal indictment of violating federal workplace safety and health regulations in connection with the fire at Xcel's Cabin Creek Hydro Plant, near Georgetown, the office of the U.S. attorney for Colorado, David Gaouette, announced Friday.

Also named in the indictment, which was handed up late Thursday, is RPI Coating Inc. of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., the contractor that employed the men who died in the fire.

An Xcel official Friday called the incident "a tragic accident" and said the utility was looking forward to presenting its case in court.

Representatives of the indicted companies are to appear in U.S. District Court in Denver on Sept. 22.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ruled last year that the fire was "preventable" and could have been avoided if the companies involved had followed their safety procedures.

FULL story at link.