Penalty. Respondent operates a platform in the Gulf of Mexico (South Timbalier lease area, block 75). Respondent was loading oil based drilling mud to the platform on October 15, 2005, and left a valve open, resulting in a discharge of about 3 gallons of mud to the sea in violation of Section 301 of the Clean Water Act. EPA is Ordering Respondent to take steps to prevent this from happening in the future and offering a settlement for the violation.