Sen. Nelson of Fla. calls for congressional probe of oil rig safety after blast near La.

Senator wants congressional probe of oil rig blast

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is calling for a congressional investigation of safety at offshore oil rigs after an explosion sank a platform off the Louisiana coast.

Nelson, a Democrat, said late Thursday he asked the U.S. Interior Department to investigate and provide a comprehensive report on all U.S. drilling accidents over at least the last decade. Nelson also wants a congressional probe by the Senate Commerce Committee he serves on.

Nelson has led opposition to offshore drilling.

Eleven workers are still missing after the explosion Tuesday. Officials are trying to clean up the oil that spilled after the blast and prevent any threat to the coast’s ecosystem.

Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has also called for an investigation into what caused the explosion.