HOUSTON — U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle says his office is ready to proceed with the case against BP over a deadly 2005 explosion.

An appeals court says prosecutors violated the rights of victims of a blast at a BP plant in Texas by not consulting them on a plea deal.

But today’s ruling from the 5^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans did not block the plea agreement.

The court instead sent the case back to a Houston judge and asked that she fully consider the objections of victims before deciding whether to accept the deal.

The blast at the BP unit in Texas City left 15 people dead and more than 170 hurt.

The plea deal, which has a BP unit pleading guilty to a violation of the Clean Air Act, includes a 50 million dollar fine and sentences the oil giant to three years of probation.

An attorney for the victims—David Perry—says he’s confident that when those objections are considered, what he calls “this sweetheart plea bargain” will be ultimately rejected.

BP spokesman Neil Chapman declined comment.