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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 22, 1999
99-081
Contacts: Ron Langley, Ecology Public Information, (425) 649-7009
Petty Ofcr. Jay Bigelow, USCG District 13 Public Affairs, (206) 220-7237
SEATTLE - The U.S. Coast Guard and the Washington State Department of Ecology are investigating tar balls that have been found at the south end of San Juan Island.
The light coating of tar balls spreads about three miles along South Beach and around Cattle Point, which is the southern tip of the island. The tar balls measure, on average, about two- to-three inches in size.
The Coast Guard has hired members of the Inland Oil Spill Association, which is based on the island, to conduct the cleanup. Cleanup work will continue this evening and will resume tomorrow morning if necessary.
The beach has not been closed, and an overflight this afternoon revealed no evidence of a widespread oil slick or sheen on the water. There are no confirmed reports of oiled birds or other wildlife, but damage has occurred in nearshore areas, which are habitat for a large number of sea creatures.
The source of the tar balls is unknown.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
