OIL SPILL ON NEW JERSEY SHORE – UPDATE #1

BRADLEY BEACH, N.J. – Working well into the night under the illumination of flood lights and in foul weather gear, pollution contractor crews were able to continue the cleanup of an unidentified source of heavy oil last night that washed up on shore Tuesday between Shark River Inlet, Monmouth County, and Seaside Heights, Ocean County.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Philadelphia along with the Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team, N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, Bradley, Neptune, Asbury Park and Avon Offices of Emergency Response, New Jersey State Police, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tri-State Bird Rescue, and numerous other groups are currently responding to the spill that spans the six-mile stretch of shoreline and is being estimated at 200 to 500 gallons of oil.

“Even with the rain and sleet, we are able to clean the beaches and continue the search and recovery efforts for marine life effected by the oil,” said Lt. Cmdr. Pat Keffler of Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Philadelphia. “We have made great progress over the last couple of days and are working hard to complete the clean up efforts as quickly as possible.”

The spill was reported Tuesday afternoon by New Jersey State Police. That afternoon, members from Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Philadelphia and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were on scene assessing the situation.

Reported were “tar balls” and “tar patties” that ranged from quarter inch to 12 inches in diameter. These were reported to be very light and sporadic, which is consistent with a low impact spill. Numerous over flights by Coast Guard Group/Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey State Police and Monmouth County Sheriff Shade Tree Commission over several days reported no sign of oil sheen in the water.

Wildlife effected thus far has been 70 birds confirmed dead, and 35 birds effected by the oil in some way. Tri-State Bird Rescue has been taking the effected birds to a facility for cleaning. No fish or shellfish have been effected according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Miller Environmental Group has been contracted to conduct the cleaning under the supervision of the Coast Guard. Over 80,000 pounds of material has been collected with an estimate of 0.5 to 1 percent of the weight containing oil. There are currently over 200 people involved in the oil clean-up and the recovery of marine wildlife.

Tri-State Bird Rescue has conducted training to members within these agencies in how to safely and efficiently recover effected wildlife.

Citizens are being asked not to walk their pets on the beach as the oil may get on the animal’s paws. The public is urged to contact the incident command post at (732) 610-2616 to report any sightings of effected wildlife and not to attempt to rescue the birds themselves as we have trained professionals on scene to care for the animals.

As part of the Coast Guard’s ongoing investigation into the source of the spill, oil samples have been collected and are being tested to help identify the potential responsible party and will be preserved as evidence.

OIL SPILL ON NEW JERSEY SHORE – UPDATE #1

BRADLEY BEACH, N.J. – Working well into the night under the illumination of flood lights and in foul weather gear, pollution contractor crews were able to continue the cleanup of an unidentified source of heavy oil last night that washed up on shore Tuesday between Shark River Inlet, Monmouth County, and Seaside Heights, Ocean County.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Philadelphia along with the Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team, N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, Bradley, Neptune, Asbury Park and Avon Offices of Emergency Response, New Jersey State Police, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tri-State Bird Rescue, and numerous other groups are currently responding to the spill that spans the six-mile stretch of shoreline and is being estimated at 200 to 500 gallons of oil.

“Even with the rain and sleet, we are able to clean the beaches and continue the search and recovery efforts for marine life effected by the oil,” said Lt. Cmdr. Pat Keffler of Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Philadelphia. “We have made great progress over the last couple of days and are working hard to complete the clean up efforts as quickly as possible.”

The spill was reported Tuesday afternoon by New Jersey State Police. That afternoon, members from Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Philadelphia and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were on scene assessing the situation.

Reported were “tar balls” and “tar patties” that ranged from quarter inch to 12 inches in diameter. These were reported to be very light and sporadic, which is consistent with a low impact spill. Numerous over flights by Coast Guard Group/Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey State Police and Monmouth County Sheriff Shade Tree Commission over several days reported no sign of oil sheen in the water.

Wildlife effected thus far has been 70 birds confirmed dead, and 35 birds effected by the oil in some way. Tri-State Bird Rescue has been taking the effected birds to a facility for cleaning. No fish or shellfish have been effected according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Miller Environmental Group has been contracted to conduct the cleaning under the supervision of the Coast Guard. Over 80,000 pounds of material has been collected with an estimate of 0.5 to 1 percent of the weight containing oil. There are currently over 200 people involved in the oil clean-up and the recovery of marine wildlife.

Tri-State Bird Rescue has conducted training to members within these agencies in how to safely and efficiently recover effected wildlife.

Citizens are being asked not to walk their pets on the beach as the oil may get on the animal’s paws. The public is urged to contact the incident command post at (732) 610-2616 to report any sightings of effected wildlife and not to attempt to rescue the birds themselves as we have trained professionals on scene to care for the animals.

As part of the Coast Guard’s ongoing investigation into the source of the spill, oil samples have been collected and are being tested to help identify the potential responsible party and will be preserved as evidence.