| Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
June 26, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MDEQ UPDATE ON OIL MATERIAL IN MISSISSIPPI WATERS
BILOXI, Miss. – Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) staff through aerial surveillance with the Mississippi Air National Guard and the Civil Air Patrol as well as Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams (SCAT) have observed the following Saturday (as of 4:00 p.m.) and sent to Unified Command for review and appropriate response:
•Streamer with metallic sheen and emulsified oil north of Petit Bois Island (N 30 15.00 W 88 29.48 and N 30 14.40 W 88 30.76)
•Metallic sheen and scattered emulsified oil north of Horn Island (N 30 18.51 W 88 42.01 and N 30 17.84 W 88 42.19)
•Small ribbons of emulsified oil ½ mile by ¾ mile with sheen (N 30 21.01 W 88 53.75)
•Widely scattered small patches of emulsified oil 300 yards by 100 yards in the Mississippi Sound (N 30 20.31 W 88 43.55)
•Two mile long mousse patch south of the Barrier Islands 100 to 150 yards wide with 30 percent coverage moving north. Appears to be heading north (N 30 00.00 W 88 46.41 to N 30 02.02 W 088 44.35).
•Widely scattered area of mousse and rainbow-colored sheen south of the Barrier Islands (N 30 06.40 W 88 44.54 to N 30 06.66 W 88 45.74).
•Emulsified oil has been reported in the Mississippi Sound near Deer Island (N 30 17.243 W 88 49.035).
•Emulsified oil has been reported approximately 1.5 to 2 miles off shore east of Ocean Springs.
•Pool of possible emulsified oil/oiled materials at Horn Island (N 30 14.565 W 88 46.603 and N 30 14.582 W 88 46.064 and around the island (N 30 14.464 W 88 46.517).
•Clean up crews on Petit Bois and Horn Islands.
(see attached photos and map for more location information about some of the sightings)
The patches of tar balls and weathered oil are skimmed and corralled by Vessels of Opportunity and BP contractors. Skimming is used to remove streams of emulsified oil, tar balls, and tar patties. Tar balls and mousse patties on land are removed with shovels and rakes.
More information and links about MDEQ’s and DMR’s roles in oil spill response are available at www.deq.state.ms.us and www.dmr.ms.gov.
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