Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
June 28, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 28 UPDATE ON OIL MATERIAL IN MISSISSIPPI
BILOXI, Miss. – Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) staff through aerial surveillance with the Mississippi National Guard, MDEQ response staff, and Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams (SCAT) have observed the following Monday (as of 4:00 p.m.) and sent to Unified Command for review and appropriate response:
• Tar ball fields in a box formed by the following grids: N 30 16.47 W 88 48.97; N30 15.93 W 88 48.57; N 30 16.31 W 88 48.40; N 30 16.30 W 8847.49 between Horn and Ship Islands.
• A convergence line mixed with tar balls on the north side of Sand Island. Line runs from N30 12.41 W 88 25.24 to N 30 12.41 W8825.24.
• Possible tar ball material at N 30 21.8935 W 88 46.2008 off Sea Cliff Boulevard in Jackson County.
• Possible tar ball material at N 30 22.0656 W 88 46.4952 in the proximity of Mars Lake Boat Launch in Jackson County.
• Absorbent boom with oil ashore at the intersection of St. John Avenue and Highway 90 in Biloxi at N 30 23 34.7 W 88 55 43.9.
• SCAT team on Deer Island found approximately 5 or 6 possible tar balls and no significant amounts of oiled debris.
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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