JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Coast Guard Marine Safety Laboratory in New London, Conn., has analyzed oil samples collected Wednesday from Cocoa Beach, Fla., and results confirm the samples do not match the BP Deepwater oil spill.
Coast Guard personnel and Eagle SWS crews, a pollution response company, collected approximately 80 pounds of oiled petroleum product from an 8-mile stretch of Cocoa Beach. Samples were taken from various parts of the clean up area and were sent to the MSL for analysis. An investigation to determine the source of the tar balls is ongoing.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Canaveral, Fla., received initial notification from the community Tuesday stating tar balls between 2-to-3 inches in size were being found along Cocoa Beach.
A Coast Guard SCAT team conducted a shoreline survey along Cocoa Beach Wednesday and contracted Eagle-SWS to assist with cleanup efforts.
The public is asked to report the sighting of any tar balls to the National Response Center at (800) 242-8802.
The public is reminded that tar balls are considered hazardous materials and should only be retrieved by trained personnel.
