PORT O’CONNOR, Texas — Cleanup and response teams from the Matagorda Bay Incident Command Post are responding to sightings of oil near North Padre Island and along sporadic portions of Mustang Island in Corpus Christi Sunday. County and local government agencies were notified of the sightings, which were first observed through overflights conducted by Texas General Land Office and U.S. Coast Guard personnel around 9:30 a.m.
Additional sightings also include tar balls in the area, although it is not clear whether the tar balls are the result of the March 22 spill near Texas City. However, response teams from Miller Environmental, who are engaged in combatting that incident, have mobilized to contain and collect those tar balls and oil in newly impacted areas as well. Tar balls, ranging from dime size to 6 inches were observed in patches of seaweed along J.P. Luby Beach off of Zahn Road.
There are no reports of wildlife being impacted from these new observations, although officials from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are actively engaged in patrolling potentially impacted areas. Persons who observe any impacted wildlife should not attempt to capture or handle them but are urged to call 888-384-2000.
Residents, tourists and others who may observe tar balls are urged to refrain from attempting their own clean-up activities and are asked to call 361-939-6349 to report the exact locations of any sightings.
No safety zones or restrictions on marine or pleasure craft traffic have been imposed, however mariners are urged to stay away from oil they may observe and to report those locations to response officials at 361-939-6349.
A claims number has been established for persons who may have questions in regard to personal impact by the incident. The number is 855-276-1575.
At the present time no volunteers are being solicited for assistance.
