Ocean City, Maryland Officials Monitoring Oil Spill Affecting Delaware Beaches
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) -- Maryland officials are monitoring an oil spill that has affected the Delaware coastline for possible impacts in Ocean City.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Delaware officials continue to clean up the spill in the Atlantic Ocean. In a news release, the Coast Guard said oil patties first washed up on Broadkill Beach in Delaware last Monday. By Sunday, crews had cleaned up 55 tons, enough to fill four construction dumpsters.
A number of beaches in Delaware, including Lewes and Dewey Beach, have been closed until further notice after oil washed up on shore, officials said.
Globs of oil have been reported from as far north as Bowers Beach to Fenwick Island, just across the state line from Ocean City, Maryland, the Coast Guard said.
The oil's proximity to Maryland prompted an emergency response program team from the Maryland Department of the Environment to head to Ocean City to "coordinate with the established unified command consisting of the Coast Guard and Delaware (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control) and with local officials in Ocean City," department spokesperson Jay Apperson said.
On Twitter Monday night, the Town of Ocean City wrote it is also monitoring the spill and urged beachgoers to report oil or tar-balls by calling MDE at 866-633-4686.
The @TownofOceanCity is working closely with Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to monitor a recent oil spill in Delaware. Beachgoers should be advised & use caution. If you see any tar-balls or oil on the beach, please report it to the MDE - (866) 633-4686. pic.twitter.com/BsPzyMTXSJ
— Town of Ocean City (@TownofOceanCity) October 27, 2020
So far, the cause of the spill has not been identified.