NEW YORK — The unified command consisting of Coast Guard Sector New York, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, New York City Office of Emergency Management, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are continuing an active response to findings of oil along the shoreline north of Coney Island Creek in the Gravesend Bay area of Brooklyn, and of tar balls at Fort Wadsworth beach in Staten Island.
As of Friday, Dec. 1, crews from Miller Environmental Group, an oil spill removal organization, and the Coast Guard completed cleanup of a 75-to-100-foot area of rocks and soil along the shore at Gravesend Bay and have found no additional evidence of contamination in the water or previously impacted areas on land.
Coast Guard pollution response personnel and teams from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection continue to conduct additional shoreline assessments in the region after the discovery of quarter-sized tar balls along approximately a 1/3-mile stretch of Fort Wadsworth Beach in Staten Island. Coast Guard-contracted cleanup crews are working to clear tar balls and assess further impact. To date, teams have collected approximately 100 pounds of material.
Additionally, teams from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection have conducted assessments of impact to sewer systems and outfalls. They have found no evidence of contamination from oil or tar balls.
The source of the tar balls and oil in Gravesend Bay and along shorelines on Staten Island remain under investigation.
Coast Guard Sector New York and multiple federal, state, and local agencies continue a separate response to reports of tar balls on the beach from Sea Bright, New Jersey, south to Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Presently there is no determination that the two incidents are related.
Individuals and mariners who see evidence of oil or tar balls are advised to contact the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.