SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Coast Guard Sector San Juan Incident Management Division personnel concluded response efforts to the mystery sheen reported on the Sun Bay Beach shoreline in Vieques, Saturday, after no further sheening or signs of pollution were observed in the water or shoreline.
Coast Guard IMD personnel continue to investigate the cause and potential source of this incident.
“The mystery sheen observed Friday was deemed unrecoverable and dissipated overnight, with no further signs of sheening or new fuel product identified on Saturday,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Coakley, a Sector San Juan Marine Science Technician. “We are continuing our investigation related to a drum that was recovered from the water by local authorities, Thursday afternoon, in the vicinity of Sun Bay Beach. The drum contained fuel product with diesel characteristics and may be the source of the reported pollution.”
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a report, Friday, from Emergency Medical Service personnel in Vieques, who reported a strong diesel odor and visible sheen extending approximately a mile along the shoreline of Sun Bay Beach. The reporting source also stated that a person in the water had been exposed to the unknown substance and was receiving medical assistance.
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, who embarked an environmental response investigator, to conduct an overflight and shoreline assessment of the affected area for the purpose of determining response actions and possible sources. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel and Vieques Municipal Office of Emergency Management personnel also responded and conducted shoreline assessment efforts.
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