40 Miles of Jersey Shore Impacted by Oil 
A Statement from Clean Ocean Action

The cause, volume, and source of the oil spill are still unknown. Clean Ocean Action, American Littoral Society, NY/NJ BayKeeper, Surfers Environmental Alliance, Bradley Beach Fishing Club, Asbury Park Fishing Club, the Recreational Fishermen’s Association, Save Barnegat Bay, Surfider – Jersey Shore Chapter, Shark River Cleanup Coalition, Bradley Beach Environmental Commission, and other groups, Assemblyman Sean Kean, a representative of Congressman Pallone, elected officials from Bradley Beach, Neptune, and Avon, as well as many citizens and businesses, including Main One Marina, attended a press conference to support a rapid cleanup. Most criticized the delay in the cleanup efforts and urged a vigorous investigation to hold those responsible accountable. 

NJDEP called the US Coast Guard (USCG) to the scene on Wednesday morning and requested that the USCG federalize the cleanup, resulting in the release of funds from the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to conduct the work. However, cleanup crews were not authorized until late Wednesday afternoon and only nine crewmembers were on the scene. Miller Environmental Group, the USCG selected cleanup company, told COA that many more crews were available, but required USCG authorization. 

With each added hour of delayed clean up, gulls and other shore birds were stepping, sitting, and pecking at the oil. Witnesses also saw gulls feeding on dead and dying birds that were coated with oil. Severely and completely coated birds included oceanic birds, such as murres, gannets, and razor bills. This indicates that that the spill was offshore and may have been pushed ashore during the Nor’easter on Tuesday. 

Thursday morning, hazardous materials crews from Miller Environmental Group were scrapping and raking the beaches in the most affected areas including Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, and Belmar. The colder weather caused the oil to congeal and the oil hardened into pancake-like globs. Concern over the pace of the cleanup grew as an impending Nor’easter storm is expected Friday. 

Wednesday’s activity was an improvement with 60 cleanup crewmembers by noon and 50 more expected by the afternoon. NJDEP officials were monitoring the clean up to ensure thorough collection of large and small oil globs. Monmouth County Emergency Response Team officials were coordinating. 

It is not expected that all the oil will be collected. Friday’s storm will re-suspend the oil, taking some back out to sea, where it may sink to the bottom, affecting bottom habitat and/or wash up on other beaches. 

No 6 Fuel Oil 
According to a Scientific Support Team at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, No. 6 (or Bunker 6) fuel oil is a dense, persistent oil of which only 5-10% evaporates within the first hours of a spill. Therefore, winds and currents can carry this long-lasting oil hundreds of miles. The spilled oil can float, suspend in the water column, or sink. Tar balls form as the oil weathers and gets more sticky. The oil may persist on beaches for months to years. 

HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE CITIZENS NOT TO TAKE PART IN CLEAN UP ACTIVITY 

The oil is a public health threat and, tempting as it may be, officials urge citizens not to clean up area beaches. 

Birds and Marine Life Threatened 
Reports of 100 birds, including gulls, loons, cormorants, and waterfowl, were found in the first 24-36 hours after the first reports of the spill. Some birds were alive and covered in oil, while other birds lie dead in the sand smothered in the thick mess. Healthy birds were observed eating the dead and dying birds, thereby ingesting the oil, which places their health at risk. 
If anyone sees an afflicted bird, do not attempt to capture it. Please call the Hotline at 732-610-2616. 


What can you do?
Sign up on Clean Ocean Action’s Wave, an e-mail action alert system, and we will keep you posted about actions and clean up response. E-mail us at Waveon@cleanoceanaction.org or send a postcard to COA, POB 505, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732 and ask about our mailing list. Help collect evidence: take a walk on the beach and document any oil with photos or written eyewitness accounts and send them to COA. We will post them on the website and use as evidence for future actions. If you see oil or a bird, don’t attempt to clean up spills or birds. Please call the Monmouth County Emergency Command Center Hotline at 732-610-2616.


Reprinted from the Clean Ocean Action's email alert listserve "The Wave"