Mysterious Tar Balls Wash Ashore in Orange County

The mysterious tar balls posing health concerns up and down Los Angeles County beaches have begun washing ashore in Seal Beach, officials announced Thursday.

Coast Guard officials have taken samples of the tar from Seal Beach and “stated that there is no need to close the beach and suggested we let the tar balls dissipate naturally.”

The tar balls washing ashore in the area came a day after they closed a four-mile stretch of Long Beach and days after large globs of tar washed ashore in Malibu’s Zuma Beach. Nearly all beaches from El Segundo to Redondo Beach were closed last Wednesday through Friday because tar balls washed ashore. The source of the globs has not been identified.

Source testing is underway to determine if the tar balls are related to the oil spill north of Santa Barbara May 19. There is no indication the incident is related to any Long Beach Gas and Oil operations, Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Jake Heflin said.

“Seal Beach Public Works will pick up the tar balls during the daily beach cleaning operations,” according to the Seal Beach Marine Safety Department. “An environmental cleaning company is on stand-by if the situation should worsen.”

All reports of oil debris should be made to the National Response Center hotline, (800) 424-8802.

City News Service

Photos: LA County Lifeguards