Spills · oil

On july 4, 2023, tarballs were reported on the beach at surfside beach, extending approximately 3 miles down…

Tarballs Reported At Surfside Beach, Freeport, Tx · Freeport, Tx · NOAAORR-10627

issued
2023-07-04 00:00Z
status
cancelled 2023-07-18 00:00Z
self-cancels
2023-07-18 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
Gulf of Mexico
position
29.003, -95.221
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Tarballs Reported at Surfside Beach, Freeport, TX.
Freeport, TX.
1. On July 4, 2023, tarballs were reported on the beach at Surfside Beach, extending approximately 3 miles down the beach from Public Access Point 3. MSU Texas City notified NOAA SSC they planned to send a field team to evaluate on July 5. On July 5, the field team observed an estimated 1% coverage of tarballs, stranded in the wrack line. MSU Texas City requested input on clean-up methods and endpoints.
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: TARBALLS,.
3. POSITION 29.003N 095.221W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 10627: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/10627

This area · spills & pollution incidents

499 within 180 nm since 1973 · 12 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now

73
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Timeline · 2 messages since 2023-06-27 · closed 2023-07-18

  1. Bay city, texas2023-06-27 → 2023-07-11
  2. On july 4, 2023, tarballs were reported on the beach at surfside beach, extending approximately 3 miles down… this message2023-07-04 → 2023-07-18

joined by proximity

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Nothing else in force within 120 nm.

Worldwide now

8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all

Spills

Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents

Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.