Spills

Tarballs 98; bodega bay, ca

NOAAORR-7259

issued
1998-01-21 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1998-02-04 00:00Z
self-cancels
1998-02-04 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
38.294, -123.067
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Tarballs 98; Bodega Bay, CA.
Bodega Bay, CA.
1. At about 1450, Saturday, 17 January, MSO San Francisco was notified of stranding tarballs and oiled wildlife on the beaches of Drakes Estero. Teams found tarballs, oiled vegetation and scattered tar patties along the beach at the water line. Wildlife teams began collecting oiled live and dead birds. A Unified Command was established and the Coast Guard hired cleanup contractors to remove the oiled debris. To date, about 120 lbs of tar and solid waste has been collected. Several overflights have been conducted and no floating oil has been found. Assessments of other Point Reyes area beaches have been made and no new oiling was found. As of yesterday, a total of 64 oiled birds have been collected for cleaning and 115 have been found dead. Rescue efforts will continue as impacts to wildlife remain and further assessment are planned. USCG district 11.
2. COMMODITY: OIL, TARBALLS.
3. POSITION 38.294N 123.067W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7259: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7259

This area · spills & pollution incidents

251 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

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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

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