Spills

Beginning july 18, 1999, scattered tarballs were reported washing ashore on the coast of oregon near florence

Mystery Spill, Florence; Florence, Or · Florence, Or · NOAAORR-7417

issued
1999-07-18 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1999-08-01 00:00Z
self-cancels
1999-08-01 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
43.983, -124.141
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Spill, Florence; Florence, OR.
Florence, OR.
1. Beginning July 18, 1999, scattered tarballs were reported washing ashore on the coast of Oregon near Florence. Tarballs continued to wash ashore for several days following the initial discovery. Weather during this time was northwest winds, 15 to 20 knots. Impacted shoreline areas were habitat for snowy plovers, a threatened species. The USCG requested NOAA to assist with the "How Clean is Clean" process for beach signoff. No RP was determined, so the USCG hired cleanup crews to remove tarballs manually, and had PST and NOAA conduct SCAT surveys along about 75 miles of coastline. The USCG opened the fund to pay for a command post and cleanup efforts. The response lasted for several weeks. USCG district 5.
2. COMMODITY: OIL.
3. POSITION 43.983N 124.141W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7417: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7417

This area · spills & pollution incidents

192 within 180 nm since 1984 · 5 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now

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Timeline · 2 messages since 1999-07-18 · closed 1999-08-01

  1. Beginning sunday, 18 july 1999, scattered tarballs were reported to be washing ashore on the coast of oregon…1999-07-18 → 1999-08-01
  2. Beginning july 18, 1999, scattered tarballs were reported washing ashore on the coast of oregon near florence this message1999-07-18 → 1999-08-01

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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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