Spills · mystery_substance

Santa cruz, ca

Mystery Tarballs; Santa Cruz, Ca · NOAAORR-7979

issued: 2009-02-18 00:00Z
status: cancelled 2009-03-04 00:00Z
self-cancels: 2009-03-04 00:00Z
authority: NOAA OR&R
sea: North Pacific Ocean
position: 36.962, -122.023
source: incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Tarballs; Santa Cruz, CA.
Santa Cruz, CA.
1. At approximately 0940 PST, on February 18, 2009, CA-OSPR contacted ERD regarding an incident in Santa Cruz, CA. They reported silver-dollar size tarballs coming ashore since 1700 on Feb. 17, 2009. Volume unknown. RP unknown. ERD contacted to provide hind-cast trajectory information.
2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: TARBALLS. TAGS: MYSTERY SUBSTANCE.
3. POSITION 36.962N 122.023W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7979: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7979

This area · spills & pollution incidents

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

1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USA2026-08-30
32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USA2026-08-21
J444+RW monterey, ca, USA2026-08-13
1809 sunset dr, pacific grove, ca 93950, USA2026-08-07
R685+56 moss landing, ca, USA2026-08-07
841 w brannan island rd, isleton, ca 95641, USA2026-07-31

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

month of issue, all years in the archive

Nearby now · within 120 nm

1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USASpills · 14.5 nm
32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USASpills · 80.7 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 →

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