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Report - Initial

At approximately 1000, 8 August 2000, NOAA was notified of a mystery oil spill washing up
on the beaches from North Miami, FL near the vicinity of Golden Beach to Pompano, FL near
Pompano Beach spanning approximately 25 miles of the east coast of

Florida.  Source of the spill is not known.  Coast Guard overflights have sighted numerous
areas of pancaked emulsified oil, light oil sheen, and black oil along the shore and off
shore approximately 0.5 nm from North Hollywood Beach to 0.5 nm north of Pompano Pier.
Tarballs ranging in size from 1/4 inch to pancake/mat size have impacted several beaches.
The following beaches have been closed by the State and Park Service pending cleanup;
Hollywood Beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach, and John Lloyd State Park.


The beaches in this area are in high use at this time of the year.  There is a public
health and welfare concern.  Additionally, this is turtle nesting season and there are
several nests in the vicinity of the impact area.


The NOAA SSC is on-scene.  NOAA/HAZMAT is providing weather and tide forecasts, resource
at risk information, trajectory analysis, and spill base maps.   Notifications were also
made by HAZMAT to NMFS Southeast Regional Office Endangered Species and Habitat personnel.


The spill was first sighted and reported at 0805 EDT this morning.  Source of
the spill is under investigation.  Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Miami
has established a Unified Command with the Command Post located in Port
Everglades, FL.  Coast Guard, NOAA, the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, Parks Service, and private sector cleanup contractors are
currently involved in the response.