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Report - Situation

Results of Morning Overflight:

Assistant SSC LT Richard Wingrove and a USCG representative made an overflight from the
Dade County line to Hillsboro Inlet.  The area of John U. Lloyd State Park was emphasized.


Results:
Two dark brown patches approximately 10 ft X 10 ft were seen just off shore of the park.
Also seen was a dark brown strip running roughly two-thirds the length of the park.  This
strip was similar in color to the patches and was adjacent to the shore.  No evidence of
the submerged oil was seen south of the park.  A dark patch was seen near the Pompano
Beach Fishing Pier.  A swimmer was standing in the patch.


Skin Diving Survey:
ASSC surveyed brown patches within the park to ground truth.  The two big patches
consisted of dead sargassum weed and other debris.  There was some tar-smeared plastic and
wood associated with the patch.  Hand fulls of weed were rubbed and did not show tar.  The
weed did not smell of oil.  Very little oil was probably associated with these two
patches.  The brown strip was spot-checked in 4 locations and no evidence of oil was seen.
The brown patch near the pier was not checked.  Its appearance was consistent with the
other patches, indicating similar composition.


Clean-up contractor on location directed ASSC to area where submerged oil had been
recovered.  The bottom consisted of rocks covered in fleshy algae.  Just north of the rock
zone, an area of submerged oil was discovered. the oil was covered with a thin veneer of
sand (making observations from air impossible).  Hand fanning to remove the sand caused
the oil to break up.  The oil was very thin and difficult to pick up.  This area was
approximately 10 ft x 5 ft.


Debriefed USCG personnel and contract divers.  Contract divers stated that they had
removed tar patties that "petered out into a thin area that was unrecoverable".  This
observation was consistent with survey results.


Future Operations:
USCG has suspended dive operations until recoverable amounts of oil are located. The Oil
Spill Liability Trust Fund will remain open, to remove oil from this incident, for an
additional 90 days.


Contact Information:
NOAA SSC Brad Benggio
(305)530-7931

NOAA ASSC LT Richard Wingrove
(305) 530-7925