Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Tar Washing in on Alabama Beaches Post-Isaac

Ben Raines/Press-Register
/
The Press-Register

Officials say they're finding tar balls on Alabama's beaches in the wake of Hurricane Isaac's landfall last week.

Representatives from the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach said Wednesday workers are seeing significantly more tar deposits on the sand than before Isaac struck. The tar is weathered and old, and it's not considered dangerous.

The cities believe tar is breaking off from large, submerged mats that were left from the BP oil spill in 2010. But tests have yet to confirm whether the tar is linked to the BP well or something else.

A BP spokesman says the petroleum giant has response teams in the area.

Officials say the tar balls are appearing in the greatest numbers around the Fort Morgan peninsula in Baldwin County.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.