The Oil is Here

Tar Balls Confirmed On The West End of Panama City Beach

Posted: 11:02 PM Jun 18, 2010

Bay County Emergency Mmanagement officials confirmed Friday night the first onslaught of tar balls from the Deepwater Horizon oil leak had made its way to the local beaches.
Reporter: Joe Moore
Email Address: Joe.Moore@wjhg.com

Bay County Emergency Mmanagement officials confirmed Friday night the first onslaught of tar balls from the Deepwater Horizon oil leak had made its way to the local beaches.

A concentration of the oil globs washed ashore after sunset in the Phillips Inlet area of western Bay County, according to Valerie Lovett, the county's public information officer.

Lovett says Hazmat crews tested the substance and confirmed it was from the oil rig which exploded and sank 60 days ago off the coast of Louisiana..

Some members of the BP contracted work crews have already moved in to start the clean up and hope to have the affected beach area cleaned up and oil free by sometime early tomorrow.

E-O-C workers remind residents and visitors not to touch the oily substance and leave it in place for the trained crews to remove it.