HAMPTON, Va. – Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads pollution responders are investigating a sheen that was reported Monday, near Outlook Beach.
“The spilled material is most likely a petroleum product, likely oil or fuel from with an unidentified source,” said Lt Mitchell Latta, Chief of the Incident Management Division, from Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads. “We are working closely with state and local representatives on the response and believe this is not an on-going spill.”
Reports say that an oil spill is believed to have originated at the mouth of the James River has made its way toward Outlook Beach at Fort Monroe.
However, the source and amount of the spill are unknown. Out of an abundance of caution, the Coast Guard has opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to pay for any necessary response efforts.
The Coast Guard has taken a sample of the product, investigated the spill by helicopter and is searching for the source of the product along with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The Coast Guard has also been coordinating response efforts with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Fort Monroe Authority and the City of Hampton.
The City of Hampton will keep Outlook Beach closed while cleanup and spill investigation continue.
There has been no observable impact to wildlife, reports say.
There are no further details at this time.
