Delaware is evaluating its beaches to see if it has sufficiently cleaned them up after the recent oil spill.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Monday the unified command - which also includes the U.S. Coast Guard and the state of Maryland – is assessing the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Coast shoreline affected by the spill to see if cleanup efforts are complete or more work is needed.
In a statement, DNREC Sec. Shawn Garvin said that even if the cleanup is ended in the coming days, “people may continue to see small bits of oil or oily debris coming ashore here and there.”
But the state is encouraging beachgoers to report any sightings of larger oil quantities.
Since balls of tar from the spill first began washing ashore two weeks ago, more than 75 tons of oily debris have been removed from a list of sites ranging between Bowers Beach and Ocean City, Maryland.
The cause of the spill still remains unknown, but the U.S. Coast Guard is analyzing oil samples. If a cause is determined,those responsible would be required to reimburse the federal government for the cleanup.
