South Padre Island Cleaning Up Tar Balls

From Corpus Christi to South Padre Island over 300 miles of the Texas southern Gulf coast have seen tar balls washing up onto the shore. Tar is a natural occurrence caused by oil that seeps from the floor in the Gulf of Mexico. This happens seasonally and is typically seen in summer months due to increased temperature, currents, and tidal influences.

The Texas General Land Office’s Oil Spill Division and the US Coast Guard are aware and monitoring the situation. The Shoreline Department and other City entities are working closely alongside them.

Last night, the City’s Shoreline Department cleaned and removed tar from the beach. They will continue to monitor and evaluate the conditions.

If you come in contact with tar, washing the area with dish soap or baby oil is an effective way to remove it. Property owners choosing to set up tar cleaning stations should do so without impacting the beach.

Tar ball sightings can be reported to the GLO’s Spill Division at 1-800-832-8224.