Refugio Residue Reaches Manhattan Beach

An increased number of tar balls found along Los Angeles County’s Manhattan Beach prompted responders to conduct an extensive analysis of the balls’ origin.

Researchers from University of California, Santa Barbara and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts collected nine tar ball samples from beaches in the area. As of Monday, six test results were released with two samples determined to be residue from the Refugio Beach Oil Spill in May. Four of the samples were from natural oil seeps in the area, while three samples were still undergoing tests.

The process is called “fingerprinting” in which the chemical composition and predictable changes in tar balls due to environmental weathering are analyzed in order to determine their source of origin.

Responders included officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response.