About 3.4 million gallons of oil-water mix collected in Gulf spill; 190 miles of boom put out

Crews put out about 190 miles of boom in oil spill

ROBERT, La. — Officials are saying nearly 190 miles of boom have been put out to try to contain oil spewing out of a well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.

The boom is being put out along the coast to try to protect the shorelines. At Dauphin Island, Ala., a long line of materials that resembled a string of pompoms were positioned on a stretch of the shore. Dime- to golf ball-sized tar balls were discovered there Saturday.

The Coast Guard and other officials cleaning up the mess said Sunday that about 3.4 million gallons of an oil-water mix has been collected.

Crews have used nearly 309,000 gallons of chemicals to break up the oil on the water’s surface.