Tar balls, oil patch spotted on shoreline of Miss., so far spared much spill damage

Tar balls, oil patch spotted on Miss. shoreline

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. — Officials say oil has been spotted in at least two areas on the Mississippi coast, which had so far mostly been spared damage from the Gulf of Mexico spill.

Jackson County emergency management director Donald Langham says tar balls and a patch of oil were spotted at the St. Andrews beach and at the Lake Mars pier in Gulf Park Estates.

Langham says cleanup teams are on the scene and two skimming vessels are working.

State Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Robbie Wilbur says additional patches of oil sheen were spotted in the water during aerial flights Sunday.

In recent days, more oil has been finding its way into Mississippi’s waters and barrier islands. Louisiana, Alabama and Florida have all been seeing oil wash up already.