Test results confirm 2 Texas beaches have tar balls from BP Gulf oil spill

Crude from Gulf oil spill found on 2nd Texas beach

HOUSTON — U.S. Coast Guard officials say test results have confirmed that tar balls found on a second Texas beach were from the massive Gulf oil spill.

Chief Warrant Officer Lionel Bryant said Tuesday that tar balls found on a Galveston beach last week are from the blown-out BP well off Louisiana.

Tar balls found July 5 at another beach, east of Bolivar Peninsula, were the first confirmation that crude from the massive BP oil spill had reached Texas shores. Officials say they may have been brought by ships that worked in the spill area.

Last week, new laboratory results had officials backing off claims that many of the tar balls on Texas shores were from the Gulf spill. The confusion was attributed to contradictory test results from two labs.