Memorandum
DATE:      May 19, 2010
TO:           Interested Media
FROM:     ESF14 Public Information: (850) 921- 0217
RE:           Tar Balls Collected from Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Not Related to Deepwater Horizon Incident.
 
On Monday, May 17 the US Coast Guard obtained the tar balls found in the Keys and sent the tar balls for analysis to determine if they are related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  On Wednesday, May 19, the Coast Guard received a report that stated the tar balls collected from Fort Zachary Taylor State Park are not related to the Deepwater Horizon incident. To view the United States Coast Guard’s press release, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/586/554303/
 
In 2008 and 2009 there were 667 and 681 reports respectively of oil and petroleum incidents along Florida’s waterways and beaches so these types of occurrences are not as unusual as one might think. Specifically in the Florida Keys (Monroe County) there were 53 incidents in 2008 and 72 incidents in 2009 of oil and petroleum products being reported in their coastal waters.
 
For more information regarding Florida’s response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, please visit www.deepwaterhorizonflorida.com
 
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