Mona Passage Mystery Spill; Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico

Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico | 2007-Jan-31

Initial Notification: On January 31, 2007, 1330 PST, NOAA ERD was notified of an apparent mystery spill in Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The USCG has received reports of a 52 mile long slick (width unknown) extending from approximately 6 miles south of Isla Selona on the SE corner of the Dominican Republic to 12 miles north of Mona Island in the middle of Mona Passage. The substance was described as a heavy black oil with a fringing sheen. USCG is sending an aircraft and vessel to the site to investigate and collect samples. USCG requested weather, an initial trajectory, and potential for landfall in US.