Unknown Oil Spill; Grand Isle, Louisiana

Grand Isle, Louisiana | 1989-Aug-30

Initial Notification: At 0630 on August 30, 1989, oil was observed washing ashore at Grand Isle State Park on the Gulf of Mexico from the southwest. By 0900, the oil covered an area of beach measuring 3-1/2 miles long by 2-1/2 feet wide. A "blueish" sheen and some floating oil was reported just offshore. U.S. Coast Guard Station Houma personnel investigated and obtained samples for later typing and analysis. Coast Guard personnel reported that the oil on the shore appeared to be a heavy crude. Park officials planned to rake the oil from the one mile of State-owned shore in preparation for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Plans for the 2-1/2 miles of the village of Grand Isle-owned beaches to the southwest were unknown. USCG district 8.