Photograph from 1400hrs over-flight on Friday 01/28/05

Yesterday's oil sheen in south Puget Sound has dissipated so the Coast Guard, the Washington State Department of Ecology and cleanup contractors today are removing oil boom that was set yesterday. 

The cause of the spill is still a mystery. It was originally reported near the southern tip of Vashon Island in Dalco Passage and along the west shore of the Tacoma Narrows in Puget Sound.

Helicopter over flights did not take place early Saturday morning due to foggy weather conditions, but over flights may occur this afternoon if fog clears.

Coast Guard and Ecology were on the water today collecting more samples to try to identify the source of the spill. 

The Coast Guard and the Department of Ecology continue to investigate the cause of the spill and are actively seeking tips from the public.  People with information should contact either the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, at (206) 217-6232, or the Department of Ecology, at 360-407-6300.  

The Coast Guard first received a report about the oil sheen in Dalco Passage from the Washington State Ferry Rhododendron. Workers on the Tacoma Narrows bridge also reported seeing a sheen late Friday morning. 

Federal, state responders and oil spill contractors on Friday observed a light, silvery sheen of unrecoverable oil mostly in the Point Defiance area.

Boom was deployed to protect environmentally sensitive areas in Vashon Island's Quartermaster Harbor, including Manzanita Beach and the Dockton area.