Bay County Emergency Services Hazmat responders tested a piece of oiled plastic foam found by a kayaker at Panama City Beach Wednesday in the Gulf Highlands area, off Beach Access 39. Preliminary tests of the substance on the plastic foam matched an oil sample originating from the Deepwater Horizon release that Bay County obtained several weeks ago and is being used as a baseline for local sampling equipment. The item will be turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard for further testing. The beaches in the area remain open.

 
Trajectories released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show continued easterly movement of product released following the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. An unknown amount of product is predicted to be located off Bay County shores by Friday. Residents and visitors may see weathered oil pollutant in different forms. Thus far, no tarballs connected to the Deepwater Horizon event have been confirmed on Bay County beaches.

 

In other news:

 

-- Tier 1 and Tier 2 booming is staged. Tier 3 booming, comprised of soft, absorbent boom, will be placed when appropriate. If it is placed in the water too early, it may be rendered ineffective. 

-- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration updates its projected trajectories daily. Over the next 72 hours, the oil will continue to make an easterly track, according to NOAA.

-- Staging crews are staged beachfront for quick deployment upon reports of product landfall.

-- And additional Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) team has been assigned to Bay County for reconnaissance and additional resources concerning wildlife rescue.

-- Bay County is contracting for additional skimmers and working vessels to capture product prior to landfall.