Update from the Santa Rosa Island Authority

The following report was sent out to residents this morning:

DEP has reported plume of oil 12 miles off the Perdido Pass. Vessels are enroute to further assess the situation. One option may be to try to burn some of the plume. If they decide to burn off some of the oil, you may see a glow in the gulf along the horizon.

Tar balls and sheen have been reported coming through Pensacola Pass and into Pensacola Bay. The pass remains open at this time, however skimming operations are being conducted.

The majority of oil reported in Pensacola Pass has been collected by skimmers. Responders continue to "chase" small patches of oil.

Boom has been set in Pensacola Pass.

Escambia County issued orders for crews to deploy secondary boom to be set in inland areas today, June 10. This boom will protect environmentally sensitive areas and will limit waterway access. Boats will not be able to pass.

Boaters in areas where skimming is being conducted, or where boom has been set, have been requested to maintain no-wake speeds.

Based on oil activity yesterday, the USCG “Captain of the Port” for Sector Mobile authorized the official closure of Perdido Pass at 5:30 p.m. It is manned 24 hours a day if vessels need to pass.

The pass will be open for vessel traffic during low tide. (See NOAA tide predictions).

Boat traffic needing access in or out of boom locations, should call 850-736-2261.

A flashing light has been attached to all boom to increase visibility to boaters.

A VHS mariner order will be broadcast on the closing of these passes.

NOAA trajectories show direct on-shore impacts of scattered tarballs and light sheen through the weekend, for coastal regions near and west of Pensacola

Approximately 200 members of clean-up crews were deployed on Escambia beaches June 10.

Relatively weak winds (below 10 knots) are expected today and should continue out of the south or southeast through the weekend. This wind flow may continue to push portions of the oil plume towards the Florida Panhandle in the next 72 hours; however, near-shore ocean currents are forecast to become more westward in the next few days which will help limit the eastward movement of the oil plume and windows of sheen. Weather conditions will be favorable for recovery operations through the weekend with less than a 20% chance of rain and seas at around two feet.

The beaches at Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key remain open.

The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge are both open for sightseers and fishing.