Tests Confirm Isaac Churned Up Oil From BP Spill

Globs of oil found on two Louisiana beaches  after Hurrican Isaac has been confirmed as coming from the 2010 BP oil spill. Louisiana State University tested the oil, found on Elmer’s Island and Grand Isle, for state wildlife officials. It was found to match the biological fingerprint of the hundreds of millions of gallons of oil that spilled into the Gulf after the April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon.

Experts had predicted a Gulf hurricane would stir up oil buried along the coast, which Isaac did. The hurricane hit land on Aug. 28, and tar balls were reported washing up on Alabama and Louisiana beaches soon after. BP officials said the company would work to clean the oil up.

A large tar mat was found on Elmer’s Island, according to scouts, which cause the state to shut down a 13-mile stretch of beach and restrict fishing along the shore. The LSU chemist who performed the oil tests for the state said more oil was likely buried along the coast, which was difficult for cleanup crews to find and remove.

Tar balls found on Alabama beaches were being tested by Auburn University. Although testing wasn’t complete yet, researcher Joel Hayworth said they appeared “remarkably similar” in composition and consistency to those found immediately after the oil spill.

The maritime law attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers  are currently representing numerous individuals injured in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.