Oil Spill Cleanup Continues in Texas’ Galveston Bay

Cleanup efforts have begun after a barge carrying nearly a million gallons of thick, sticky oil collided with a ship in Texas’ Galveston Bay.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Andy Kendrick said Sunday morning that skimmers are recovering the oil that spilled in Saturday’s collision and a boom is in place to protect environmentally sensitive areas.

Kendrick said the remaining oil is being moved off of the damaged barge.

He said officials still believe that just one of the barge’s tanks was breached. That tank had a capacity of 168,000 gallons.

Kendrick said it isn’t clear how much oil spilled into the bay.

There have been no reports of impact on wildlife. The bay is a popular bird habitat and the peak of migratory shorebird season is approaching.