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South Bay Beaches Remain Closed as More Tar Washed up on Shore

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By Nicole Ramirez

The U.S. Coast Guard is keeping the 6-mile stretch of South Bay Beaches closed while crews finish cleaning up the globs of tar that turned up overnight on the Redondo Beach shore.

Residents were asked to avoid water contact from 34th Street in Manhattan Beach south to Longfellow Avenue in Hermosa Beach.  The Los Angeles department of public health was hoping to re-open the beaches by 6:00 a.m. Friday if no more tar turned up.  The beaches are expected to re-open by 12:00 p.m. today.  Heal the Bay Vice President Sara Sikich tells KABC it’s too soon.

“There is still some oil present in the wet sand and because that oil can be hazardous to human health,” she said.   “I’m worried that beach goers will come into contact with it on their skin and potentially have some negative health affects.’

The unknown substance showed up at the beaches on Wednesday.  Officials are testing the tar to find out where it is coming from.