Oil spill near
Barbers Point
kills 11 seabirds
The problem occurred when
Star-Bulletin
a hose failed 1-1/2 miles off shoreTwenty-four seabirds have been captured or injured because of an oil spill off Barbers Point last month and tar balls have turned up on several Kauai beaches.
Eleven birds have died because of the oil spill.
The spill occurred Aug. 24 when a hose failed at Tesoro Hawaii's mooring located 1-1/2 miles off Barbers Point, according to a Tesoro company official.
Small oil tar balls have washed ashore at Nukolii Beach and Fuji Beach on the east side of Kauai and Barking Sands and Polihale Beach on the west side.
The remaining birds have been treated at state division of forestry's Maui veterinary office, Sea Life Park and the state land department.
The birds affected include red-footed boobies, brown boobies and petrels.
Oil company officials estimate that as many as 117 barrels of oil may have been spilled on Aug. 24, which could make it the third largest spill in state history.
Two other spills occurred at Barber's Point. In 1989, the Exxon Houston tanker grounded and 600 barrels were lost, and in 1990, the Texaco Connecticut struck a mooring and 400 barrels were dumped.
