Cay Bay:--- On Tuesday the 18th of October 2010, staff of the Nature Foundation St. Maarten responded with their vessel Yellow Tail to reports of an oil spill approximately 500 yards from shore of the Cay Bay/ Pelican area. Once on scene the situation was assessed and it was determined that there was no oil entered into the water and the alleged oil spill was run-off from land. Samples were taken and Initial results found that a small quantity of oil was present but that the runoff was comprised mostly of silt and sand, with some industrial materials being present, indicating that the runoff was entered into the sea from a land-based source. There was no oil present in the coastal area by Cay Bay and no activity was observed regarding oil entering the water from industrial sources on Cay Bay.
It appears that the run-off was caused due to a truck rupturing a water pipe causing sediment to flow into the water. Some heavy metals and oil were found in the sample, but this was only limited to trace amounts.
