Spills close Pacifica beaches, but no beaches on Coastside yet

San Mateo County Environmental Health has ordered the closure of Esplanade, Linda Mar, Rockaway and Sharp Park beaches as a "precautionary measure". Tar balls from the Golden Gate oil spill washed up on Esplanade Beach in Pacifica Monday. The tar balls range in size from tear drop to a couple of inches in diameter.

Contractors employed by the ship owners are assessing the extent of the contamination and will be cleaning up the beaches, according to the county.

Grey Whale Cove and Montara State Beach have been placed on "Warning" status due to bacterial contamination.  No oil has been spotted there, according to Beverly Thames, Public Information Officer, San Mateo County Health Department. Earth911 is reporting that Gray Whale Cove and Montara State Beach have been closed due to the oil spill, but Thames says this is incorrect.

You can check the status of beaches in San Mateo County on the Health Department’s website.