Substance Found in Harbor Was Ash Says Coast Guard

A black substance spotted floating in Mackinac Island's harbor Sunday, June 18, was determined to be ash, not oil, and will not be investigated further, said Lieutenant Junior Grade William White, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie.

The Coast Guard crew deployed from the Sault to the Mackinac Island harbor determined that the amount of the substance was too small to retrieve a sample for testing, and, after determining it was not oil, they left the matter for nature to take care of, explained LTJG White. The substance, he added, was similar to what would be found in a fireplace.

Mackinac State Historic Parks employees reported the ash floating in the harbor at approximately 5:30 p.m. Sunday and contacted Fire Chief Dennis Bradley and Police Chief Bill Lenaghan. The Coast Guard, which has jurisdiction over hazardous spills in the Great Lakes, was asked to investigate.

Normal Coast Guard response to hazardous material, said LTJG White, is to verify the quantity of the substance, determine through experience what the substance might be, and, depending on the quantity available, take a sample for analysis.