Visitors gather on the beach at Ocean City on Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Danielle J. Brown
State and federal officials hope to be able to reopen beaches up and down the Delmarva peninsula to swimming by this weekend, but are still puzzled over the source of medical waste that led to the closures beginning Sunday.
It’s been an all-hands-on-deck situation, as officials from state and local agencies in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware have been coordinating with federal agencies on the issue. And while the presence of the plastic and medical waste has lessened as the week went on, environment and health officials are still scratching their heads on where the waste originated.
“Investigators are still looking into the type and source of medical waste. We are monitoring for any illnesses as a result of this,” according to a statement from the Maryland Department of Health.
The health and safety concerns began Sunday, when the Maryland State Parks Facebook page announced that Assateague State Park and other beaches were closing ocean access to visitors due to “a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore.” All water activities were restricted and, while people were allowed on the beach they were encouraged “to wear shoes and use an abundance of caution.”
The medical waste included hypodermic needles, feminine products and other plastic materials, according to a Maryland Department of Natural Resources official.
Feds give final approval to Maryland offshore wind project
Local and state agencies have been working all week to clean up the beaches, and the situation has been improving.
“Ocean City is reporting normal vegetation washing ashore and no presence of medical waste,” said Jorge Castillo, a communications staffer for the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, in an email Wednesday. “Assateague State Park and National Seashore report continued reduction in the amount of waste today and the type of waste is typical of that produced during rougher seas.”
Even without the presence of waste, officials said, rough surf conditions might have restricted ocean use this week anyway on the affected beaches. But rough surf doesn’t usually spark a multiagency response.
“Local governments are reporting that the amount of medical waste washing onto the shore has decreased, which is good news,” said the Maryland Department of Environment’s Jay Apperson in an email. “We are working in cooperation with numerous state, local and federal agencies in response to this event, including the identification and disposal of the medical waste.”
Ocean City and state parks officials hope to fully reopen by the weekend, but will only make an announcement after getting water sample results to ensure that the waters are safe for swimming.
“Due to the current rough surf conditions, limited guards and out an abundance of caution, the ocean continues to remain closed to swimmers and surfers at this time,” Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald in a Wednesday statement. “Safety remains our top priority and we hope to reopen the ocean in the next few days.”
Meanwhile, the Maryland Department of Health advises beachgoers to “not approach or touch any medical waste as the cleanup efforts continue.”