Tar balls litter California beach

Mysterious sticky black tar balls showed up on a Southern California beach this past weekend, enough to fill a 55-gallon drum, officials say. The U.S. Coast Guard says the tar is not dangerous but says anyone coming across it while strolling on Coronado’s shore is advised not to touch it, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday. The material was first noticed Saturday by a city lifeguard and 20 National Response Corp. workers had collected about 55 gallons of it by Sunday afternoon, the newspaper said. Coast Guard spokeswoman Amanda Sardone said samples were being compared with material from ships in the area and from previous investigations. She said the tar may have come from an older spill and not from a diesel spill Saturday morning.