Turbine debris washes up on South Beach, Norton Point

Edgartown sent out a swimming advisory to beachgoers Wednesday after pieces of foam from Vineyard Wind’s broken wind turbine washed up on Norton Point and South Beach. 

The beaches were still open to swimming but town officials wanted to give people a head’s up, said Edgartown parks commissioner Andrew Kelly. 

A Vineyard Wind cleanup team was at the beach Wednesday afternoon to help pick up the debris. Fiberglass and styrofoam have been washing up on Nantucket since the turbine blade bent over and fell into the waters south of the Island on July 13. 

Wednesday’s debris is some of the first that have shown up on the Vineyard, likely due to a change in the current, Mr. Kelly said.

“There’s been no sign of any fiberglass,” Mr. Kelly said. “It’s mostly just pieces of styrofoam.” 

In a statement Wednesday, Vineyard Wind said crews had also been sent to Wasque on Chappaquiddick, and Menemsha and “have found very limited debris” on the beaches. 

“As wind patterns have shifted through the day, models are now suggesting the foam and other debris are more likely to be visible on Martha’s Vineyard, rather than being concentrated on the South beaches of Nantucket,” Craig Gilvarg, a Vineyard Wind spokesperson said. “We have responded by mobilizing personnel, contractors, and resources on Martha’s Vineyard to quickly identify and collect any foam and other debris that may appear on the Island.”

Mr. Gilvarg said a majority of the trash observed the last few days has been unrelated to the broken turbine blade.

A determination on keeping the Edgartown beaches open will be based on an ongoing assessment, according to the town. People who find debris should call the Edgartown parks department at parks@edgartown-ma.us or 508 627 4004.

John Keene, the president of the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, said earlier this week that there were reports of styrofoam also off Squibnocket Point and between Menemsha and Robinson’s Hole.