Is That Oil or Sediment Washing up in Louisiana?

The Coast Guard is trying to figure out an "oily mystery" along part of Louisiana's coast. This weekend reports came in that some sort of oily substance was washing up on some beaches. The Coast Guard isn't sure of the source, but they don't think it's residual BP disaster oil.

And it appears that there are two oil situations in the same region:

The Coast Guard is also investigating whether the oily substance could be related to crude released by a hurricane-damaged platform Saturday, but there is no evidence that the incidents are related, Capt. (Jonathan) Burton said.

UPDATE: More from NOLA.com on these oil mysteries.

The oil's appearing in the same areas hit hard by the BP oil disaster last year (the oiled pelican photo is from last year, taken by Julie Dermansky).

In any case, the Coast Guard is sending out containment booms and equipment.

-- Heather Moyer