Update: The state announced Nov. 3, “The oil spill closure in Boothbay has been repealed due to shellfish samples passing contamination testing standards, however, the flood closure is still in place at this location.”

Original post: Maine Department of Marine Resources issued the following notice Oct. 30:

Emergency Closure: This notice closes Back River, Boothbay due to an ongoing oil spill. A reopening will occur once confirmation has been made that the oil contamination has been remediated. All existing pollution and biotoxin closures remain in effect.

The boundary descriptions of the area are as follows (struck text is being removed and underlined text is being added): Effective immediately, because of pollution, it shall be unlawful to dig, take or possess any clams,quahogs, oysters, mussels, whole or roe-on scallops from the shores, flats and waters; east of a line beginning at the end of Old Wharf Ln. running southeast to the north tip of Sawyer Island; and north of a line beginning at a red painted post on the southeastern shore of Sawyer Island (Boothbay) running east to a red painted post on the opposite shore; and east of a line from a red painted post on the shore of an unnamed point of land in Edgecomb running southwest to the northernmost tip of Barters Island; and west of a line beginning at a point of land at the end of Back River Rd. (Boothbay) running due north to the opposite shore.

If you have questions, please contact Department of Marine Resources, 194 McKown Point Road, West Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04575-0008, Tel: (207) 633-9500 Email: DMRPublicHealthDiv@maine.gov. During weekends/holidays, contact on duty Marine Patrol Officers through the appropriate State Police barracks: from New Hampshire border to Brunswick, barracks 1-800-228-0857; from Cushing/Boothbay to Lincolnville/Belfast area, barracks 1-800-452-4664; from Belfast to Canadian border, barracks 1-800-432-7381. This notice can be viewed on the Department’s website at: http://www.maine.gov/dmr/shellfish- sanitation- management/closures/index.html. This information is also recorded on our hotline (207-624-7727 or 1-800-232- 4733).