PENSACOLA, Fla. -Florida Panhandle officials are cleaning up over 1,700 pounds of weathered oil from the 2010 BP oil spill.

The large submerged mat of oil mixed with sand, shells and water just off the Gulf Islands National Seashore’s Fort Pickens beach is being removed by a cleanup crew digging it up by hand.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Natalie Murphy tells the Pensacola News Journal that frequent thunderstorms and lightning have hampered the cleanup efforts.

The mat discovered a month ago is estimated to be roughly 32 feet long and 9 feet wide.

 

Special thanks to Richard Charter