Beach clean up crews are scrambling to clean up a giant tar mat that's washing up in Orange Beach.

by Pat Peterson

Published: Fri, December 03, 2010 - 11:39 am CST

Last Updated: Fri, December 03, 2010 - 12:37 pm CST

Beach clean up crews are scrambling to clean up a giant tar mat that's washing up in Orange Beach.



Pat PetersonORANGE BEACH, Alabama - A giant tar mat...nearly an eighth of a mile long...is washing up west of Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach. Clean up crews rushed to the scene when they were notified and brought in heavy equipment to remove the oil. A clean up crew supervisor tells News 5 the tar mat was "submerged"...and wasn't visible until the incoming tide pushed it on shore.





When we arrived, we could smell the petroleum product hundreds of feet away. Workers covered their mouths and noses and coughed because of the overwhelming smell.





The tar mat removal will be an all-day process. Crews will be removing oil until dusk.