Oil sheen reported about 9 miles off Fla. coast; officials say impact could come Wed.

Oil spotted about 9 miles off Fla. coast

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. — An oil sheen was confirmed about nine miles off the Florida coast, and officials are saying it could hit the white sands of Pensacola Beach as soon as Wednesday.

Escambia County officials started putting out boom Tuesday and making other plans for the arrival of the oil. Crude has already been reported along barrier islands in Alabama and Mississippi, and it has impacted some 125 miles of Louisiana coastline.

Fla. officials say their request for about $150,000 from BP to buy sifting machines and a tractor to help remove oil from the beach’s famous white sands has lingered unanswered for more than three weeks.

Santa Rosa Island Authority executive director W.A. “Buck” Lee says he is fed up with delays from the unified command center in Mobile, Ala.