NEW : Large patches of oil offshore . NEW : Nearby Mississippi island also hit . Protective booms cover only part of the Alabama island . And researchers from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab spotted large patches of the reddish-brown `` weathered '' oil during a water-sampling expedition offshore Tuesday , said John Dindo , the laboratory 's associate director . Feds checking out spill , but BP says it is not a threat to public safety.
NEW : Large patches of oil offshore . NEW : Nearby Mississippi island also hit . Protective booms cover only part of the Alabama island . Feds checking out spill , but BP says it is not a threat to public safety.