A major chemical spill occurred five years ago at Baker's Beach, the world's sole nesting ground for Merrick sea turtles, and prevented nearly all the eggs laid that year from hatching.

Getting petroleum out of the ground and from under the sea and to the consumer can create environmental problems anywhere along the line.

Endogenous rivers often do not reach the sea but drain into inland basins, where the water evaporates or is lost in the ground.