The Chevron Corporation had planned to drill one or more exploratory wells in the Atlantic Ocean northeast of Cape Hatteras near an area known as "The Point." The State of North Carolina and particularly many coastal North Carolina residents were concerned about negative environmental effects and the increased possibility of oil spills in the area due to both production and increased tanker traffic in the area. Tourism and commercial fishing are key industries in the local economy that could potentially be damaged by off-shore oil and gas production. There might also be significant impacts on recreational fishing.