These maps will in turn guide partners in determining where to drill boreholes to bring the water to the surface in a cost effective manner.

UNESCO: Combating drought in the Horn of Africa

Smit, which in charge of salvaging Prestige before it sank, said the operation - to pump the oil back to the surface - would cost nearly 50m euros and take several months to complete.

BBC: French sub to try patching Prestige

The railroads retort that despite record traffic and profits, their return on investment since 2000 has been only 8%, which according to the Surface Transportation Board, another federal regulator, barely covers the cost of capital.

ECONOMIST: American railways