Court rules for Navy in dispute over sonar, whales

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Yahoo News

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court is lifting restrictions on the Navy's use of sonar in training exercises off the California coast, a defeat for environmental groups who say the sonar can harm whales.

The court, in its first decision of the term, voted 5-4 that the Navy needs to conduct realistic training exercises to respond to potential threats by enemy submarines.

Environmental groups persuaded lower federal courts in California to impose restrictions on sonar use in submarine-hunting exercises to protect whales and other marine mammals.

The Bush administration argued that there is little evidence of harm to marine life in more than 40 years of exercises off the California coast.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, which was joined by Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081112/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_navy_sonar

---

BASTIDS!

[Duppers]

1. damn!

:banghead:

[Coventina]

2. I am very disheartened by this ruling.

I am so looking forward to Obama's judicial appointments....

[cbayer]

3. i spend a lot of time on the water in these areas, and we saw two dead whales

this summer. I am not saying that this is related, but it seemed really unusual. The thought that we would allow this kind of disruption to their lives is incomprehensible to me.

Hopefully, our new administration will be able to reverse this decision.

[Blues Heron]

4. Terrible ruling - very sad

Ooooh enemy submarines be afraid be very afraid :scared:

can't wait till Obama leaves his mark on the court - can't come too soon.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. "...respond to potential threats by enemy submarines."

WHAT enemy submarines?

Why all this determination to be prepared for the war of the previous generation?

[happyslug]

6. Actual Decision, if you want to read it

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/07-1239.pdf

[harun]

7. Crap ruling. Hope Obama rescinds the Executive Order Scalia

and Roberts used in their opinion.