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Supreme Court Rules for Navy in Suit Claiming Sonar Harmed Whales

Posted Nov 12, 2008, 09:25 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against environmental groups seeking to limit the Navy’s use of sonar in training exercises to protect whales near the California coast.

The 5-4 decision said the Navy needs to conduct realistic training, and federal courts had abused their discretion by ordering limits on sonar use, the Los Angeles Times reported. The decision lifted an injunction that had restricted sonar until the Navy completed an environmental impact statement.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote the majority opinion, the first decision issued this term, SCOTUSblog reports.

“The Navy’s need to conduct realistic training with active sonar to respond to the threat posed by enemy submarines plainly outweighs” the environmental… Continue reading...

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Title: Supreme Court Rules for Navy in Suit Claiming Sonar Harmed Whales



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