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Archive: Sonar legal battle
The justices will examine a judge's ruling that limited military training when marine mammals are near.
Appellate panel backs a lower court decision but allows a 30-day reprieve from the toughest rules so sonar training can go forward.
Ruling upholds court-ordered protections for whales and dolphins.
The jurist grants two concessions to President Bush on naval exercises off the Southland.
He cites national security in aiming to override a judge's injunction aimed at protecting marine mammals off Southern California. An environmental group promises to fight his move.
The Navy said it has developed 29 measures to protect marine mammals from potential harm caused by mid-frequency active sonar, but a federal judge called the mitigation plan "grossly inadequate" and ordered additional safeguards. Some key sticking points:
Federal appeals panel also hears from environmentalists who are concerned about the welfare of marine mammals along Southern California's coast.