Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

August 29, 2008 7:53:31 CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Judge Rips Bush in Navy Whales Case

Posted Feb 5, 08 4:07 AM CST in Politics,  Science & Health,  US 

(Newser) – A California judge has ruled that President Bush went too far when he moved to exempt the Navy from laws limiting the use of sonar enacted to protect whales and other sea life, the Washington Post reports. The White House had argued that obeying the laws would create an emergency, but the judge ruled such an "emergency" was fabricated and the administration had no authority in the matter.

Accepting the White House argument would lead to the "absurd result of permitting agencies to avoid their obligations by re-characterizing ordinary activities as emergencies," said the strongly worded ruling. Environmental groups have battled the Navy's sonar exercises off California for years. The sonar is believed to interfere with whales' sense of direction, which may lead to beachings and death.

Source Washington Post

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • SEAL's Sacrifice Wins Medal of Honor

    Apr 8, 08 5:14 CDT
    SEAL's Sacrifice Wins Medal of Honor A Navy SEAL who dove on a live grenade to save comrades' lives in Iraq received the Medal of Honor today, the Navy Times reports. Michael Monsoor's parents, George and Sally, received the nation's highest combat honor from President Bush, who wept during the ceremony. Monsoor, 25, died Sept. 29, 2006, as US forces tried to take Ramadi from insurgents. More »

  • Appeals Court Nixes Sonar Exemption Claim by Navy

    Mar 2, 08 5:25 AM CST
    Appeals Court Nixes Sonar Exemption Claim by Navy The US Navy is not exempt from laws that ban whale-harming sonar, a federal appeals court has ruled. The Bush administration had contested an earlier ruling, arguing that halting sonar use when whales are nearby poses "significant restrictions on our ability to train realistically." Whales and dolphins have been found dead of bleeding around the brain near training sites, the Los Angeles Times reports. More »

  • Dolphin Dies Near Sonar Site

    Feb 22, 08 9:00 AM CST
    Dolphin Dies Near Sonar Site Researchers are trying to determine what killed a female dolphin that washed up on an island off the coast of San Diego—an area where the Navy conducted controversial sonar tests, the Los Angeles Times reports. The dolphin washed up as the Navy challenges court-imposed restrictions on the use of sonar, which has been linked to the deaths of marine life. More »

This image provided by the Cascadia Research Collective shows a beaked whale and her calf off the Kona coast of Hawaii, Dec. 8, 2006. These beaked whales have been at the center of the dispute over the...   (Associated Press)
The flukes of a gray whale as it dives off the Southern California coast near the Palos Verdes Peninsula is seen Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)   (Associated Press)
The flukes of a gray whale as it dives off the Southern California coast near the Palos Verdes Peninsula is seen Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. Conservationists have blasted President Bush's decision to exempt...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

George W. Bush  • US Navy  • whale


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other US Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »