In January 2008, U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper prevented the Navy from using sonar within 12 miles of the coast, an area heavily used by migrating whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals. She also ruled that the Navy must spend one hour before every training mission searching for marine mammals in the area, and continue monitoring for their presence while the sonar is in use. The sonar would have to be shut off immediately if a marine mammal was spotted within 2,200 yards of the ship. Under the Navy's proposed strategy, the ship would slowly reduce sonar power when an animal came within 200 yards. The U.S. Supreme Court announced on June 23 that it would hear arguments on the use of Navy sonar in training exercises through 2009. Specifically, the court will review a federal appeals court decision limiting the use of sonar off the coast of California. President George W. Bush has maintained that the ruling presents a national security risk in that it inhibits the proper training of sailors and Marines.
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