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On third of last month, the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered to place regulation on the Navy's use of medium-range sonar, which the loud blast of its sound harm marine animals, as well as the animals exhibited confused or disoriented behavior.

The ruling has ordered the Navy to limit its use of medium-range sonar to an area beyond 12 miles (around 19kilometers) from shore, monitor the area one hour before a military exercise to detect the presence of marine mammals, keep an eye on the exercises throughout from the air, and required a shutdown when marine mammals are spotted within 2,200 yards (around 2kilometers) of training maneuvers.

This trial has been a long-running legal battle between environmental groups, led by "Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)" and the Navy. The Navy has argued that the use of medium-range sonar is crucial to the training of submarine seamen since now they face a new generation of quiet submarines that cannot be detected by traditional radar. Commander Davis of the Navy stated, "we do not believe it struck the right balance between national security and environmental concerns," and told the possibility of appealing against the case.

Nevertheless, President George W. Bush has signed an "emergency" waiver to exempts Navy from compliance with the order in its use of medium-range sonar during training exercises in California coast. On the other hand, NRDC says the groups will appeal the Bush waver. This dispute seems to continue for awhile.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/us/05sonar.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects