Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Navy Sonar Case

The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in the long-running dispute between the U.S. Navy and environmentalists over the use of sonar during training exercises.

The sonar harms marine mammals, including dozens of species of whales and dolphins, some of them endangered. It's been blamed on brain hemorrhaging, beachings and other problems. The Navy sees the tests as critical for training to detect enemy submarines.

The Supreme Court is reviewing a lower-court ruling that requires the Navy to limit its use of sonar and take other precautions to protect marine creatures. The Bush Administration appealed, claiming that national security concerns trump environmental law.

According to Reuters, the justices appeared to be split along familiar conservative/liberal lines.

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