Judge: U.S. military must consider threats to sea cow near base

[Bonobo]

Source: Associated Press

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 01/24/2008 11:48:32 AM PST

SAN FRANCISCO—A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Defense to consider the impact of its proposed military base in Japan on an endangered sea cow that lives in waters around the island of Okinawa.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled Thursday that the U.S. military violated federal law when it failed to evaluate the air station's potential effects on the Okinawa dugong, a 1,000-pound marine mammal related to the manatee.

The judge sided with environmentalists who claimed plans to relocate the Futenma Air Station would threaten the dugong, which is listed as a "natural monument" on the Japanese Register of Cultural Properties.

The U.S. government had asked the judge to dismiss the case, saying the issue should be left to the Japanese and U.S. governments.


Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_8066944?nclick_check=1

[Parche]

1. Nice Pics Of Lynne Cheney

:popcorn: :hi:

[Bonobo]

2. Anyone here from Florida that owns a speed boat?

[dysfunctional press]

3. "proposed military base in japan"?

instead of building still MORE overseas military installations- we should be bringing virtually ALL of our armed forces stationed overseas HOME, and shrinking the size of the Dept. of War Defense, if we want to have any hope of salvaging our economy.

[Bonobo]

4. Yeah, and they take all the very best real estate in poor Okinawa.

And there ain't that much to begin with. Like the rest of the world, the locals don't want us.