Summary:  The Navy has released a draft impact statement as part of a process to renew a five year permit to use sonar and explosives during military training exercises off the coast of Cape Cod and in the Gulf of Mexico. The Navy’s own estimate says that the testing could affect up to 1.6 million animals per year, but the statement downplays the risk of harm to federally protected marine mammals.

The training exercises are similar to ones in the Pacific Northwest currently under challenge by an Earthjustice lawsuit. "There are whale species that dive for a half-hour at a time. Add rough seas, bad weather, nighttime and the detection rate is pretty low," Earthjustice attorney Steve Mashuda said.

  Full Article:  http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/5/29/navy_sonar_permit_at_issue.htm"

  Summary:  Washington state and regional air-quality regulation agencies appealed a December 2011 ruling, which mandated the installation of “reasonably available control technologies” at five refineries near Ferndale. The refineries, run by BP, ConocoPhillips and others, are responsible for 5 to 8 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Janette Brimmer, an Earthjustice lawyer, represented the conservation groups who attained the original mandate. She called the agencies’ decision to appeal “hugely disappointing.”

  Full Article:  http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/24/2536810/decision-requiring-greenhouse.html"

  Summary:  Earthjustice filed a federal appeal on behalf of environmental and native Alaskan groups, seeking to block Shell Oil’s permit to send exploratory drilling vessels that could begin operating this summer in the northern Alaska’s Beaufort Sea.

According to Earthjustice attorney Colin O’Brien, "EPA did not analyze whether the Kulluk will comply with all standards, and they relied on modeling tricks to reduce the measured impact."

  Full Article:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57436239/groups-appeal-air-permit-for-shell-arctic-drilling/"

  Summary:  A newly released U.S. Navy draft environmental impact statement on the effects of sonar testing devices estimates that 1,600 sea mammals may suffer injury or hearing loss and 1,000 sea mammals may be killed by sonar and explosives testing off the coasts of California and Hawaii between 2014 and 2019.

Earthjustice, the National Resource Defense Council and a coalition of Native American Tribes have fought to prevent harm to dolphins, whales and other sea mammals from Navy sonar testing operations. Currently, the Navy has advanced its awareness of the damage it is doing to marine mammals, but it has yet to take steps to mitigate the harm.

  Full Article:  http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/sonar-explosives-could-hurt-more-marine-life-study-236888.html"