Judge: Base may pose threat to sea cow

[unhappycamper]

Judge: Base may pose threat to sea cow
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 24, 2008 16:42:43 EST

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has ordered the Defense Department 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 Marine Corps Air Station Futenma 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.


Article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_seacow_militarybase_080124/



uhc comment: These marvelous animals are also paying the price for the forever war.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong