Green Options

In order to construct an undersea warfare training range adjacent to the only known calving grounds for endangered right whales, the U.S. Navy has decided to proceed without obtaining required approvals.

According to Earthjustice, the Navy plans to start construction of the undersea warfare training range at a location next to the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) calving grounds - despite the fact that authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has not been obtained.

While numerous measures for lessening its environmental impact were recommended by the states of Georgia and Florida and environmental groups, the Navy rejected all of them. The Navy’s own documents further revealed that the warfare training range site was selected without considering environmental impacts.

Environment groups settled a lawsuit in federal court today with the US Coast Guard, which agreed to abide by the Endangered Species Act which requires that shipping lanes do not put critically endangered Northern Atlantic right whales in harm’s way.