Thar She Blows, No More Pings - Court Enjoins Navy Sonar Use

A federal court in Los Angeles enjoined the Navy's unrestricted use of sonar off the coast of California.  After finding severe risks of harm to marine mammals in proximity of mid-frequency active sonar, the judge: 1) barred Navy ships from operating these sonars within 12 nautical miles of the coastline; 2) required Navy units to shut down their sonars within 2200 yards of any marine mammal spotted by the units; 3) before using sonar, the Navy has to monitor the area with trained observers; 4) before using helicopter "dipping" sonar, the Navy must monitor the area for 10 minutes; 5) the Navy must power down its sonar by 6 decibels when a oceanographic condition called "surface ducting" is detected; 6) the Navy is banned from the Catalina Island basin.