RUSS BYNUM, Associated Press Writer
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Environmental groups are suing the Navy to halt plans for an offshore training range off the Georgia and Florida coasts, saying the military failed to properly assess the threat to endangered right whales.
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed the lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Savannah.
The Navy last year announced plans to begin laying underwater cables and sensors over 500 square nautical miles for training exercises involving ships, submarines and aircraft from Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia and Naval Station Mayport in Florida.
Conservation groups say the planned training area is too close to coastal waters where right whales migrate each winter to give birth to their calves. Researchers estimate as few as 300 of the giant whales remain.