Navy says sonar training needed for safety

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy is asking to be allowed to use high-powered sonar in training exercises off the California coast despite possible risk to the environment.

An attorney for the Navy told a federal appeals judge this week that the sonar causes only "temporary and minor problems" for marine animals, the Los Angeles Times said Friday. A temporary ban by a district judge this summer was set aside by a federal appeals court until the matter could be sorted out, the newspaper said.

Environmental groups and the California Coastal Commission say mid-frequency sonar has been linked to the deaths of whales and dolphins.

A Justice Department lawyer says the Navy needs the sonar to detect possible threats from quiet diesel-electric submarines owned by potentially hostile nations.