Wednesday, July 16th, 2008...5:06 am
DAlaska: Beistline Refuses to Enjoin Seismic Tests During Appeal
U. S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline recently dismissed Point Hope Village’s request to enjoin oil company seismic tests that, the Village argued, would harass marine mammals in the Chukchi Sea. The Village then appealed, and asked Beistline to enjoin drilling during the appeal. Beistline has denied that request, stating:
It is not the Court’s role to act as a scientist or to arbitrarily impose its views over that of an agency schooled on the matter and tasked with balancing all the relevant issues and competing interests. Moreover, the Court cannot conclude that the proposed seismic testing will lead to irreparable harm without engaging in gross speculation and ignoring years of government studies.
Native Village of Point Hope v. Minerals Management Service, 2008 WL 2736040 (D.Alaska July 9, 2008)
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