The Federal Court not to dismiss the prosecution against Exxon (AP)

HOUSTON - a Federal Court will allow to continue legal action accuses the largest refinery U.S. of violating laws on pollution federal air of thousands of times over the past five years, environmental groups.

U.S. District Court Southern District Tuesday rejected a request by Exxon Mobil Corp. dismiss the prosecution regarding its installation in Texas.

The lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club and environment said Texas refinery in Baytown for Exxon Irving-based exit 8 million pounds of illegal pollution, including carcinogenic toxins without face appropriate fines or be compelled to repair equipment.

Environmental groups say they pursue refineries in the Houston Ship Channel to force compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act because regulators Texas state fail to do so. They reached a 5.8 million with Shell.

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Court of Italy gives the green light on the nuclear referendum (AFP)

MILAN (AFP) - the top appeals court Italy gave the go-ahead for a referendum on nuclear power Wednesday despite a Government decision to temporarily freeze plans to return to nuclear power following the disaster at the Japan.

Italians will vote June 12 and 13 in the referendum, which, if approved, and if participation is high enough, would impose a permanent ban on nuclear power.

Centre-left opposition has lobbied for a referendum and rejected the moratorium the Government announced in April as an interim measure.

The Italy of the values party opposition had slammed Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to not recognize the strong public opposition to nuclear energy to try to undermine the referendum.

Berlusconi has long advocated nuclear power.

Before the decision of the Court, he insisted on freezing on the program rendered unnecessary to carry out the referendum, while confirming the Government's intentions to pick up nuclear calendar within two years.

The head of the main opposition Democratic Party, Pier Luigi Bersani, said that the green light for the referendum was "excellent news."

He said "dirty tricks by the Government were exposed once more,".

The campaign "Vote Yes to stop nuclear", a group of more coordination of 80 associations, said the Court of appeal was "censored the arrogance of the Government and given citizens the right to decide on nuclear power."

Nuclear abandoned Italy after a referendum in 1987 following the Chernobyl disaster.

Berlusconi was scheduled to begin to build nuclear power plants from 2014 and produce a quarter of its electricity with atomic energy by 2030.

As well as nuclear energy, the referendum will call for Italians vote on privatization of the water.

They will also vote on the embattled Berlusconi - currently on trial for crimes of sex and fraud - it has the right to refuse to appear in court for a period of 18 months to enable him to concentrate on his political commitments.

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Endangered species deal faces court challenge (AP)

BILLINGS, Montana - an environmental group has asked a federal judge Monday to the action of delay on draft legal regulations that would require the Government to consider new measures of protection for hundreds of plants and animals in danger.

The Center for biological diversity filed to keep documents in Washington, D.C., seeking to put on the settlement agreement. Tucson, Arizona, group said the deal was hatched in secret and suffers from serious shortcomings.

A announced last week, the agreement between the administration of the Obama and WildEarth guardians based out of Denver received high praise from several conservation groups.

It will address a backlog of 251 endangered species currently listed as "candidates" that the Government lacks the resources to provide protections. Those who understand species widely recognized as the great sage grouse and lynx of the Canada and dozens of lesser known plants and animals.

But the Center for biological diversity has criticized the agreement for leave on some species that could be damaged by climate change, including walrus Pacific and Wolverine. The Group also argues that the transaction is not enforceable.

The Centre is not a direct party to the 12 cases referred by the regulations, but is a plaintiff in a related case. Giving it a potential legal leverage to influence the adoption of the agreement.

"We basically want the Court to maintain distance on approving the settlement agreement until we had the opportunity to explain our concerns and negotiate with the Government," said Noah Greenwald, species endangered of the program coordinator for the Centre.

The approval of the Court of the settlement agreement is pending. A hearing in the case is set at Tuesday in Washington.

Solicitors for the Government and WildEarth guardians filed documents Monday, arguing that the Center for biological diversity could not amend the regulations proposed at this stage.

Approval of the agreement would speed up decisions on endangered species which, in some cases have languished for more than 30 years, said Nicole Rosmarino with WildEarth guardians.

Under the agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also solve petitions seeking protections on approximately 600 additional species.

"The more important question is whether if the status quo is serving (endangered species) better than our agreement with the Ministry of the Interior." "I think that any reasonable person could say no," said Rosmarino. "Clearly we need to get the ball and the address of the fate met by these plants and endangered animals.".

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