Washington, D.C. ? The Supreme Court agreed Monday to the Bush administration’s request that it review a dispute between environmentalists and the Navy about whether training exercises off the Southern California coast endanger whales, dolphins and other marine mammals.

At the same time, it turned down a petition from environmentalists and members of Congress that it stop the administration from waiving environmental and other laws in building a portion of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border to discourage illegal immigrants.

The case involving Navy exercises off San Diego has required lower courts to balance the need for military preparedness with environmental laws that protect threatened marine mammals. So far, environmentalists have won.

A district court judge has said the Navy cannot use sonar within 12 miles of the coast and restricted its use when marine mammals are within a certain distance of the ship.