[JURIST] In Tuesday's environmental law news, an Indonesian court heard arguments Tuesday on whether it should proceed with a criminal trial of US-based Newmont Mining Corp. [corporate website] for alleged pollution in Buyat Bay. The hearing had been postponed in August when the country's Supreme Court ordered two of the judges back to Jakarta for training on environmental law, not, contrary to earlier information, because they were being replaced [JURIST report]. After hearing prosecution arguments, presiding Judge Ridwan Damanik adjourned the case until September 20, when the court will make its ruling. Reuters has more.

In other environmental law news,

• The Bangladesh government [official website] has announced that all government, semi-government and autonomous organizations will have Friday and Saturday off beginning September 9. Currently, Bangladeshi workers work six day weeks. The move to a five day work week is done in part to cut back on fuel consumption. Critics of the new ruling are hoping to change the weekend to Saturday and Sunday, inline with the practice of most other countries. Reuters has more.
  
  
• The US Minerals Management Service (MMS) [official website] seeks comments on a proposed rule [text] that would require companies with federal oil and gas leases in the outer continental shelf to provide information on how they will meet the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) [text] and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) [text]. This additional informtion would be submitted along with the plans for exploration, development and production of the area. Comments can be made here until November 7, 2005.