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The fireworks display on the evening of July 4 has been a spectacle over La Jolla Cove for almost three decades, but an environmental group is demanding the city of San Diego to take a hard look at pollution left behind.

On Thursday, the issue of whether the fireworks display is legally permitted by the city was back in court. The Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation believes the city should be aware of what it is doing to the environment.

Attorney Marco Gonzalez, who represents the group, said, "Our goal is not to stop the shows; our goal is to get environmental review."

Robert Howard, an attorney representing La Jolla Community Fireworks Corporation, is confident that "the show will go on. We have a permit from the state of California."

Gonzalez wasn't seeking a temporary restraining order to stop this year's display, at least not yet. He said he may file for a TRO soon, though.

"I think it's very possible. I think … not only that we will pursue it but we will succeed," said Gonzalez.

Howard responded, "He's trying to bog down the event based on procedure and paperwork; that we have to go through hundreds of thousands of dollars of environmental review, go through separate litigation. We don't believe that's necessary for once-a-year, 20-minute shows."

Judge William Dato issued a tentative order directing the city to rescind its approval of two recent amendments to the Special Events and Park Use ordinances. He noted that a Court of Appeal is considering an earlier ruling by another judge requiring more environmental review and that it will probably be several months before that finding is announced.