NEW ORLEANS - A sharply divided Louisiana Supreme Court says it won't hear a challenge to a state decision awarding a permit to a company that wants to drill an oil well in St. Tammany Parish.

Helis Oil & Gas said before the decision that it's ready to begin drilling an exploratory well, and will begin moving a drilling rig onto the site June 29.

The 4-3 vote leaves in place an appeals court ruling that Louisiana must consider a parish zoning ordinance against industrial activity at the site, but doesn't have to obey it.

Two of the three justices who voted to hear the case took the unusual step of filing opinions Friday to explain why.

Justices Greg Guidry and Jeannette Theriot Knoll wrote dissents; Justice Marcus Clark also dissented.