Plan for $1 billion Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea summit now goes to chancellor

Video by David Corrigan

The Mauna Kea Management Board voted unanimously to approve the plan to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea on Wednesday, during a public meeting held at Hilo’s Imiloa Astronomy Center.

The TMT will now go before the UH-Hilo chancellor, and then the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, for approval. Then, the Department of Land and Natural Resources will decide on a Conservation District Use Permit.

An extensive environmental impact statement has been signed off on by Governor Linda Lingle.

The Thirty Meter Telescope is expected to be the world’s most advanced and capable ground-based optical, near-infrared, and mid-infrared observatory when it sees first light in 2017.

The project also has its opponents, who say the sacred Mauna Kea should not be developed any further. A handful of those opponents were in the audience on Wednesday, ready to give their opinion during the public testimony.

In this video, project manager Gary Sanders talks about the highly anticipated astronomy project. Then, Stephanie Nagata of the Office of Mauna Kea Management presents the details of the TMT project, including some of the aspects of the lease that still need to be ironed out. Big Island Video News will have more from Nagata’s presentation in the coming days.

Finally, Ed Stevens of Kahu Ka Mauna says that although his group has reservations about development on Mauna Kea, they do not oppose the TMT project.

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