(BIVN) – The Thirty Meter Telescope project planned for Mauna Kea will be the subject of another hearing, this time conducted under the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.

On Tuesday, June 25, the health department will hold a public hearing at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, starting at 5 p.m., on the TMT’s application for an individual construction storm water renewal permit.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) application and draft permit to discharge storm water to receiving State waters, subject to special conditions, is associated with planned construction activities from the observatory. The construction entails the Thirty Meter Telescope Observatory and Access Way Road.

According to the Public Notice for the hearing:

The receiving waters, Kemole Guch, Kuupahaa Gulch, Puupohakuloa Gulch Pohakuloa Gulch, and Wailuku River, are classified by the DOH as Class 2, Inland Waters. Under Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Section 11-54-4, it is the objective of Class 2 waters is to protect their use for recreational purposes, the support and propagation of aquatic life, agricultural and industrial water supplies, shipping, and navigation. The uses to be protected in this class of waters are all uses compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters. These waters shall not act as receiving waters for any discharge which has not received the best degree of treatment or control compatible with the criteria established for this class.

Bruce Anderson, Ph.D., the Director of Health, “received a significant number of requests for a public hearing claiming the lack of opportunity for the general public to voice their concerns over the proposed facility.”

The health department instructs:

Persons desiring to speak are asked to submit two (2) copies of their statement before or at the hearing. Verbal testimony may be subject to a time limit if there are more than 50 testifiers. Written statements will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov or at P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, Hawaii 96801-3378.

The proposed NPDES permit for the new discharge will expire five (5) years from the date of issuance.