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Crews remove equipment from contested Hawaii telescope site

Published 2015-12-16, 06:29 p/m
© Reuters. Crews remove equipment from contested Hawaii telescope site

By Alex Dobuzinskis
Dec 16 (Reuters) - Construction crews for what would be one
of the world's largest telescopes have removed equipment from
the dormant volcano in Hawaii where it was set to be built after
the state Supreme Court revoked its permit, project officials
said on Wednesday.
The move by TMT International Observatory signals the
project faces a potentially significant delay if the team behind
it ever applies to state officials for a new permit to build at
the Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island.
Astronomers consider the volcano one of the world's best
places to view the cosmos, and planned to use it as the site of
the Thirty Meter Telescope, which project officials said would
have a primary mirror spanning 30 metres (100 feet) and rank as
the most powerful optical telescope on the planet.
But Native Hawaiians and environmentalists oppose the
project, saying it would damage sacred lands. Protesters have
repeatedly tried to block construction at the site this year.
The Hawaii Supreme Court found on Dec. 2 that the permit for
the project issued by state officials in 2013 was invalid
because at that time, a public hearing to air objections to the
plan had not been held.
"We respect the Hawaii Supreme Court decision and, as good
neighbors and stewards of the mountain, TMT has begun relocating
construction vehicles and equipment from Maunakea," Henry
Yang, chair of the TMT International Observatory board of
governors, said in a statement.
Officials with TMT are assessing which steps they will take
following the court ruling, said Scott Ishikawa, a spokesman for
the project.
Partners in the $1.4 billion project include scientists from
Japan, Canada, India, China and the California Institute of
Technology.

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