Thirty Meter Telescope – Assistance in EIS Preparation and Review, Outreach and Permit Processing
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project will consist of the construction, operation and ultimate decommissioning of the TMT Observatory, with a 98-foot (30-meter) diameter optical/infrared telescope, below the summit of Mauna Kea, and the construction and operation of associated ancillary facilities. The TMT will address the outstanding constraints in astronomy and astrophysics research. The 2001 Decadal Survey for Astronomy identified a TMT-like ground-based telescope as its top need and recommendation to trace the evolution of galaxies and the formation of stars and planets.
The Project’s primary purposes and objectives are to:
- Provide powerful and precise scientific tool capable of exploring almost every aspect of the Universe.
- Locate the TMT in Hawaiʻi to help the U.S. maintain its leadership position in astronomy by leveraging the capacity and abilities of the TMT partners’ existing astronomy facilities on Mauna Kea.
- Utilize the Project as an important educational tool to attract students to the science and technology fields.
- Integrate science, culture, sustainability and education.
Hoʻokuleana LLC serves on the review team for the draft and final environmental impact statement prepared for the Thirty Meter Telescope. In addition, Peter Young is assisting to:
- Interact and work with Hawaiʻi county and state administrations and various department personnel with county and state government.
- Provide assistance in interacting and working with the public and certain environmental groups, native Hawaiian groups, neighbors and other organizations.
- Provide assistance, review and recommendations on related public processes and documentation (including, but not limited to, various stages of EIS preparation/response/ revision, permitting, site utilization, natural resource concerns and cultural resource concerns.)