The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo will host a on the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the decommissioning of the ±á¨°ì¨± Keʻa telescope on Maunakea on Wednesday, September 22, 5:30–7 p.m.
The ±á¨°ì¨± Keʻa decommissioning (PDF) was posted on September 9. To register for the virtual public meeting and/or to learn more about the process, visit the .
The meeting will include a presentation and question and answer session with UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship Executive Director Greg Chun and officials with SSFM, the consulting company hired for the project planning and design. Those who participate are asked to provide comments by October 8, 2021. The (PDF) provides links to submit comments and to view the official document.
- Related UH News story: Public input requested on Ho?ku? Keʻa telescope decommissioning process, September 9, 2021
A DEA is required under Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s environmental laws for proposed uses of state lands or funds and uses within the state conservation district. The ±á¨°ì¨± Keʻa decommissioning plan reviewed in the DEA includes the safe and proper removal of two buildings and supporting infrastructure, and restoration of the site to its original state, as much as possible.
After the DEA process is complete, the Department of Land and Natural Resources will process and issue a conservation district use permit for the proposed actions. The project is tentatively scheduled to be completed by late 2023, and the site will not be used for astronomy purposes again.
±á¨°ì¨± Keʻa is one of two Maunakea telescopes in the process of being decommissioned. The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) posted its Draft Environmental Assessment for decommissioning on September 8. The CSO decommissioning project is tentatively scheduled to be completed in late 2023. There are 13 observatories on Maunakea, including ±á¨°ì¨± Keʻa and CSO. UH has committed to no more than nine operating astronomy facilities on Maunakea summit by December 31, 2033.