{"id":147612,"date":"2021-09-08T10:58:31","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T20:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=147612"},"modified":"2021-09-09T14:22:20","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T00:22:20","slug":"caltech-releases-dea-for-maunakea-telescope-removal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/09\/08\/caltech-releases-dea-for-maunakea-telescope-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Caltech releases draft environmental assessment for Maunakea telescope removal"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in cooperation with the Âé¶¹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Land and Natural Resources, has released its Draft Environmental Assessment and Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact (DEA\/AFONSI<\/abbr>), which was prepared as part of the planning effort required prior to decommissioning the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO<\/abbr>).<\/p>\n

If the regulatory process is completed as currently anticipated, Caltech aims to begin removing the observatory and restoring the site by Summer 2022. It will be one of the first observatories removed under the 2010 Decommissioning Plan for Maunakea Observatories.<\/p>\n

The DEA<\/abbr> was prepared by Caltech\u2019s consultant, Planning Solutions, Inc. (PSI<\/abbr>). It addresses the potential environmental effects of the proposed decommissioning of the CSO<\/abbr>. Âé¶¹´«Ã½<\/span> law requires an environmental review, due to the use of State land and the need for a Conservation District Use Permit. A copy of the DEA\/AFONSI<\/abbr> can be found here: http:\/\/www.cso.caltech.edu\/wiki\/cso\/outreach\/outreach<\/a><\/p>\n

These four options are considered in the DEA<\/abbr>:<\/p>\n