{"id":120910,"date":"2020-06-17T10:09:22","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T20:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=120910"},"modified":"2020-06-17T13:31:06","modified_gmt":"2020-06-17T23:31:06","slug":"public-input-sought-hoku-kea-decommissioning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/06\/17\/public-input-sought-hoku-kea-decommissioning\/","title":{"rendered":"Public input sought on decommissioning of Maunakea telescope"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Hoku
糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo 24″ Educational Telescope, H\u014dk\u016b Keʻa<\/span> (foreground)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Hilo<\/a> is seeking public input on the decommissioning of the H\u014dk\u016b Keʻa<\/span> telescope on the summit of Maunakea. The feedback will be used to develop a draft Environmental Assessment (EA<\/abbr>) and a Site Decommissioning Plan (SDP<\/abbr>) required by the Maunakea Comprehensive Management Plan (PDF<\/abbr><\/span>)<\/a> for 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>-managed lands. Decommissioning includes the deconstruction and removal of the telescope facility and the restoration of the site. The draft EA<\/abbr> process requires that the public consider alternatives, a total of four in this case:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. No Action, or abandon in place<\/li>\n
  2. Removal of all buildings and abandon in place foundations and utilities below existing grade<\/li>\n
  3. Removal of all buildings and foundations, partial removal of utilities<\/li>\n
  4. Complete removal of all buildings, foundations, and utilities<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    SSFM<\/abbr> International Inc.<\/abbr> has been retained, prepared the enclosed pre-assessment consultation letter (PDF<\/abbr><\/span>) to develop the draft EA<\/abbr> and SDP<\/abbr><\/a>, and are asking the public to submit written comments by July 17:<\/p>\n

    SSFM<\/abbr> International, Inc.<\/abbr>
    \nAttn: Jennifer Scheffel
    \n99 Aupuni Street, Suite 202
    \nHilo, Hawaiʻi<\/span> 96720<\/p>\n

    Or by email to: jscheffel@ssfm.com<\/a><\/p>\n

    There will be other opportunities for public feedback during the extensive decommissioning process (PDF<\/abbr><\/span>)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    The Maunakea Management Board approved 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s Notice of Intent to decommission H\u014dk\u016b Keʻa<\/span> on February 18, 2020, with the condition that the university simultaneously proceed with the planning and permitting for a new educational telescope for 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Hilo students and the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island community. Planning and permitting for a new educational telescope is a separate process that will also include identifying a location.<\/p>\n

    H\u014dk\u016b Keʻa<\/span> is one of the first two telescopes set to be decommissioned on 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>-managed Maunakea lands. The decommissioning of H\u014dk\u016b Keʻa<\/span> is anticipated to be completed in mid-to-late 2023.<\/p>\n

    The decommissioning of the second Maunakea telescope, California Institute of Technology Submillimeter Observatory (CSO<\/abbr>), is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2021 and the restoration of the site to be completed by mid-to-late 2022. CSO<\/abbr> is currently drafting its site decommissioning plan.<\/p>\n

    Related 糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> News<\/em> stories<\/strong><\/p>\n