Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Contested Hawaiian Telescope Step Closer to Construction

by Associated Press

   HONOLULU --

   A construction permit should be granted for a giant telescope planned
   for a Hawaii mountain summit that some consider sacred, a hearings
   officer recommended Wednesday.

   Retired judge Riki May Amano, who is overseeing contested-case hearings
   for the Thirty Meter Telescope, had been weighing facts in the case
   since June, after hearing oftentimes emotional testimony that spanned
   44 days.

   The $1.4 billion project has divided those who believe the telescope
   will desecrate land atop Mauna Kea held sacred by some Native Hawaiians
   and those who believe it will provide Hawaii with economic and
   educational opportunities.

   Many more hurdles

   This isn't the final say on whether the embattled project will proceed.

   Now that Amano has issued her proposed decision and order, the state
   land board will set a deadline for telescope opponents and permit
   applicants to file arguments against her recommendations. The board
   will later hold a hearing and then make the final decision on the
   project's conservation district use permit.

   Gov. David Ige said his office was reviewing the conditions Amano put
   on her recommendation, including that employees attend mandatory
   cultural and natural resources training and that employment
   opportunities be filled locally "to the greatest extent possible."

   "Regardless of the (land board's) ultimate decision, I support the
   co-existence of astronomy and culture on Mauna Kea along with better
   management of the mountain," Ige said in a statement.

   This second round of contested-case hearings was necessary after the
   state Supreme Court invalidated an earlier permit issued by the board.

   The telescope's board of directors held public meetings before
   selecting Mauna Kea as the preferred site in 2009. In 2011, opponents
   requested so-called contested-case hearings before the state land board
   approved a permit to build on conservation land. The hearings were
   held, and the permit was upheld. Opponents then sued. In December 2015,
   the state Supreme Court revoked the permit, ruling the land board's
   approval process was flawed. That meant the application process needed
   to be redone, requiring a new hearing.

   'Far from done'

   Telescope officials didn't immediately comment on Amano's
   recommendation. They have said they plan to build it in the Canary
   Islands if they can't build in Hawaii.

   Kealoha Pisciotta, one of the leaders fighting against the telescope,
   said she's disappointed but not surprised.

   "They're far from done," she said. "They still have to go before the
   board. We still have the right of appeal -- before anyone can even
   begin to contemplate any action or earth-moving on Mauna Kea."