Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Saturday, May 29, 2021
Telescope Protesters Challenge DLNR Approval of 'initiation of work'
By News Release @ 10:31 AM :: 5518 Views :: Hawaii County , Greenmail, Higher Education, OHA

GROUP CHALLENGES UNIVERSITY PERMIT: THIRTY-METER TELESCOPE CONSTRUCTION HAS NOT BEGUN ON MAUNA KEA

News Release from Ka Lahui Hawai’i, May 24, 2021

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i - Parties from the 2016-17 contested case against the University of Hawai‘i Hilo’s application for a Department of Land and Natural Resources’ permit to construct the Thirty-Meter Telescope are now challenging DLNR’s approval of the University’s April 28, 2021 letter, which stated TMT construction has started in compliance with permit conditions. DLNR’s approval of the letter effectively excuses the University from requesting a permit extension at a public hearing before the Board.

Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, Kealoha Pisciotta, Kū Ching, Deborah J. Ward, Paul Neves, and KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance opposed DLNR’s approval, pointing out that no TMT construction has occurred and the issue should go to the Board as part of re-opened contested case hearings. “The purpose of time limits on conservation district use permits, including UHH’s permit, is to allow the Board to revisit applicants’ representations of its projects and any changed conditions or unexpected circumstances. UHH’s concession that it has not been able to construct the TMT requires the Board to re-examine the permit,” states the group’s motion.

Kū Ching took issue with the University’s claim that its destruction of an ahu counts as initiating construction, stating, “the thriving of Hawaiian cultural practice has given rise to expanded awareness and activity on Mauna Kea that includes constructing ahu and protection of these lands as part of a sacred trust.” He continued, “The fact of the many thousands of people seeking to express their opposition to further construction on Mauna Kea in 2019 was not before the Board when it issued its 2017 Order.” The group raised other changed conditions including a $1 billion shortfall for TMT funding, the Canadian Astronomical Association’s recent statement that it cannot support the TMT without Native Hawaiians’ consent, and DLNR’s own critical evaluation of University outreach and consultation with Hawaiians.

The Board has not scheduled a hearing on this motion as of this writing.

  *   *   *   *   *

TMT satisfies initiation of work/construction permit requirement

UH News May 14, 2021

Following a review of project activities shared by Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory (TIO) with the University of Hawaiʻi, UH notified the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) on April 28, 2021, that work/construction on the TMT project was initiated in 2019 based on project activities in June and July of that year. DLNR has confirmed that this requirement has been satisfied.

This notification to DLNR is required by the Conservation District Use Permit issued by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in September 2017. The project activities in June and July of 2019 included removal of unpermitted structures; onsite GPS verification of locations and coordinates; construction kick-off meeting with civil contractor and subcontractors to review procedures, safety protocols and other related items; locating and surveying onsite underground fiber optic and electrical lines; inspections of TIO construction equipment for invasive species; and the mobilization of 18 vehicles and equipment to the worksite.

The mobilization of vehicles and equipment in July 2019 was blocked for several months by opponents of the project. The work was unable to continue due to factors beyond the control of UH and the project. Future activity has not been announced by TIO.

LINK: Review the UH letter at the DLNR TMT website

PDF: TMT 'Start of Construction'

HTH: UH: Some work on TMT project did begin in 2019

SA: No new permits needed for Thirty Meter Telescope, University of Hawaii says 

TMT foes challenge declaration that work has begun

SA May 25, 2021: … The Mauna Kea Hui filed a motion Monday with the Board of Land and Natural Resources demanding that the contested case hearing be reopened.

The board signed off on an April 28 letter from permit applicant University of Hawaii at Hilo declaring that TMT construction has started in compliance with permit conditions.

But Monday’s (May 24, 2021) motion argues that the university “incorrectly represented” that the condition of the permit has been satisfied, and therefore a hearing should be held before the board….

read … TMT foes challenge declaration that work has begun

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT