This proposed action by the TMT consortium is really bad news. The project has already underwent 10 years of public review via several court cases, and two contested case hearing pertaining to their state conservation district use permit. If they secure National Science Foundation funding, this means they will have to go back to square one as far their permitting. They will have to do a Federal NEPA EIS and conduct a Section 106 consultation with Native Hawaiian groups. Those Native Hawaiian groups opposed to the telescope now will litigate whatever the findings are in the Federal NEPA EIS and Section 106 consultations.
I know the costs of the project have rapidly escalated over the years, but I strongly believe obtaining NSF funding will guarantee the project will never happen either here or in Canary Islands. The NSF probably won't provide funds for a telescope project in a foreign country, and the project will be facing a uphill battle to construct it on Maunakea for reasons I stated above.
The Keck Outrigger project had to go through a Federal NEPA EIS and do Section 106 consultations. It was never constructed due to litigation from the same groups opposed to the TMT.
I know the costs of the project have rapidly escalated over the years, but I strongly believe obtaining NSF funding will guarantee the project will never happen either here or in Canary Islands. The NSF probably won't provide funds for a telescope project in a foreign country, and the project will be facing a uphill battle to construct it on Maunakea for reasons I stated above.
The Keck Outrigger project had to go through a Federal NEPA EIS and do Section 106 consultations. It was never constructed due to litigation from the same groups opposed to the TMT.