TMT construction postponement to continue
This artists rendering made available by the TMT Observatory Corporation shows the proposed Thirty Meter Observatory.
The Thirty Meter Telescope project’s leadership has informed Gov. David Ige that construction will continue to be postponed, according to a statement released by the governor’s office.
In the statement released Friday afternoon, Ige said: “My understanding is that TMT followed an almost 7-year planning and permitting process, which included public hearings and community input. Following this process, project permits were issued. The TMT team is legally entitled to use its discretion to proceed with construction.”
He continued, “I understand that not everyone will agree with this." Ige noted that he recognizes and respects the right to appeal the matter through the court system.
Any further announcement about the construction schedule will come from TMT.
On April 7, Ige announced a one-week “timeout” in construction to “evaluate the situation from multiple perspectives.” On April 11, he announced a second timeout, which wraps up on Monday.
“We have used this time to listen and learn about Maunakea from various stakeholders. I learned about other issues that need our attention to create and implement a better plan for the stewardship of Maunakea," Ige said in the statement.
According to the statement, this plan may include:
-decommissioning and removing older telescopes and facilities to restore the summit;
-reducing the level of activity on the summit; and
-integrating culture and science.
