Campaign Unavailable

We're sorry, this alert is no longer available.

The short explanation of this alert was:

NASA produced a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to assess the environmental impacts associated with the proposed construction of six new telescopes near the twin Keck Telescope Observatory for the Outrigger Telescope Project. NASA was tasked to focus on the cumulative effects of past, current and future activities on the cultural and natural resources on the summit of Mauna Kea.

This is the first federal assessment of the impacts of astronomy development on Native Hawaiian culture and the natural resource since it began over 30 years ago. NASA completed the DEIS in a phenomenally short period of time. And the rush job is reflected in the data produced and assessed.

The DEIS is fatally flawed and fails in many ways to adequately assess the project's impacts to cultural and religious practices or to the natural environment.

Cultural sites have been destroyed and according to NASA's own DEIS past and present telescope activities on Mauna Kea have substantially and adversely impacted cultural resources. The DEIS admits that, "future activities on the summit would continue the substantial and adverse impacts on cultural resources."

The NASA Draft EIS Cumulative Impact Summary states, "In conclusion, the overall cumulative impact of past, present and reasonably foreseeable future activities is substantial, adverse, and significant."

In spite of known cultural degradation of the most sacred area of Hawai'i, the industry wants more. Not just six more telescopes, as proposed by NASA and UH, but there are several proposals for other development on the summit, including a "next generation" telescope. This would be an even larger "world's largest telescope"- the thirty-meter telescope. This project is so massive it won't fit on the summit region. They hope to occupy and destroy the adjoining unspoiled northern plateau region.

NASA has identified an alternative site in the Canary Islands that would meet the needs of their project. We are adament in our position. NASA and University of Hawai'i must not procede with any further development on the sacred summit of Mauna Kea.

Please take a moment and let NASA know that astronomy can no longer be at the expense of Native Hawaiian cultural and religious rights. Nor is it acceptable for this industry to build new telescopes and associated infrastructure with the established knowledge that it is causing significant and adverse impacts to this very fragile environment and to the primary aquifer for the entire Island of Hawai'i. The science, the people, the public process all converge with the same message: Enough is enough. No more development on Mauna Kea!

Mahalo for your help in preventing any further development in this vitally sacred region.

If you would like to view details on this alert, please visit here.