Hawai‘i Supreme Court vacates Thirty Meter Telescope permit
The court stated that a contested case hearing should have been held before the Conservation District Use Permit was granted.
The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court issued an opinion today vacating the Hawaiʻi State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) for the Thirty Meter Telescope and the 2014 Circuit Court decision that upheld the granting of the permit.
The court stated that a contested case hearing should have been held before the CDUP was granted and remanded the case, “so that a contested case hearing can be conducted or for other proceedings consistent with the court’s opinion.”
Hawaiʻi Attorney General Douglas Chin said in a statement, “Today’s decision provides direction to a new Land Board and another opportunity for people to discuss Mauna Kea’s future. The Attorney General’s office will be advising the Land Board regarding next steps.”
