OHA sues NASA, UH over Mauna Kea telescopes

Author:

Sodetani, Naomi

Title:

OHA sues NASA, UH over Mauna Kea telescopes

Periodical:

Ka Wai ola o OHA

Year:

2002

Volume:

19

Pages:

3, 18

Subject:

Outrigger Telescope Project Astronomical observatories Mauna Kea controversy Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)

Summary:

This document describes a federal lawsuit that was filed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, (OHA), against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, (NASA), and the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy, (IFA). In the lawsuit, OHA asked the court to force NASA to produce a full Environmental Impact Statement, (EIS), regarding the impact that the construction of an Outrigger Telescope Project, (that would consist of four to six outrigger telescopes), would have on the cultural and natural resources on Mauna Kea. The lawsuit followed the publication of an environmental assessment that was published by NASA that indicated that this project would have "no significant impact" on Mauna Kea. However, since the native Hawaiian community felt that the project would have very damaging effects on their sacred cultural resource, and since they felt that the assessment was inadequate, the community filed legal action against NASA and the IFA in an effort to ensure that a full EIS would be done.

Label:

Mauna Kea - Commentary

Collection:

Periodicals