Determination of Required Mitigation and Decision, Outrigger Telescopes Project, Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

Author:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration,

Title:

Determination of Required Mitigation and Decision, Outrigger Telescopes Project, Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

Periodical:

Outrigger

Year:

2002

Pages:

14

Subject:

Outrigger Telescope Project W.M. Keck Observatory Environmental impact analysis Astronomical observatories environmental aspects Mauna Kea Puu Hau Oki

Summary:

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and NASA's policies and procedures, NASA prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) addressing the on-site construction, installation, and operation of a proposed Outrigger Telescopes Project. NASA proposed to fund the on-site construction, installation, and operation of six Outrigger Telescopes. However, due to funding constraints at the time, only four of the telescopes would initially be installed and operated, while the foundations for six of the telescopes would be constructed. Based on the assumption that all requisite permits and approvals would be obtained in a timely manner, on-site construction was planned to begin in 2002. If additional funds were obtained later, NASA would fund the on-site installation and operation of telescopes 5 and 6. It was anticipated that the Installation of these two telescopes would begin no later than 2007. The proposed location of the six Outrigger Telescopes was to be adjacent to the twin Keck Telescope on the W. M. Keck Observatory (WMKO) site, within the Astronomy Precinct of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, on the summit of Mauna Kea, island of Hawaii. NASA's EA for this telescopes project considered alternatives to the Proposed Action and the environmental impacts that could arise from on-site construction, installation, and operation of the proposed Outrigger Telescopes at the WMKO site. Such impacts included adverse effects on properties that met the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and impacts on the Wekiu bug, a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, NASA also participated in formal consultations to develop measures to mitigate adverse effects of the Outrigger Telescopes Project on Puu Hau Oki, one cone of a cluster of cinder cones deemed to meet the criteria for a historic property, and on the summit region of Mauna Kea deemed to meet the criteria for a historic district. These consultations resulted in the issuance of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) stipulating measures to mitigate adverse effects on historical and cultural resources. The EA and its appendices provided an extensive set of mitigation measures including, but not limited to, a Wekiu Bug Mitigation Plan and a Wekiu Bug Monitoring Plan. NASA has determined that, with the implementation of the mitigation measures presented in the EA (with appendices that included the MOA and other mitigation plans), the Outrigger Telescopes Project would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment; therefore preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescope Project was not required. The EQ was incorporated by reference in this decision document.

Collection:

EIS