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Cameron Center Auditorium
95 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Maui |
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National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Solar Telescope Project
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is considering funding the construction of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) within the University of Hawaii, Institute of Astronomy (UH IfA) Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory site at the summit of Haleakalā. The ATST project has been proposed by the National Solar Observatory (NSO), which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA).
The only access road to the UH IfA site is through Haleakalā National Park (HALE). The park road which begins at the 6,800-foot elevation is a historic resource which is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. A Cultural Landscape Inventory report entitled “Haleakalā Highway, Haleakalā National Park” was prepared by the National Park Service (NPS) to identify, evaluate and document the contributing features of this historic cultural landscape. click here for document
The Federal Highways Administration has performed a condition investigation of the park road and prepared a report entitled “Haleakala Highway, Haleakala National Park: Pavement/Drainage Condition Investigation, Distress Identification and Recommendation.” click here for document
A Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the proposed ATST project has been prepared by the NSF in compliance with the Federal National Environmental Policy Act and State of Hawaii Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The SDEIS also serves to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the NPS issuing a Special Use Permit (SUP) to NSO/AURA to operate commercial vehicles on the HALE road during the construction and operation of the proposed ATST project, if approved. The SDEIS is available for public comment in public libraries and online at http://atst.nso.edu/. Comments on the SDEIS must be received or postmarked by June 22, 2009.
Comments on the SDEIS should be sent to:
Craig Foltz, ATST Program Manager
National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1045, Arlington, VA 22230
Email: e-mail us
with a copy sent to:
1) Charlie Fein, KC Environmental Inc.
P.O. Box 1208, Makawao, HI 96768
Email: charlie@kcenv.com
2) Mike Maberry, Associate Director
University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy
34 Ohia Ku Street, Pukalani, HI 96768
3) Dept. of Health, Office of Environmental Quality Control, REF: ATST
235 South Beretania Street, Room 702, Honolulu, HI 96813
Public comment hearings on the SDEIS will take place:
1) June 3, 2009, Wednesday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Cameron Center Auditorium
95 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Maui
2) June 4, 2009, Thursday from 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Hannibal Tavares (Pukalani) Community Center, downstairs room
91 Pukalani Street, Pukalani, Maui
The public is also invited to provide comments under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act about the proposed ATST project and issuance of an NPS SUP. Section 106 consultation meetings are being held to solicit public input on the area of potential effect, identification and evaluation of cultural, historic and archaeological resources, and measures to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate potential adverse impacts to these resources. Proposed mitigation measures to protect the historic park road and associated features include: no vehicles loads above legal limit loads and load rated capacity for the bridge; no vehicles driving on the edges of the road; pre and post project documentation of all historic features and other areas susceptible to damage; traffic planning and controls; and a monitor to ensure mitigation measures are being followed.
Please join us at one of the meetings:
1) June 8, 2009, Monday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Kula Community Center
E. Lower Kula Road, Kula, Maui
2) June 9, 2009, Tuesday from 10:00am to 1:00pm
Haiku Community Center
Hana Highway at Pilialoha Street, Haiku, Maui
3) June 10, 2009, Wednesday from 3:00pm to 6:00pm
Maui Community Center, Pilina Building – Multi-purpose room
310 W. Kaahumanu Avenue, Kahului, Maui
For questions or information about the upcoming Section 106 consultation meetings, contact: Elizabeth Gordon, Haleakala National Park Cultural Resources Program Manager at (808) 572-4424 or email: e-mail us. Information about the NSF’s Section 106 compliance on the proposed ATST project to-date is available online at http://atst.nso.edu/library/36CFR800 or by contacting: Caroline Blanco, National Science Foundation Federal Preservation Officer at (703) 292-4592 or email: cblanco@nsf.gov.
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