FINAL EIS Thirty Meter Telescope Project UH @ Hilo Vol 1 (TPD1005031)

THIRTY METER TELESCOPE PROJECT

Maunakea and Hilo County of Hawai’i, State of Hawai’i

TMK 4-4-15:9 (por)

• · TMK 4-4-15:12 (por)

TMK 4-4-15:10 (por)

TMK 4-4-15:1 (por)

TMK 2-3-1:7 (por) or TMK 2-4-1:122 (por) FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Submitted pursuant to Hawai’i Revised Statutes Chapter 343 by the

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAl’I AT HILO

For additional information the following persons may be contacted: Ms. Helen Rogers

Executive Assistant Office of the Chancellor

University of Hawai i at Hilo 200 W. Kawili treet

Hilo Hawai i 96720 Telephone: 808-974-7444

University of Hawai i at Hilo

April 26 2010 Date

Final EIS: TMT Observatory

The Final EIS and all ancillary documents were prepared under the University of Hawai i at Hilo’s (University s) direction or supervision and the information submined, to the best of the University’s knowledge fully addresses the document content requirements as set

forth in Hawai’ i Administrative Rules section 11-200-17 and 11-200-18.

Rose Tseng,

University of Hawai i at Hilo

April  26 2010                       

Date

Final EIS:  TMT Observatory

Preface                                              

Standing 13,796 feet above sea level, Maunakea¹ – often translated into English as White Mountain for its snowy summit in the winter season – is the highest volcanic peak in the  Hawaiian Islands. The now dormant Maunakea, together with Mauna Loa – a volcanic peak just to the south – left a saddling plateau built up from the abundant lava flows.

Traditional knowledge handed down over the generations reveals that Maunakea is of profound importance in Hawaiian culture. Also, due to its unique setting, Maunakea is the world’s  foremost location for astronomical observation and research. The observations conducted by the existing observatories contribute extensively to the advancement of science worldwide and to America’s leadership in astronomy research.

“In Hawaiian culture, natural and cultural resources are one and the same.”²

The formation of

the Hawaiian Islands and the presence of life on and around them are described by Native Hawaiian traditions. These traditions explain that all forms of the natural environment, from the oceans to the mountain peaks and the valleys and plains in between, are believed to be embodiments of Hawaiian gods and deities. The significance of Maunakea, and in particular its summit, is revealed through the direct application of meaningful place names to its landscapes   and natural features. According to Native Hawaiian tradition, the “Kea” in Maunakea, is an abbreviation for Wākea, the great sky god, who, together with Papa-hānau-moku, the Earth mother, and various gods and natural forces, gave birth to the islands. Hawaiian tradition records that Hawai‘i, the largest island in its archipelago, is also the first born of these islands, and Maunakea is known as “ka piko o ka moku” meaning “the navel of the island.” Other natural features of the landscape, such as the cinder cones of the mountain, were named after ancient ancestors, many of whom were regarded as gods and goddesses. Some of the most prominent among these include Kūkahau‘ula, the husband of Līlīnoe; Poli‘ahu, goddess of the snows of Maunakea; Waiau, goddess of the lake; and Līlīnoe, the goddess of mists.

The cultural attachment to the environment and nature bears direct relationship to the beliefs, practices, cultural evolution, and identity of a people. Maunakea bears much significance because it is believed that the points of highest altitude are sacred and open the gateways to Heaven. Six main zones can be found on the slopes of Maunakea; Kuahiwi, the core summit area, is the highest and most sacred. Tradition tells us that access to the summit was limited to high chiefs and priests, where prayers could be offered in the utmost reverence to their gods, akua.

The sacred zone next to the Kuahiwi is known as Kualono and consists of the near-summit lands where few trees grow. As early as AD 1100, adze makers came in reverence to the Maunakea

¹ Maunakea is spelled as one word in this document because it is considered the traditional Hawaiian spelling (Ka Wai Ola, Vos. 25 No. 11). Maunakea is a proper noun, therefore spelled as one word in Hawaiian. This spelling is found in original Hawaiian language newspapers dating back to the late 1800s when the Hawaiian language was the medium of communication. In more recent years Maunakea has been spelled as two words, which literally mean “white mountain.” Spelled as two words it is a common noun that could refer to any white mountain verses the proper name of this particular mountain on Hawai’i Island. The common “Mauna Kea” spelling is only used in this document where Mauna Kea is used in a proper name, such as the “Mauna Kea Science Reserve.”

² Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan, June 2000.

adze quarry, Keanakāko‘i (most of which is located in the Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve) and this practice continued through the 1700s up until the time of Western contact. In this area of the mountain, large deposits of a very hard, fine grained volcanic rock, known as basalt, were found that were used to produce high-quality adzes, or tools, for woodworking, canoe-making, and construction of other structures like shelters.

As part of the ritual associated with quarrying, craftsmen erected shrines (as evidenced by unique upright stone structures) to their gods. The two uppermost sacred zones were also used for  burials, with one pu‘u, or cinder cone, having been confirmed to contain burials and four others considered likely to contain burials. Historical documents reveal that most shrines are located on the summit plateau (mostly on the north and northeast side of the mountain), not the core summit region or the tops of cinder cones, suggesting that the area was likely avoided because of its high degree of sacredness.

Other cultural practices on Maunakea include deposition of a baby’s piko, or umbilical cord. In an account by Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele, the symbolism of this practice was described as:

…the part of the child that connected the child back to the past. Connected the child back to the mama. And the mama’s piko is connected back to her mama and so on. So it takes it back, not only to the wā kahiko [ancient times], but all the way back to Kumu Lipo…So it’s not only the piko, but it is the extension of

the whole family that is taken and put up in a particular place, that again connects to the whole family line. And it not only gives mana or life to that piko and that child, but life again to the whole family.³

For some families, the practice of piko deposition on Maunakea is a long-standing traditional cultural practice, requiring proper means for depositing and maintaining cleanliness and purity.

Following the summit  and near summit lands are four zones in descending order:  wao ma‘u  kele, a wet area of large koa; wao akua, an area of more varied forest – also referred to as the region of the gods for its remote desolate location where benevolent or malevolent spirits lived and people did not; wao kanaka, the lowest forested area most used as a cultural resource; and kula, the upland grassy plains. Hawaiians used the lower zones for everyday purposes, however, wao ma‘u kele and wao akua are currently a part of the Conservation District.

The year 1778 marked the first European contact with the islands upon the arrival of Captain James Cook. Since this contact, Maunakea’s environment and cultural practices have significantly changed. For example, adze quarrying phased out shortly after Western contact when iron tools were introduced to the Hawaiians and replaced those made from basalt. New species of animals such as cattle and sheep were also introduced to the island, and upon the arrival of the Christian missionaries, the kapu system was abolished and certain traditional cultural practices were discouraged.  The early 1900s brought additional changes in the  landscape with the importation of trees and early road construction by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and U.S. Army around World War II. Improvement of the roads enhanced access  to the mountain, especially with Saddle Road connecting Hilo and Waimea.

It wasn’t until the early 1960s that interest grew in using the summit for Western astronomical observations. Prior to the introduction of astronomical observatories, Native Hawaiians used the

³ Kumu Pono, 1999:A-376.

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stars, (in addition to knowledge of the wind, waves, currents, weather, fish, and birds) to    navigate the open oceans through a skillful art known as wayfinding. Advancing this history and practice, the U.S. Air Force developed the first optical observatory on the mountain in 1964.

Today, there are 11 observatories in the summit region; the VLBA radio antenna is located at an elevation of roughly 12,200 feet. The observatories provide valuable teaching and research resources to the University of Hawai‘i, and employ more than 600 County of Hawai‘i residents.

Maunakea’s unique setting and beauty also make it a popular recreation and tourism destination. Approximately 270 240 visitors per day ascend the mountain for sightseeing, hiking, and  amateur astronomy. Many come to the mountain with guided commercial tours while some visit in personal vehicles. During the periods when the summit is covered with snow, visitors are drawn to Maunakea to sled, ski, snowboard, and enjoy the unique conditions.

The increased access to the mountain brought forward an awareness of the need to evaluate the effects, and a number of environmental studies, including archaeological, cultural, and natural resource surveys, have been conducted. Those studies have recorded a number of findings, including the discovery of the wēkiu bug, and have led to listing three areas of cultural  importance as Traditional Cultural Properties Historic Properties by the State Historic Preservation Division. Also, 222 263 historic properties, including 147 141 ancient shrines, have been identified within the Mauna Kea Science Reserve.

The recent development of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), including its for sub plans, is an important step in UH’s continuing and ongoing efforts to protect and conserve Maunakea’s cultural and natural resources. The CMP provides a framework for managing current and potential future uses and activities within UH’s Management Areas on Maunakea.

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Executive Summary                          

This Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) has been prepared to provide the University of Hawai‘i (UH), State decision makers, the public, and interested parties with information regarding the potential impacts of locating the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)  Project in Hawai‘i. The Final EIS has been prepared by the Proposing Agency, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (UH Hilo). The Final EIS discusses the natural environment, economic environment, social and community environment, and cultural and historical environment. The Final EIS presents the existing environmental conditions, analyzes the potential effects of the Project, and identifies proposed measures to minimize potential adverse impacts. Reasonable alternatives to the Project are also discussed.

The State of Hawai‘i Governor is the Accepting Authority of this Final EIS.

The Action and Project

The proposed action is the issuance by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) of a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) and approval of a sublease to State land allowing construction and operation of select  Project  components within the State of Hawai‘i Conservation District, resource subzone. The Project consists of the construction, operation, and ultimate decommissioning of the TMT Observatory and ancillary facilities.  The TMT Observatory will be sited on the northern plateau of Maunakea at a location known as the 13N   site within “Area E.”  Area E is part of the 525-acre Astronomy Precinct and was identified in    the 2000 Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan as the preferred location for the future development of a Next Generation Large Telescope (NGLT). This area was also identified for future observatory development in the 1983 Mauna Kea Science Reserve Complex Development Plan. This location is considered preferred for a NGLT by UH because it provides suitable observation conditions with minimum impact on existing facilities, Wēkiu bug habitat, archaeology/historic sites, and viewplanes. The 13N site is at an elevation of roughly 13,150 feet and 1/2-mile northwest of the eight existing optical/infrared observatories located near the summit.

The TMT Observatory will consist of the telescope, adaptive optics (AO) system, and  instruments all contained in a dome; support building; and parking area. These facilities will all  be clustered within an approximately 5-acre site. The primary component of the telescope is the 98-foot (30-meter) segmented primary mirror, with 492 individual mirror segments that will function as a single mirror.  The focal ratio (f/) of the telescope will be f/1.0, which translates to   a shorter telescope and allows for a smaller dome size relative to a telescope with a larger focal ratio. The dome housing the telescope will be a Calotte-type enclosure with a total height of 180 feet, will appear rounded and smooth, and will have an aluminum-like exterior coating. The support building will be attached to the dome and have an area of roughly 35 18,000 square feet. A small visitor viewing platform and visitor restrooms are included in the design.

The Access Way, a permanent Project facility, will include a 0.6-mile road and utility improvements from existing facilities to the TMT Observatory. The Access Way will extend

from a point across the road from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Submillimeter Array (SMA) building to the TMT Observatory. The Access Way will follow existing roads to the extent possible. Three Access Way Options through or around the core of the SMA facility were considered in the Draft EIS: (1) through the SMA core, (2) near the SMA core, and (3) following the existing 4-wheel drive road around the SMA core. Option 1 is no longer being considered due to conflicts with SMA operations. Access Way Options 2 and 3 remain under consideration but both Options have been refined since the Draft EIS was completed. Option 2 has been refined to address the operational needs of the SMA; the TMT Access Way remains on the same alignment but this Option now includes a provision for SMA’s internal circulation by providing a new SMA road (there are three approaches that would allow for SMA antenna

movements). Option 3 has been modified to reduce its potential impact; the TMT Access Way remains on the same alignment but now includes only a single lane road (instead of a two lane road) on the cinder cone so that a retaining wall is no longer required.

The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility would be located near and within Hale Pōhaku. Within Hale Pōhaku, the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility would consist of personnel facilities to initially support TMT Observatory construction, and those facilities would ultimately be turned over to UH for general use under the management of Mauna Kea Observatories Support Services (MKSS). Near Hale Pōhaku, the TMT Mid-Level Facility improvements will consist of adding a transformer upgrading two transformers within the Hawaiian Electric Light Company (HELCO) enclosure across Mauna Kea Access Road from Hale Pōhaku.  Electric conducting cables from  the HELCO enclosure to the summit region will also be upgraded.

The Project action also includes the TMT Headquarters on State-owned land within the UH Hilo campus. The Headquarters would be a roughly 20,000 to 35,000 square-foot office building located within the UH Hilo University Park development where most other observatories have

their headquarters. The TMT Observatory and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility will be managed from the Headquarters in Hilo.

The temporary facilities associated with the Project include a construction staging area near the summit (known as the “Batch Plant Staging Area”), a construction staging area at the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility, and a construction staging area near the port where Project components will be received.

The Project also consists of the eventual decommissioning of the TMT Observatory and restoration of the 13N site per the CMP and the Decommissioning Plan, a sub plan of the CMP. Decommissioning funds will be set aside annually, and decommissioning/restoration will meet the requirements identified at the time of undertaking decommissioning activities.

Project Purpose, Need, and Objectives

The Project’s overall purpose is to provide a 30-meter ground-based telescope, which was identified in the 2001 National Academy of the Sciences Decadal Survey for Astronomy as the most critical need for ground-based astronomy. Such a telescope would be a critical part of future astronomy facilities planned for 2015 and beyond.

The Project’s primary objectives are to:

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1. Locate the TMT in Hawai‘i to help the U.S. maintain its 150-year-long leadership position in astronomy research, discovery, and innovation by leveraging the capacity and abilities of the TMT partners’ existing astronomy facilities in Hawai‘i, including the Keck, Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope (CFHT), and Subaru observatories.

Leveraging, or pulling together, these facilities on Maunakea would provide opportunities to coordinate and create synergies in scientific programs and instrumentation that would otherwise not be possible.

1. From a scientific viewpoint, the Project’s objective is to provide astronomers with a powerful and precise tool capable of exploring almost every aspect of the Universe, as identified in the Decadal Survey. The Project could advance the pursuit to answer fundamental questions about the nature and workings of the universe. The TMT Observatory could enable discoveries about the nature and origins of the physical world, from the first formation of galaxies in the distant past and distant regions of the Universe to the formation of planets and planetary systems today in our Milky Way Galaxy.
2. Utilize the TMT Project as an important educational tool to attract students to the science and technology fields, and to UH and the TMT partner institutions. Astronomy is well known as a “gateway” science. Many students get their introduction to the scientific method and tools of science in astronomy classes and then continue into technical and science careers.
3. Integrate science, culture, sustainability, and education. The Project would help develop science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) proficiencies among members of the local communities in collaboration with the local public, charter, and private K-12 schools, UH Hilo, and Hawai‘i Community College (HawCC). The TMT partner institutions are also committed to proper environmental stewardship and the concept of sustainability planning for operations of the observatory.

Existing Conditions at Project Locations

The Project is comprised of five four distinct components: the TMT Observatory, the Access Way, the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility, and the Headquarters, and the Satellite Office.

Mauna Kea Science Reserve – TMT Observatory and Access Way

The 11,288-acre Mauna Kea Science Reserve (MKSR) has been identified as having sensitive cultural and natural resources.

Native Hawaiian traditions describe the Island of Hawai‘i as the first-born island child of Wākea (referred to as the Sky Father) and Papa (referred to as the Earth Mother). The union of Wākea and Papa also gave rise to the other Hawaiian Islands and Hāloa, the first  man and ancestor of  the Native Hawaiian people.   Maunakea is understood to be symbolic of the piko (umbilical  cord) of the island-child Hawai‘i that connects the land to the heavens; Maunakea, is known as “ka piko o ka moku” meaning “the navel of the island.” Within the MKSR there are 222 263 historic properties, most of them shrines, but also burials. The majority of the MKSR and these historic properties are located within the Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District. Two  cinder cones within the MKSR and one within the neighboring Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (NAR) have been designated State Historic Properties and are commonly referred to as

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traditional cultural properties – Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u Līlīnoe, and Waiau – and are within the Historic District. Due to the spiritual and sacred attributes of Maunakea in Native Hawaiian traditions, traditional and customary cultural practices are performed in the summit region, including:

• Performance of prayer and ritual observances important for the reinforcement of an individual’s Hawaiian spirituality.
• Collection of water from Lake Waiau for a variety of healing and other ritual uses.
• Deposition of piko (umbilical cords) at Lake Waiau and the summit peaks of Maunakea.
  • Use of the summit region as a repository for human remains by means of releasing ashes from cremations.
  • Practices associated with the belief in that the upper mountain region of Maunakea, from the Saddle area up to the summit, is a sacred landscape, personifying the spiritual and physical connection between one’s ancestors, history, and the heavens.
  • Practices associated with the unspecified traditional navigation practices and customs.

There are two ecosystems within the MKSR, the Alpine Stone Desert above 12,800 feet and the Alpine Shrublands and Grasslands from roughly 9,500 feet (the tree line) to 12,800 feet. The Alpine Stone Desert ecosystem supports lichens, mosses, and vascular plants, including ferns.   The only resident faunal species in the Alpine Stone Desert ecosystem are arthropods, including  at least 10 confirmed indigenous Hawaiian species, among them wēkiu bugs (Nysius wekiuicola). Wēkiu bugs are generally concentrated on the cinder cones in the summit area down to roughly 11,700 feet, but also  utilize other habitats.  There are no  currently-listed threatened or  endangered species known to occur in the Astronomy Precinct. The Mauna Kea silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense), an endangered species, is known to occur at lower elevations within the MKSR.  The wēkiu bug is currently a candidate for listing and the Douglas’  bladderfern (Cystopteris douglasii) plant is currently considered a species of concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The MKSR is designated as part of a State of Hawai‘i Conservation District resource subzone. The climate, elevation, remoteness, and other qualities make Maunakea one of the premier locations for astronomy on Earth. In 1968, the State created the MKSR in recognition of Maunakea’s scientific potential and leased the area to UH. Since that time, there have been a number of management plans and master plans for the management of activities on the mountain and development of observatories to advance Maunakea’s scientific potential. The current plans are:

• Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan for UH Management Areas (CMP), January 2009 (UH, 2009a), including its four sub plans.
• Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan (2000 Master Plan), June, 16, 2000 (UH, 2000).

As the CMP, which was approved by the BLNR in 2009, states “For the Hawaiian people Mauna Kea is their cultural connection or piko (umbilical cord) to Papa and Wākea, it is the beginning  and the end. For the astronomical community Mauna Kea is the scientific umbilical cord to the mysteries of the universe.” The CMP also explains that its goal is for “these two cultures [to] coexist in such a way that is mutually respectful and yet honors the unique cultural and natural

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resources of Mauna Kea.” The 2000 Master Plan, which was accepted by the UH Board of Regents (BOR) in 2000, “provides the policy framework for the responsible stewardship and use of University-managed lands on Mauna Kea through the year 2020.” It provides for “a new paradigm for the University’s leased lands as a natural and Hawaiian cultural reserve in addition to being a Science Reserve.” The 2000 Master Plan delineated two areas within the MKSR, a 525-acre Astronomy Precinct and a 10,763-acre Cultural/Natural Preservation Area. Currently, there are 11 observatories⁴ and one separate telescope⁵ within the MKSR – eight optical/infrared observatories, three millimeter/submillimeter observatories, and one radio wavelength antenna telescope – only the radio antenna is outside of the Astronomy Precinct.

The TMT Observatory and Access Way locations are within the MKSR and Astronomy Precinct on the northern plateau of Maunakea.

Hale Pōhaku – Potential Mid-Level Facility

Similar to the MKSR, 19.3-acre Hale Pōhaku is designated as part of a State of Hawai‘i Conservation District resource subzone, and leased by UH. MKSS operates facilities at Hale Pōhaku, which provide food and lodging for scientists and staff working at the observatories, operates the Visitor Information Station (VIS), and stores equipment needed for road  maintenance, snow removal, and water delivery.  The lower portion of Hale Pōhaku has been  used for the staging of construction activities near the summit, and Keck and Subaru construction dorms and cabins are located within this area and tour groups use the parking area for evening  star gazing.

At an elevation of 9,200 feet, Hale Pōhaku is considered by some to be within the spiritual and sacred realm of Maunakea. Hale Pōhaku is just below the tree line in the māmane subalpine woodlands ecosystem. This ecosystem is home to some threatened and endangered species; the area is designated critical habitat for the palila bird. Few of these species have been observed within Hale Pōhaku; no palila were observed near Hale Pōhaku during a survey in 2007. The endangered Mauna Kea silversword and other native species have been outplanted within the exclosure just outside of Hale Pōhaku behind the VIS.

Headquarters

The Headquarters will be located in Hilo on the UH Hilo campus, within the University Park of Science and Technology development where most existing observatories have their headquarters. Hilo is an urban area and land use plans and policies allow for the continued growth of the area. There are no known cultural, historic, or natural resources of significance in the areas being considered for the Headquarters.

⁴ An observatory includes the telescope(s), the dome(s) that contain the telescope(s), and the instrumentation and support facilities for the telescopes that fall under a common ownership.

⁵ A telescope is defined as a movable structure and optics and/or reflectors used to select a viewing position on the sky, capture the radiation (visible light, infrared, or radio) from astronomical objects and focus that radiation into a focal plane.

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Potential Environmental Impacts

Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 11 Chapter 200, EIS Rules, direct the focus of the environmental analysis, whereby “special emphasis shall be placed on environmental resources that are rare or unique to the region and the project site (including natural or human-made resources of historic, archaeological, or aesthetic significance).” Pursuant to this guidance, this Final EIS places the emphasis of the environmental analysis on the TMT Observatory and   Access Way below the summit of Maunakea because of the summit region’s rare and unique qualities and resources. The areas that could be affected by the potential Mid-Level Facility, and will be affected by the Headquarters, are also discussed, but to a lesser degree unless a potential significant impact is identified.

The potential Project impacts are evaluated within the framework of compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for the project type and location. Within the MKSR and Hale Pōhaku, this includes the CMP and its sub plans. To ensure compliance, the Project will (a) design its facilities to comply and/or facilitate compliance, (b) obtain all necessary permits, and (c) develop and implement a range of plans and programs as outlined in this Final EIS. These plans and programs will include policies and procedures to be employed during long-term operation as well as construction of the Project.

The design features, plans, and programs will include, but are not limited to:

• Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program
• Invasive Species Prevention and Control Program
• Waste Minimization Plan
  • Materials Storage/Waste Management Plan and component Spill Prevention and Response Plan
  • Designing the TMT Observatory to limit its visual and other potential impact.
  • Installing a zero-discharge wastewater system at the TMT Observatory.

Permits required of the Project will include, but are not limited to: Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP); National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES), with associated best management practices (BMP) plan;  Community Noise Permit and Noise Variance, and Oversize and Overweight Vehicles Permit (OOVP). The Project will comply with all permit conditions.

Investigations conducted during the preparation of this Final EIS have confirmed initial beliefs based on work done for MKSR Master Plans: siting the TMT Observatory within Area E will result in minimal impact on existing facilities, wēkiu bug habitat, archaeology sites, and viewplanes. The TMT Observatory and Access Way, with slight variations depending on which Access Way Option is selected, will disturb roughly 9 8.7 acres, of which roughly 2.5 acres have previously been disturbed by roads and other activity.  There are no historic properties in the  area.  The TMT Observatory and Access Way are within the Mauna Kea Summit Region  Historic District. The Access Way, with slight variations depending on which Access Way Option is selected, will disturb a roughly 0.6-acre portion of Kūkahau‘ula, of which a roughly 0.4-acre portion has previously been disturbed by roads. Therefore, the Access Way will result

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in a new disturbance of roughly 0.2 acre, or about four-one-hundredths of one percent, of the 480-acre Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property.

In addition, the “find spots” in the area will be displaced but have been examined and determined to not be historic properties; one initially appeared similar to a historic shrine but is believed to have been constructed in the last 10 years, and the other appeared to be temporary habitations but was determined to likely be a natural geologic feature.  Natural resources, such as habitat,  species, and geology, in the Project area are not unique or critical to the survival of any species   in that area.

The operation of the Project, in accordance with the CMP and other applicable rules, regulations, and requirements, will not result in a significant adverse impact. Cumulative impacts are  discussed separately below.

During the construction and decommissioning of the Project there will be temporary adverse impacts due to noise, traffic, dust, visual intrusion, and the increase in human presence on the mountain; possible adverse impacts during construction and decommissioning also include potential disturbance beyond the Project limits. As with other activities, there is a potential for accidents, including fire and the accidental release of hazardous materials or solid waste,  including trash and construction materials. Through compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for the project type and location, these potential temporary impacts associated with construction and decommissioning will be less than significant.

Potential Project impacts are summarized in Table ES-1.

Potential Beneficial Effects

The studies and analyses conducted for this Final EIS provide additional documentation of Area E’s current conditions. The archaeological, historical, biological, and geological characteristics  of the area, along with its cultural significance, have been carefully studied and findings of these studies can now be used to expand upon the baseline data of Maunakea, and future decision making.

Other potential benefits are primarily related to the employment opportunities created by the Project and to realizing the Project objectives. Project employment will generate direct and indirect socioeconomic benefits to the Island of Hawai‘i and the State. Construction jobs will be created during the anticipated 8-year construction period, and additional jobs will be created

through materials, goods, and services that will be purchased and contracted locally for this  work. It is estimated that during its operations, the Project will employ up to 140 full-time employees, and would create additional employment because the Project will contract with local companies for work and services, including precision machine shop work, among others. The employees of the Project will purchase local goods and services, as well as pay local and state

taxes, which will provide additional benefits to the community. Also, during any decommissioning and site restoration, construction-related jobs will again be created. The Project will also pay local and state taxes and fees, as well as pay for utilities and other services for the TMT facilities, benefiting the community and the State.

The sublease between UH and the TMT Observatory Corporation will also provide benefits in the form of sublease rent and telescope viewing time for UH. The sublease rent will be used to

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assist in the management of Maunakea lands within the UH Management Area and the viewing time will assist UH in advancing its top caliber astronomy program.

The Project would partner with UH Hilo, HawCC, the Department of Education (DOE), and  local union training centers to help develop, implement, and sustain a comprehensive, proactive, results-oriented Workforce Pipeline Program that would lead to a highly qualified pool of local workers who could be considered for hiring into all Project job classes and salary levels. This effort would support one of the Project objectives and include activities to develop STEM proficiencies among members of the local communities.

In addition, a higher education benefit package to provide funding for selected educational initiatives of UH Hilo and HawCC on the Island of Hawai‘i, as well as a community benefit package to provide funding for locally-chosen and managed educational programs, would be negotiated between UH and TMT.  These packages would provide additional benefits to the  Island of Hawai‘i. They would be negotiated and would become part of a lease or sublease, if TMT decides to come to Hawai‘i. Provided an agreement is reached, details of the packages will be described in the Final EIS.

The siting of the Project at Maunakea will also contribute to furthering Hawai‘i’s goal of diversifying its economy, focusing on more sustainable market areas such as science and

technology, and lessening its dependence on the volatile tourism market.  The Project could add  a point of focus to the Island of Hawai‘i’s efforts to encourage educational excellence that could form the basis for technology-based, innovation driven job-producing activities around complementary activities in energy, agriculture, and information technologies and scientific research and support. The skills and expertise developed for a large modern observatory like TMT will be readily applicable to many areas of technology-based industries.

Cumulative Environmental Impacts

From a cumulative perspective, the impact of past and present actions on cultural, archaeological, and historic resources is substantial, significant, and adverse; these impacts would continue to be substantial, significant, and adverse with the consideration of the Project and other reasonably foreseeable future actions.

The cumulative impact of past and present actions to geologic resources in the astronomy   precinct has been substantial, significant, and adverse, primarily due to the reshaping of the summit cinder cones.  The cumulative impact to the alpine shrublands and grasslands and  māmane subalpine woodlands has also been substantial, significant, and adverse, primarily due    to grazing by hoofed animals and establishment of invasive plants.  These impacts would  continue to be substantial, significant, and adverse with the consideration of the Project and other reasonably foreseeable future actions.

The magnitude or significance of cumulative impact to the alpine stone desert ecosystem from activities to date is not yet fully determined.

The cumulative impact of past and present actions to other resources, such as water resources, the sonic environment, and traffic, has been less than significant.

Page S-8       Final EIS: TMT Observatory                                                                                          Executive Summary

The cumulative socioeconomic impact has been substantial and beneficial; the substantial and beneficial impact would continue should the Project and other reasonably foreseeable future actions occur.

In general, the Project will add a limited increment to the current level of cumulative impact. Therefore, those resources that have been substantially, significantly, and adversely impacted by past and present actions would continue to have a substantial, significant, and adverse impact with the addition of the Project. For those resources that have been impacted to a less than significant degree by past and present actions, the Project would not tip the balance from a less

than significant level to a significant level and the less than significant level of cumulative impact would continue.

Mitigation Measures

To ensure compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and requirements, the Project will (a) design its facilities to comply and/or facilitate compliance, and (b) develop and implement a range of plans and programs outlined in this Final EIS, including, but not limited to, those listed above. In addition, the Project will implement a number of mitigation measures that go beyond compliance with existing rules, regulations, and requirements. Mitigation measures include, but are not limited to the following:

• A Community Benefits Package (CBP), which will commence upon the start of Project construction and continue for the term of the sublease so long as the CDUP is not invalidated or construction stayed by court order. As part of the CBP, the TMT Observatory Corporation will provide $1 million annually during such period; the dollar amount will be adjusted annually using an appropriate inflation index (the baseline from when inflation index will be applied will be the date of start of construction). The CBP will be administered via The Hawai‘i Island New Knowledge (THINK) Fund Board of Advisors.
• The TMT outreach office, in coordination with OMKM and ‘Imiloa, will support the development of exhibits regarding cultural, natural, and historic resources that could be used at the VIS, ‘Imiloa, TMT facilities, and/or other appropriate locations. Exhibits will include  informational materials that  explore the connection between Hawaiian culture and astronomy.
• ·

• TMT will implement a Ride-Sharing Program. This program will reduce the number of vehicle trips a day to the summit, including pickup and deliveries. This will reduce the presence of vehicles on the mountain, in turn reducing the amount of dust and noise generated by vehicles.
• provide informational signs to manage public access

Executive Summary                                                                                         Final EIS: TMT Observatory       Page S-9

• TMT will furnish Project facilities with items to provide a sense of place and remind personnel of Maunakea’s cultural sensitivity and spiritual qua lity.
• help fund the palila recovery effort
• use approved soil-binding stabilizers to control dust.
  • TMT will pave the portion of the Access Way near or around the SMA core to control dust.

Compatibility with Land Use Plans and Policies

The Project will comply with all applicable land use plans and policies, including: Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 205, State Land Use Law, which includes rules related to Conservation District resource subzone areas; HRS Chapter 344, State Environmental Policy; the Hawai‘i State Plan; the 2000 Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan</span>; the 2009 Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), and County of Hawai‘i General Plan.

The building and operation of the TMT Observatory on Maunakea will require a sublease from UH, which leases this ceded land from the DLNR. TMT must negotiate a sublease agreement  with UH, and the sublease will be subject to approval first by the UH BOR and the TMT Board followed by approval by the BLNR. The sublease will likely include benefits for the Island of Hawai‘i monetary rent payments that will be used to assist in the management of Maunakea   lands within the UH Management Area, observing time for UH, and payment of TMT’s share of common costs. The current UH lease expires in 2033 and the TMT Observatory will be required to be decommissioned and restore the site at that time, unless a new lease is obtained from the BLNR.

Unresolved Issues

Unresolved issues include:

• Selection of the Access Way Option near or around the SMA core. Two Access Way Options are still being considered, and one of these options will be selected prior to the Final EIS one of these options will be selected based on continued coordination with UH, DLNR, and other stakeholders.
• Selection of the Headquarters location. A specific location within the UH Hilo University Park development will be selected prior to the Final EIS through future negotiations with UH. Those negotiations will occur when the time to break ground on the Headquarters nears; at that time TMT and UH will work together to determine the best location for the Headquarters within University Park that accommodates TMT requirements and other planned or foreseeable facilities.
• UH has not yet negotiated a sublease agreement with the TMT Observatory Corporation; a sublease will be negotiated after the Project obtains a CDUP.
• The level of decommissioning and site restoration cannot be selected until OMKM, Kahu Kū Mauna, and other stakeholders evaluate conditions and needs and a cost/benefit analysis is performed as the decommissioning approaches. This Final EIS evaluates the potential impacts associated with all three levels of site restoration.

Page S-10      Final EIS: TMT Observatory                                                                                          Executive Summary

Alternatives to the Project

Two alternatives were considered in Hawai‘i. The first, which could have attained the objectives of the action, was locating the TMT Observatory at another nearby site on Maunakea referred to as E2.  The second was a no action alternative:  not locating the TMT observatory at Maunakea  or in Hawai‘i. Either of these alternatives could have been reviewed and selected in this environmental review process consistent with Hawai‘i law and regulation.

The No Action alternative would have resulted in no construction, installation, or operation of the TMT Observatory and its ancillary facilities. Therefore, none of the potential impacts or potential benefits associated with the Project would occur. However, since Area E is identified for NGLT development in the 2000 Master Plan, it is possible that another observatory could be developed in Area E pursuant to the 2000 Master Plan in the future absent the Project.

The Maunakea E2 site is approximately 500 feet south-southeast of, and 50 feet higher than, the Project, 13N site. The only previous disturbance to the E2 site is a 600-foot segment of the existing 4-wheel drive road. There are only a few differences in environmental impacts between the E2 site and the Project, 13N site, and none of those differences are significant.

Executive Summary                                                                                         Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page S-11

Table ES-1: Summary of Potential Environmental Impacts and Key Mitigation Measures

Table of Contents                             

Section                                                                                                                                     Page

Volume 1

1.0          INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………… 1-1

1.1       Purpose of this Final EIS………………………………………………………………………………….. 1-1

1.2       Legal Requirements…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1-1

1.3       Project Action………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1-1

1.4       Scope of the Project…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1-2

1.5       Scope of Chapter 343 Environmental Analysis…………………………………………………….. 1-2

1.6       Summary of EIS Scoping Activities……………………………………………………………………. 1-3

1.6.1      Summary of Public Involvement…………………………………………………………………… 1-3

1.6.2      Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Consulted………………………………………… 1-4

1.6.3      Issues Raised During the Scoping Process……………………………………………………… 1-4

1.7       Draft EIS Public Review and Comment………………………………………………………………. 1-5

1.8       Final EIS and Responses to Comments……………………………………………………………….. 1-6

2.0          PROJECT DESCRIPTION………………………………………………………………………………. 2-1

2.1       Project Background…………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-1

2.2       Purpose and Need……………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-1

2.3       Project Objectives……………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-4

2.4       Project Components…………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-5

2.5       Project Location and Design……………………………………………………………………………… 2-5

2.5.1      TMT Observatory………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-5

2.5.2      Access Way…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-18

2.5.3      Potential TMT Mid-Level Facility………………………………………………………………. 2-23

2.5.4      Headquarters……………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-27

2.5.5      Satellite Office – No Longer Considered……………………………………………………… 2-27

2.6       Construction Areas………………………………………………………………………………………… 2-28

2.7       Project Phases and Activities…………………………………………………………………………… 2-29

2.7.1      Planning and Design…………………………………………………………………………………. 2-30

2.7.2      Construction and Testing…………………………………………………………………………… 2-30

2.7.3      Operation………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2-31

2.7.4      Decommissioning…………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-31

2.8       References……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-34

3.0          ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACT, AND MITIGATION……………………….. 3-1

3.1       Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-1

3.1.1      Environmental Setting…………………………………………………………………………………. 3-3

3.1.2      Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact………………………………………………. 3-3

3.1.3      Potential Project Impacts…………………………………………………………………………….. 3-4

3.1.4      Mitigation Measures…………………………………………………………………………………… 3-6

3.1.5      Level of Impact after Mitigation…………………………………………………………………… 3-7

3.2       Cultural Resources Practices and Beliefs…………………………………………………………….. 3-8

3.2.1      Environmental Setting…………………………………………………………………………………. 3-8

3.2.2      Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact…………………………………………….. 3-22

3.2.3      Potential Environmental Impacts………………………………………………………………… 3-23

3.2.4      Mitigation Measures…………………………………………………………………………………. 3-34

3.2.5      Level of Impact after Mitigation…………………………………………………………………. 3-36

3.2.6      References………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-37

3.3       Archaeologic/Historic Resources…………………………………………………………………….. 3-40

3.4       Biologic Resources……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-59

3.5       Visual and Aesthetic Resources……………………………………………………………………….. 3-80

3.6       Geology, Soils, and Slope Stability…………………………………………………………………. 3-105

3.7       Water Resources and Wastewater…………………………………………………………………… 3-115

3.8       Solid and Hazardous Waste and Material Management……………………………………… 3-124

3.9       Socioeconomic Conditions and Public Services and Facilities…………………………….. 3-132

3.10   Land Use Plans, Policies, and Controls……………………………………………………………. 3-141

3.11   Roadways and Traffic………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-164

3.12   Power and Communications………………………………………………………………………….. 3-169

3.13 Noise…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-173

3.14   Climate, Meteorology, Air Quality, and Lighting………………………………………………. 3-182

3.15   Construction and Decommissioning……………………………………………………………….. 3-188

3.16   Interrelationships and Cumulative Environmental Impacts…………………………………. 3-207

3.16.1  Past Activities………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-207

3.16.2  Level of Existing Cumulative Impact…………………………………………………………. 3-212

3.16.3  Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions……………………………………………………… 3-224

3.16.4  Level of Future Cumulative Impact with the Project and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-225

3.16.5  End of Lease………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-238

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3.16.6  Cumulative Impact Conclusions………………………………………………………………… 3-243

3.16.7  References…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-243

3.17   Relationship of Short-Term Uses and Long-Term Productivity……………………………. 3-254

3.18   Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources…………………………………… 3-255

3.19   Required Approvals and Permits……………………………………………………………………. 3-256

3.20   Unavoidable Adverse Impacts……………………………………………………………………….. 3-258

3.21   Unresolved Issues………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-260

4.0          ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROJECT…………………………………………………………….. 4-1

4.1       Project Background and History………………………………………………………………………… 4-1

4.1.1      Location Evaluation……………………………………………………………………………………. 4-1

4.1.2      Selection of Maunakea for Further Consideration……………………………………………. 4-5

4.2       Alternatives to the Project…………………………………………………………………………………. 4-5

4.2.1      No Action Alternative…………………………………………………………………………………. 4-5

4.2.2      Maunakea Alternative E2 Site………………………………………………………………………. 4-7

5.0     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO SCOPING COMMENTS….. 5-1

6.0     LIST OF PREPARERS……………………………………………………………………………………. 6-1

7.0     REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7-1

Volume 2

8.0     RESPONSES TO COMMENTS……………………………………………………………………….. 8-1

Table of Contents                                                                                             Final EIS: TMT Observatory        Page iii

Volume 3

APPENDIX A.      MAILING LIST………………………………………………………………………….. A-1

APPENDIX B.         SUMMARY OF SCOPING COMMENTS ……………………………………. B-1

APPENDIX C. DRAFT EIS COMMENT FORM………………………………………………….C-1 APPENDIX D. CULTURAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT ………………………….D-1 APPENDIX E.        CULTURAL IMPACT STATEMENT (2000 MASTER PLAN) ……… E-1

APPENDIX F.    MAUNA KEA-KA PIKO KAULANA O KA ‘ĀINA (MAUNA KEA— THE  FAMOUS  SUMMIT  OF THE  LAND) …………………………………………………… F-1

APPENDIX G.       ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVENTORY SURVEY, MAUNAKEA SUMMIT    AREA ………………………………………………………………………………………….  G-1

APPENDIX H. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT, HALE PŌHAKU H-1 APPENDIX I. ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVENTORY SURVEY OF THE ASTRONOMY

PRECINCT IN  THE MAUNA  KEA SCIENCE RESERVE ……………………………… I-1

APPENDIX J.       MAUNA KEA  HISTORIC  PRESERVATION PLAN…………………….. J-1

APPENDIX K. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT ………………… K-1 APPENDIX L. GEOLOGICAL TECHNICAL REPORT ……………………………………… L-1 APPENDIX M.       VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TECHNICAL REPORT …………. M-1

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Figure 2-1:  Project Location……………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-6

Figure 2-2:  Maunakea Overview…………………………………………………………………………………. 2-7

Figure 2-3:  Maunakea Summit Region……………………………………………………………………….. 2-10

Figure 2-4:  TMT Observatory and Access Way…………………………………………………………… 2-12

Figure 2-5:  Thirty Meter Telescope Overview……………………………………………………………… 2-14

Figure 2-6:  TMT Observatory Cross Section……………………………………………………………….. 2-16

Figure 2-7:  TMT Observatory Plan View and Grading Plan…………………………………………… 2-17

Figure 2-8:  Access Way Option 2 Design Approaches………………………………………………….. 2-21

Figure 2-9:  Existing and Potential Hale Pōhaku Facilities……………………………………………… 2-24

Figure 2-10:  Route of Electrical Conduit…………………………………………………………………….. 2-26

Figure 2-11:  Possible Headquarters Location in Hilo…………………………………………………….. 2-28

Figure 3-1:  Cultural Resources in the Maunakea Summit Region……………………………………. 3-12

Figure 3-2:  Access Way Disturbances to Kūkahau‘ula………………………………………………….. 3-30

Figure 3-3:  Historic Sites near Area E, the Access Way, and Batch Plant  Staging Area……… 3-43

Figure 3-4:  Overview of Maunakea Ecosystems………………………………………………………….. 3-60

Figure 3-5:  Arthropod Sampling in Vicinity of Area E and the  Access Way…………………….. 3-64

Figure 3-6:   Viewpoints and Primary View Direction from Viewpoints……………………………. 3-83

Figure 3-7:  Viewshed of Existing Observatories on Maunakea………………………………………. 3-84

Figure 3-8:  Viewshed and Primary View Analysis……………………………………………………….. 3-87

Figure 3-9:  Finish Emissivity and Absorption……………………………………………………………… 3-90

Figure 3-10:  Naked Eye View of Maunakea  from Waimea……………………………………………. 3-92

Figure 3-11: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with no Snow…………………………………………………………………………. 3-92

Figure 3-12: Simulation of TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with no Snow……………………………………………………………………………………… 3-93

Figure 3-13: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with no Snow……………………………………………………………………………………… 3-93

Figure 3-14: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with Snow……………………………………………………………………………… 3-94

Figure 3-15: Simulation of TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with Snow………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-94

Figure 3-16: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with Snow………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-95

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Figure 3-17: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View near Honoka‘a……………………………………………………………………………………. 3-96

Figure 3-18: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View near Honoka‘a…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-96

Figure 3-19: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View near Honoka‘a…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-97

Figure 3-20: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View from Waikoloa……………………………………………………………………………………. 3-98

Figure 3-21: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View from

Waikoloa…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-98

Figure 3-22: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View from Waikoloa…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-99

Figure 3-23:   Naked Eye View from Near Keck Observatory Viewing Northwest…………….. 3-100

Figure 3-24:   Simulation of the TMT Observatory with an Aluminum-Like Finish from Near Keck Observatory Viewing Northwest………………………………………………….. 3-100

Figure 3-25:  Overview of TMT and Dome Design……………………………………………………… 3-102

Figure 3-26:   Comparison of Observatory Dome Sizes to Telescope Focal Ratios…………….. 3-102

Figure 3-27:  Volcanoes of the Island of Hawai‘i………………………………………………………… 3-105

Figure 3-28:   Mauna Kea National Natural Landmark………………………………………………….. 3-107

Figure 3-29: Seismic Intensities (Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale) and Estimated Epicenters of Damage Causing Earthquake (1868 to present) on the Island  of Hawai‘i……. 3-110

Figure 3-30:  Groundwater Aquifers on the Island  of Hawai‘i……………………………………….. 3-116

Figure 3-31:   Conservation District and Subzones on Island of Hawai‘i………………………….. 3-143

Figure 3-32:  UH Management Areas………………………………………………………………………… 3-148

Figure 3-33:  Parking and Restroom Facilities in  the MKSR………………………………………….. 3-152

Figure 3-34:  Roadways in Vicinity of Maunakea……………………………………………………….. 3-164

Figure 3-35:  Noise Measurement Sites……………………………………………………………………… 3-175

Figure 3-36:  Noise Impact Area………………………………………………………………………………. 3-180

Figure 3-37:  Typical Construction Equipment Noise Levels…………………………………………. 3-202

Figure 3-38:  Past and Foreseeable Future Action………………………………………………………… 3-211

Figure 3-39:  Cumulative Viewshed Analysis……………………………………………………………… 3-231

Figure 4-1:  Maunakea E2 Alternative Site…………………………………………………………………….. 4-8

Figure 4-2:  Cultural and Archaeological Resources in Vicinity  of E2 Site………………………… 4-10

Figure 4-3:  Arthropod Sampling in Vicinity of Alternative E2 Site…………………………………. 4-12

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Figure 4-4:  Viewshed of TMT Observatory at E2 Site…………………………………………………… 4-14

Figure 4-5:  Site E2 Cumulative Viewshed Analysis……………………………………………………… 4-16

Figure 5-1:  Cerro Armazones Location………………………………………………………………………… 5-2

List of Tables

Tables                                                                                                                                      Page

Table 1-1:   Summary of Public Scoping Meetings…………………………………………………………… 1-3

Table 1-2:  Public Draft EIS Review and Comment Meeting Locations and Dates……………….. 1-6

Table 2-1:  Summary of Access Way Disturbances……………………………………………………….. 2-19

Table 2-2:  Anticipated Activities Timeline………………………………………………………………….. 2-30

Table 3-1:  Summary of Potential Disturbance to Kūkahau‘ula……………………………………….. 3-29

Table 3-2:   Summary of Archaeological Surveys and Fieldwork in the MKSR…………………… 3-40

Table 3-3:  Historic Property Types……………………………………………………………………………. 3-41

Table 3-4:   Summary of Archaeological Investigations at Hale Pōhaku……………………………. 3-46

Table 3-5:  Summary of Habitat Displacements by Access  Way Options………………………….. 3-71

Table 3-6:  Existing Observatory Visual and Aesthetic Attributes……………………………………. 3-81

Table 3-7:   Description of Viewpoint, Viewer Group and Primary View Direction…………….. 3-82

Table 3-8:  Visibility of the TMT Observatory……………………………………………………………… 3-88

Table 3-9:  Visibility of the TMT Observatory within the Primary View Direction…………….. 3-88

Table 3-10:   TMT Observatory – Summary of Potential Visual Impacts……………………………. 3-89

Table 3-11:  Summary of Damage Causing Earthquakes………………………………………………. 3-110

Table 3-12:  Hazardous Materials Used and Stored at Observatories and  Hale Pōhaku……… 3-126

Table 3-13:   Summary Maunakea Observatories Costs and Employment (2008)……………… 3-133

Table 3-14:  Estimates of Astronomy Market Segment, Year 2007………………………………… 3-134

Table 3-15:   Facilities Currently Operating on Maunakea…………………………………………….. 3-151

Table 3-16:  Noise Measurement Results……………………………………………………………………. 3-176

Table 3-17:  TMT Equipment Noise Data………………………………………………………………….. 3-178

Table 3-18:  Projected Noise Levels of Observatory HVAC System………………………………. 3-179

Table 3-19:  Example of Noise Reduction over Distance………………………………………………. 3-203

Table 3-20:  Past and Present Activities……………………………………………………………………… 3-207

Table 8-1:  Index of Comments and Responses………………………………………………………………. 8-1

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

Acronyms       Meaning

ACURA          Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy ALMA             Atacama Large Millimeter Array

AO                  Adaptive optics

ADT                Average Daily Traffic

ATV                All Terrain Vehicles

BLNR              Board of Land and Natural Resources BMP                Best Management Practice

BOR                Board of Regents

Caltech            California Institute of Technology

CARA             California Association of Research in Astronomy CBP                 Community Benefit Package

CCC                Civilian Conservation Corps

CDUA             Conservation District Use Application CDUP              Conservation District Use  Permit CFD                        Computational Fluid  Dynamics CFHT                        Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope CFR                 Code of Federal Regulations

CIA                 Cultural Impact Assessment

CMP                Comprehensive Management Plan CRMP             Cultural Resources Management Plan CSO                Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

CWRM            Commission on Water Resource Management dB                   Decibels

DIA                 Declaractión de Impacto Ambiental

DLNR             Department of Land and Natural Resources (State of Hawai‘i) DP                   Decommissioning Plan

DOE                Department of Education DOE                Department of Energy

DOFAW          Division of Forestry and Wildlife EA                   Environmental Assessment

E-ELT             European Extremely Large Telescope EIS                  Environmental Impact Statement

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EISPN             Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice EPA                 Environmental Protection Agency

EPCRA            Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act ESA                 Endangered Species Act

ESO                 European Southern Observatory

GMT               Giant Magellan Telescope

GPS                 Global Positioning System

GSMT             Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope HAR                Hawai‘i Administrative Rules HawCC           Hawai‘i Community College

HDOH             State of Hawai‘i Department  of Health

HDOT             State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation HELCO           Hawaiian Electric and Light Company

HPS                 High Pressure Sodium

HRS                Hawai‘i Revised Statutes

HVAC             Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning IfA                  Institute for Astronomy

IRH                 Indoor and Radiological Health

IRTF                Infrared Telescope Facility

JAC                 Joint Astronomy Center

JCMT              James Clerk Maxwell Telescope kV                   Kilovolt

kW                  Kilowatt

LLC                 Limited Liability Company

LOS                 Level-Of-Service

LPS                 Low Pressure Sodium

LSST               Large Synoptic Survey Telescope LUPAG           Land Use Pattern Allocation Guide MEK               Methyl Ethyl Ketone

MKMB            Mauna Kea Management Board MKSR             Mauna Kea Science Reserve

MKSS              Mauna Kea Observatories Support Services MSDS              Material Safety Data Sheets

MSL                Mean sea level

MW                 Megawatt

NAAQS           National Ambient Air Quality Standards

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NAR                Natural Area Reserve

NASA             National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NAOC             National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences NAOJ              National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

NEPA              National Environmental Policy Act NGLT              Next Generation Large Telescope NGST              Next Generation Space Telescope NNTT              National New Technology Telescope

NPDES            National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit NRAO             National Radio Astronomy Observatory

NREL              National Renewable Energy Laboratory NRMP             Natural Resources Management Plan NSF                 National Science Foundation

OCCL              Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands OEQC             Office of Environmental Quality

OHA               Office of Hawaiian Affairs OMKM            Office of Mauna Kea Management

OOVP             Oversize and Overweight Vehicles Permit OSHA             Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Pan-STARRS Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System PAP                 Public Access Plan

PCSI                Pacific Consulting Services, Inc.

PICHTR          Pacific International Center for High Technology Research RCRA             Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RDP                Research and Development Plan SDP                 Site Decommissioning Plan

SDRP              Site Decommissioning and Removal Plan SHO                Safety and Health Officer

SHPD              State Historic Preservation Division SHPO              State Historic Preservation Officer SIHP                State Inventory of Historic Places SPRP               Spill Prevention and Response Plan SRP                 Site Restoration Plan

STEM              Science, technology, engineering, and math SMA                Submillimeter Array

TCP                 Traditional Cultural Property

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THINK            The Hawai‘i Island New Knowledge TMK               Tax Map Key

TMT                Thirty Meter Telescope

UC                  University of California

UH                  University of Hawai‘i

UH Hilo          University of Hawai‘i at Hilo UIC                 Underground Injection Control

UKIRT            United Kingdom Infrared Telescope USFWS           United States Fish and Wildlife Service USGS              United States Geological Survey

UST                 Underground Storage Tanks VLBA             Very Long Baseline Array VLT                Very Large Telescope

VIS                  Visitor Information Station

VOG               Volcanic smog

WMP               Waste Minimization Plan

WPP                Workforce Pipeline Program

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1.0               Introduction

1.1       Purpose of this Final EIS

This Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) has been prepared to provide the University of Hawai‘i (UH), State decision makers, the public, and interested parties with information regarding the potential environmental effects of locating the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project in Hawai‘i. The potential environmental impacts discussed in the Final EIS encompass the natural environment, as well as economic welfare, social welfare, cultural  practices of the community and State, and effects of the economic activities arising out of the Project as proposed. Measures proposed to minimize potential adverse effects and alternatives to the Project are also addressed.

The potential benefits and environmental impacts of the Project are analyzed and disclosed in   this Final EIS. The potential impacts are evaluated, and mitigation measures to address the identified substantial impacts are outlined. Measures to avoid, minimize, or rectify, the potential substantial adverse environmental impacts have been considered throughout the Project planning process and incorporated into the Project design and construction plans.

1.2       Legal Requirements

This Final EIS has been prepared pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343, Environmental Impact Statement  Law and Chapter 200 of Title 11,  Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR), Department of Health, Environmental Impact Statement Rules by the Proposing Agency, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (UH Hilo). An EIS Preparation Notice/Environmental Assessment (EISPN/EA) prepared pursuant to HRS Chapter 343 was issued for the Project on September 23, 2008. The Draft EIS was issued for the Project on May 23, 2009, for public and agency review, and public meetings were held to receive comments from the public and agencies during the 45-day review period, which ended on July 7, 2009. This Final EIS was prepared to respond to the comments received during the Draft EIS review period. Following publication,

the Accepting Authority, the Governor of Hawai‘i, will act on this EIS.

1.3       Project Action

The proposed action is the issuance by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) of a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) and approval of a sublease to State land allowing: (a) the construction and operation of the TMT Observatory and associated ancillary facilities within the Mauna Kea Science Reserve (MKSR; tax map key [TMK] 4-4-15: 9), (b) construction and operation of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility within Hale Pōhaku (TMK 4-4-15: 12), and

(c) construction of electrical and communications infrastructure near Hale Pōhaku, within the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (TMK 4-4-15: 1) and Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (NAR) (TMK 4-4-15: 10). The entire MKSR, Hale Pōhaku, and the portions of the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (on State land) near Hale Pōhaku, are designated as part of the State of Hawai‘i Conservation District, resource subzone, and therefore, a CDUP is required before construction can begin.

In addition, the proposed action includes building the Project’s Headquarters facility on State- owned land within the UH Hilo University Park development (TMK 2-4-1: 7 or 2-4-1: 122).

1.4       Scope of the Project

The TMT Project, referred to as the “Project,” will consist of the construction and operation, and ultimately decommissioning,  of the TMT Observatory, with a 30-meter optical/infrared telescope, below the summit  of Maunakea⁶ and the associated permanent and temporary  ancillary facilities. The permanent ancillary facilities will include an Access Way to the observatory; a Headquarters facility in Hilo to manage operation of the observatory; and , potentially, a TMT Mid-Level Facility consisting of personnel facilities and infrastructure near and within Hale Pōhaku to support TMT Observatory operation. Temporary facilities during construction will include a construction staging area below the summit, may include a construction staging area and housing for construction workers within Hale Pōhaku, and will include construction staging areas near the port where Project components will be received.

1.5       Scope of Chapter 343 Environmental Analysis

HAR Title 11 Chapter 200 directs the focus of the environmental analysis, whereby “special emphasis shall be placed on environmental resources that are rare or unique to the region and the project site (including natural or human-made resources of historic, archaeological, or aesthetic significance).” Accordingly, the emphasis of the environmental analysis in this Final EIS is  placed on the TMT Observatory and Access Way below the summit of Maunakea due to this area’s rare and unique resources, including cultural, biological, and visual resources. Other areas that will be affected, such as areas within and near Hale Pōhaku and in the vicinity of the Headquarters, are also discussed, but to a lesser degree unless a potential significant impact is identified.

The purpose and need of the Project, the Project’s objectives, and a Project description are provided in Chapter 2.0. The environmental analysis in Chapter 3.0 contains a discussion of potential Project impacts, including those on cultural and archaeological resources; biological resources, including the wēkiu bug; visual and aesthetic resources; and geologic resources.

Potential Project effects on a range of other resources are also discussed in Chapter 3.0, including land use plans and policies, water resources and wastewater, socioeconomic conditions, air quality, traffic, noise, solid and hazardous waste management, and power and communications.

Alternatives to the Project are discussed in Chapter 4.0 of this Final EIS. The alternatives to the Project include (1) a no action alternative: not constructing the TMT observatory at Maunakea; and (2) locating the TMT Observatory at another nearby site on Maunakea referred to as E2.

⁶ Maunakea is spelled as one word in this document because it is considered the traditional Hawaiian spelling (Ka Wai Ola, Vos. 25 No. 11). Maunakea is a proper noun, therefore spelled as one word in Hawaiian. This spelling is found in original Hawaiian language newspapers dating back to the late 1800s when the Hawaiian language was the medium of communication. In more recent years Maunakea has been spelled as two words, which literally mean “white mountain.” Spelled as two words it is a common noun that could refer to any white mountain versus the proper name of this particular mountain on Hawai’i Island. The common “Mauna Kea” spelling is only used in this document where Mauna Kea is used in a proper name, such as the “Mauna Kea Science Reserve.”

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1.6       Summary of EIS Scoping Activities

On September 23, 2008, UH published the EISPN/EA for the TMT Project (UH, 2008). The publication was announced by the Office of Environmental Quality (OEQC) in The Environmental Notice, also dated September 23, 2008 (OEQC, 2008). The publication in The Environmental Notice opened the 30-day scoping period. Copies of the EISPN/EA were distributed to governmental agencies and parties that expressed interest and signed up on the TMT environmental process mailing list.

1.6.1           Summary of Public Involvement

Prior to the opening of the 30-day scoping period, the forthcoming EISPN/EA was advertised and interested people and organizations were solicited to sign up on the TMT environmental process mailing list. Advertisements were run in the Hawai‘i Tribune Herald, West Hawai‘i Today, Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, The Hawai‘i Filipino Chronicle, and Ka Wai Ola (Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ newspaper). More than 110 people and organizations signed up to be on the mailing list prior to the publication of the EISPN/EA. Copies of the EISPN/EA were sent to the people and organizations on the mailing list, as well as to other organizations and people known to have an interest in Maunakea due to their involvement in previous projects.

During the 30-day scoping period, multiple ways to submit input on the Project’s environmental review process were provided, including:

• The TMT environmental process website (www.TMT-HawaiiEIS.org) included a comment feature;
• A TMT environmental process toll-free hotline (1-866-284-1716) where comments could be recorded;
• Direct mail to the Chancellor of UH Hilo; and
  • Public meetings where the public oral comments were either captured by facilitators or recorded privately and written comments were collected. Public meetings were held as summarized in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1: Summary of Public Scoping Meetings

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The public meetings were advertised as follows:

–          On the TMT environmental process website (www.TMT-HawaiiEIS.org) and toll- free hotline (1-866-284-1716);

–          In five newspapers: Hawai‘i Tribune Herald, West Hawai‘i Today, Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and Hawai‘i Filipino Chronicle</span>; and

–          On the EISPN/EA distribution cover letter.

During the scoping period, a number of submissions were received, as follows:

• 78 people provided oral comments at the public meetings;
• 68 people or organizations provided scoping comments via the commenting tool on the TMT environmental process website;
• 39 letters with scoping comments were received in the mail;
• 27 scoping comment forms, which were available at the public meetings, were either collected at the meetings or were mailed to the Chancellor of UH Hilo following the meetings;
• 3 people recorded scoping comments on the toll-free hotline; and
  • 2 emails with scoping comments were received by TMT Observatory Corporation personnel.

1.6.2           Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Consulted

Agencies, organization, and individuals were consulted during the production of the Draft EIS, per HRS Chapter 343 and HAR § 11-200-9. Consultations included sending a copy of the EISPN/EA to a party and requesting input from them and collecting comments at public  meetings, at other small group meetings, through the website, on the hotline, and in the mail. 0 provides a list of agencies, organization, and individuals who participated in the scoping process.

1.6.3           Issues Raised During the Scoping Process

A summary of the scoping comments received is provided in Appendix B. The most frequently raised issues during the scoping period include:

• Since Maunakea is considered sacred by Hawaiians, there is a need to involve, learn from, and respect the Hawaiian community so that the construction and operational activities will be conducted in a sensitive and appropriate manner, with awareness being at the forefront of all activities. Mitigation measures such as cultural education for

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construction and operation workers were suggested. These issues are addressed in Section 3.2, Cultural Resources.

• There is a concern for archaeological/historic sites of reverence on the mountain, including sacred and spiritual places such as the pu‘u, Lake Waiau, and the Adze Quarry. It was suggested that mitigation measures be developed, such as visitor education, so that impacts to such sites would be minimized. These issues, including archeological sites in the vicinity of the TMT Observatory, are addressed in Section 3.3, Archaeologic/Historic Resources.
• There was concern regarding the plant and animal species, such as the wēkiu bug, palila bird, U‘au (Hawaiian Petrel), and silversword. These issues, including the species and habitats in the project area, are addressed in Section 3.4, Biologic Resources.
• It is important to consider the potential visual impact of the Project on cultural and natural landscape of Maunakea. These issues are addressed in Section 3.5, Visual and Aesthetic Resources.
• There is strong interest in the impact of the Project on the socioeconomic landscape of

the island and the potential for local residents to work for the Project during construction and operation. This issue is addressed in Section 3.9, Socioeconomic Conditions.

• While the Project is the construction, operation, and the ultimate decommissioning of the TMT Observatory below the summit of Maunakea, there was interest and request for information concerning Chile as a potential location. Available information, including an evaluation of environmental issues pursuant to the laws and requirements of Chile is provided in Chapter 5.0.

1.7       Draft EIS Public Review and Comment

The announcement of the Draft EIS by OEQC in The Environmental Notice on May 23, 2009, opened the 45-day review period. The Draft EIS review and comment process was accessible to all. To ensure accessibility to all, the review and comment process included the following elements and features:

• Direct mail of the Draft EIS to the people, organizations, and agencies on the mailing list (0);
• Placing the Draft EIS for public review at all public libraries in the state;
  • Interactive website (www.TMT-HawaiiEIS.org) that included a Project fact sheet and frequently asked questions, an electronic copy of Draft EIS that could be downloaded, a tool to input and upload comments, and contact information;
  • A toll-free hotline (1-866-284-1716) where information was available about the public meetings and locations where the Draft EIS could be reviewed and comments could be recorded; and
  • Public meetings, accessible to people with handicaps, were held and included six meetings on the Island of Hawai‘i and one on the Island of O‘ahu. These meetings were held as shown in Table 1-2.

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Table 1-2: Public Draft EIS Review and Comment Meeting Locations and Dates

The public meetings were advertised as follows:

–          On the website (www.TMT-HawaiiEIS.org) and toll-free hotline (1-866-284- 1716);

–          In five newspapers: Hawai‘i Tribune Herald, West Hawai‘i Today, Honolulu Advertiser, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and Hawai‘i Filipino Chronicle</span>; and

–          On the Draft EIS distribution cover letter.

During the Draft EIS review period, a number of submissions were received, as follows:

• 7 people had oral statements recorded at the public meetings;
  • 52 individuals or organizations submitted comments via the commenting tool on the TMT environmental process website;
  • 48 letters with comments on the Draft EIS were received in the mail;
    • 83 comment forms, which were available at the public meetings, or other written statement were either collected at the meetings or were mailed to the Chancellor of UH Hilo following the meetings;
    • 11 people recorded comments on the toll-free hotline; and
      • 147 emails with comments on the Draft EIS were received by the Chancellor of UH Hilo or TMT Observatory Corporation personnel.

An example of the comment form included with the Draft EIS and available at the public meetings is provided in Appendix C.

1.8       Final EIS and Responses to Comments

Responses to the substantive comments contained in the 348 submissions received during the Draft EIS public review period are included in Chapter 8.0 of this Final EIS along with the submitted comments themselves. In addition, modifications were made to the text that appeared in the Draft EIS to address the comments received during the Draft EIS review period. Shading indicates substantial additions to the text and shading with a strikeout indicate deletions. Minor modifications, such as grammatical changes, that did not affect the meaning of the text, finding  of the studies, or assessment of potential Project impacts are not indicated.

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The announcement of the Final EIS’ availability will appear in The Environmental Notice, a bi- monthly publication by OEQC. In addition to the OEQC announcement of the Final EIS’ availability, the Final EIS is:

• Being mailed directly to the people, organizations, and agencies on the mailing list (0), which includes all those who submitted comments on the Draft EIS during the public review period. Those who submitted comments on the Draft EIS during the review period will receive responses to their comments in the cover letter accompanying the Final EIS;
• Being placed in all public libraries in the state; and
• Available for download on the Project’s EIS website (www.TMT-HawaiiEIS.org).

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2.0               Project Description

This chapter presents the purpose and need of the Project, the Project’s objectives, and a Project description. Reasonable alternatives to the Project are discussed in Chapter 4.0 of this Final EIS.

2.1       Project Background

The critical need for an optical/infrared⁷ telescope⁸ with a 30-meter primary mirror to continue   the scientific advancement of the last decades was both identified by the U.S. scientific community and assigned a priority by the Canadian scientific community. In response to this need, the TMT Observatory Corporation was formed to manage initial planning, and then design, build, and operate the TMT Observatory⁹ housing a 30-meter primary mirror telescope.

The TMT Observatory Corporation is a non-profit partnership of the University of California (UC), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA). The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) is a participant and potential partner, and

the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) is an observer and potential partner. This private partnership will fund Project construction and manage Project operations. No State of Hawai‘i funds are currently involved.

2.2       Purpose and Need

The Project’s primary purpose is to locate the TMT in Hawai‘i and provide the most advanced and powerful ground-based observatory in the history of science for carrying out astronomical research to enable discoveries about the nature and origins of the physical world, from the first formation of galaxies in the distant past and distant regions of the Universe to the formation of planets and planetary systems today in our Milky Way Galaxy.

⁷ Optical or visual light encompasses the wavelengths from 320 nanometers (blue/ultra-violet) to 950 nanometers (red) (0.32 to 0.95 microns) including the U, B, V R, I, and Z bands in astronomy.

Infrared can be divided into near, mid, and far infrared wavelengths, generally as follows:

Near – 1,000 to 2,200 nanometers (1.0 to 2.2 micrometers or microns); includes the J, H, and K bands in astronomy Mid – 2,500 to 30,000 nanometers (2.5 to 30 microns); includes L M, N and Q astronomy bands

Far – 30,000 to 400,000 nanometers (30 to 400 microns); also referred to as submillimeter

⁸ A telescope is defined as a movable structure and optics and/or reflectors used to select a viewing position on the sky, capture the radiation (visible light, infrared, or radio) from astronomical objects and focus that radiation into a focal plane.

⁹ An observatory includes the telescope(s), the dome(s) that contain the telescope(s), and the instrumentation and support facilities for the telescope(s) that fall under a common ownership.

The United States has been the leader in astronomy research for the last 150 years, and locating the TMT in Hawai‘i will help maintain the U.S.’ leadership in astronomy research, discovery, and innovation. One Project purpose is to maintain this leadership by leveraging the capacity of the existing observatories on Maunakea, including the Keck and the Canada- France-Hawai‘i Telescope (CFHT). While these observatories are world-leading observatories today, their future scientific productivity could be broadened by co-location with a next generation observatory, such as the TMT. Additionally, by bringing the Project to Hawai‘i, the potential significant

socioeconomic benefits, including employment and education, of the Project will be realized by the people of Hawai‘i.

Since the dawn of human existence, people have been looking up into the sky and wondering about our universe. The quest to answer fundamental questions about the nature and workings of the universe has been pursued through the ages, and continues today. The Project will continue this quest.  The TMT concept was developed to address the need to overcome the limitations of

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existing astronomical facilities. An observatory similar to the TMT has been envisioned by the scientific community for some time. It has generically been referred to as a Next Generation Large Telescope (NGLT) or Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope (GSMT) in various plans and surveys for the last 10 years.

As envisioned in various plans and surveys, the TMT will push the frontier of technology, fully integrating the latest innovations in precision control, segmented mirror design, and adaptive optics (AO) to correct for the blurring effects of Earth’s atmosphere. When used with an AO system, the TMT will provide sharper images than the most capable existing optical/infrared observatories by a factor of three, and greater sensitivity by a factor of ten or more. Its 30-meter segmented primary mirror will enable astronomers to observe objects nine-times fainter than existing 10-meter telescopes in an equal amount of time. These improvements in capability will allow significant advances in most areas of astronomy research.

In some areas, the capabilities of the TMT will be uniquely important to making breakthrough discoveries. With the TMT, observations of the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang will be possible and the epoch of “First Light” in the Universe could be unveiled.

Understanding the subsequent evolution of galaxies from this early time to the current era is another major research area for which TMT will provide a giant step forward in capability. The combination of great sensitivity and unique spatial resolution of the TMT will be vital to learning more about the recently discovered phenomenon in which galaxy evolution and the growth of supermassive black holes in galaxy cores are tightly coupled.  The combination of great  sensitivity and unique spatial resolution will also make TMT an extremely powerful observatory for the discovery and characterization of planets orbiting other stars.

The specific need for an observatory like the TMT to address the outstanding constraints in astronomy and astrophysics research was identified in the 2001 National Academy of the Sciences Decadal Survey for Astronomy:

“The Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope (GSMT), the committee’s top ground-based recommendation, is a 30-meter class ground- based telescope that will be a powerful complement to the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) in tracing the evolution of galaxies and the formation of stars and planets…GSMT will use adaptive optics to achieve diffraction limited imaging in the atmospheric window between 1 and 25 micrometers (µm) and unprecedented light- gathering power between 0.3 and 1 µm¹⁰.”

The TMT design has and will continue to follow these guidelines from the Decadal Survey. The TMT

capabilities will complement those of the next-generation NASA James Webb Space Telescope, Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), and large imaging surveys of the sky. The TMT will be a critical part of future astronomy facilities planned for 2015 and beyond.

¹⁰ µm is a micrometer, which is one-millionth of a meter and also known as a micron.

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2.3       Project Objectives

The primary objects of the Project include:

Knowledge Growth. From a scientific standpoint, the Project’s objective is to provide for astronomers a tool that is powerful and precise enough to explore virtually every aspect of the Universe, from the formation of the first star following the Big Bang to the current state of the Milky Way Galaxy. With TMT, many of the most fundamental questions of the coming decades could be addressed, including:

• What is the nature and composition of the Universe?
• When did the first galaxies form and how did they evolve?
• What is the relationship between black holes and galaxies?
• How do stars and planets form?
• What is the nature of extra-solar planets?
• Is there life elsewhere in the Universe?

Education. The TMT partners and UH are all universities or closely allied with universities and have a primary mission to education in all subject areas, but especially science and technology education. Astronomy is well known as a “gateway” science.  Many students get their introduction to the scientific method and tools of science in astronomy classes and then continue into technical and science careers. Therefore, maintaining the U.S.’ leadership in astronomy promotes not just astronomy but the larger science community. The objectives of the Project,

therefore, include utilizing the TMT as an important educational tool and to attract top students and scholars in science to our institutions.

Synergy with Existing Hawai‘i Observatories. An important objective of the Project is to leverage the capacity and abilities of the TMT partners’ existing observatories, including the Keck, CFHT, and Subaru. While these observatories, all located on Maunakea, are world- leading observatories today, their future scientific productivity could be increased through teaming with a next generation observatory, such as the TMT. For observatories co-located at

the same mountain there will be many opportunities to integrate science programs and to develop complementary instrumentation.

Outreach and Community.  Integrate science and education with culture and sustainability in  the Project is also a core objective of the Project. The TMT partnership is committed to working with UH in achieving this objective. Sharing the scientific knowledge gained through the Project and using the wide interest in astronomy to introduce students and the general public to science,

technology, engineering, and math (STEM), are core objectives. In addition, in order to develop and maintain capable personnel in Hawai‘i, the Project will help foster STEM proficiencies among members of the local communities in collaboration with the local public, charter, and

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private K-12 schools, and with UH Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College (HawCC). The TMT partner institutions are also committed to proper environmental stewardship and the concept of sustainability planning for operations of the observatory.

2.4       Project Components

An astronomical observatory encompasses a number of components. This section outlines the various components of the Project and provides explanation for certain terms used throughout this document. The Project is the sum of the following proposed components:

• “TMT Observatory” refers to the components of the Project located below the summit, in the upper elevations of Maunakea. The TMT Observatory generally consists of the 30- meter telescope, instruments, dome, attached building, and parking; it is discussed in Section 2.5.1.
• The “Access Way” refers to the road and other infrastructure improvements that will be provided to access and operate the TMT Observatory. Improvements in the Access Way will generally include a surface roadway and underground utilities; it is discussed in Section 2.5.2.
• “Potential TMT Mid-Level Facility” refers to facilities and improvements located within or near Hale Pōhaku. This will include (a) upgrading electrical and communications equipment near Hale Pōhaku and may include (b) a level of activity within Hale Pōhaku ranging from construction and operation staff staying in existing Hale Pōhaku

dormitories to replacing two existing construction dormitory/dining/recreation buildings, refurbishing existing construction cabins, and grading areas for parking and construction staging areas. The potential Mid-Level Facility is discussed in Section 2.5.3.

• “Headquarters” refers to the facility located in Hilo to manage activities at and support operation of the TMT Observatory and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility. This includes an office building with a parking area; it is discussed in Section 2.5.4.

2.5       Project Location and Design

The following sections describe the Project components’ location and design.

2.5.1           TMT Observatory

Location

The TMT Observatory will be located on Maunakea within the MKSR on Hawai‘i Island in the State of Hawai‘i (Figure 2-1). The Island of Hawai‘i is made up of five volcanoes, one of them actively erupting. The island is politically the County of Hawai‘i and had a population of approximately 149,000 during the 2000 census.  The summit of Maunakea is situated at a   distance of approximately 27 miles (40 miles by road) from Hilo and 20 miles (45 miles by road) from Waimea.  Hilo  is the seat of County government and a port town of roughly 41,000 residents, and Waimea is a town of approximately 7,000 residents¹¹ in the saddle between

¹¹ United States Census, 2000.

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Maunakea and Kohala Mountain (Figure 2-1). Well maintained roads connect the summit of Maunakea with both Hilo and Waimea, although a portion of the road near the summit is unpaved.

Figure 2-1: Project Location

The entire 11,288-acre MKSR (TMK 4-4-15: 9) is designated as part of the State of Hawai‘i Conservation District resource subzone.  The MKSR is also ceded land held in trust by the State  of Hawai‘i. It is managed by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), though certain responsibilities are delegated to UH through the Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) (UH 2009a). The MKSR is leased by DLNR to the UH; the current lease expires in 2033. Eight optical and/or infrared observatories are currently present in the MKSR’s 525-acre Astronomy Precinct; the first Maunakea observatories were built in the 1960s. Optical/infrared telescopes use mirrors to collect and focus visible and infrared light. Each optical/infrared observatory consists of a single telescope, except the W. M. Keck observatory which currently houses the two most powerful optical/infrared telescopes on Maunakea, each  with a 10-meter diameter primary mirror. The MKSR also hosts three submillimeter  observatories and a radio antenna¹² (Figure 2-2).

¹² The Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) antenna is a telescope but does not individually meet the definition of an observatory because it is only one part of a larger array, which stretches from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Maunakea. All the various antenna, instrumentation, and support facilities make up the VLBA antenna.

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Figure 2-2: Maunakea Overview

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The Mauna Kea Science Reserve: Complex Development Plan (the 1983 Master Plan; UH, 1983a) and related Final EIS (UH, 1983b) identified telescope siting areas A, B, C, and D and outlined anticipated developments to the year 2000. Areas A (western rim of Pu‘u Wēkiu and Pu‘u Kea), B (Pu‘u Hau‘oki and an unnamed pu‘u to the west), and D (northern plateau) were identified for optical/infrared telescope siting. UH then prepared and adopted the Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan (the 2000 Master Plan; UH, 2000) that includes a “Physical Planning Guide.” The planning guide includes observatory siting areas and site selection criteria to be followed when planning a new observatory on Maunakea. UH also prepared a Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (UH, 1999) for the 2000 Master Plan. CMP Management Action FLU-1 states that future facility planning should follow the guidelines presented in the 2000 Master Plan.

The 2000 Master Plan limits future development to Areas A, B, C, D, E, and F within the Astronomy Precinct (Figure 2-3); 2000 Master Plan Areas A, B, and E are generally similar to 1983 Master Plan Areas A, B, and D, respectively. By doing this the Master Plan removed the possibility of developing an observatory on an undeveloped pu‘u within the MKSR.   Areas A  and B are on the Kūkahau‘ula cinder cones but are already developed with eight optical/infrared observatories. The 2000 Master Plan indicates redevelopment or expansion of those existing facilities would be possible, but no new disturbance to the Kūkahau‘ula Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) State Historic Property or the cinder cone habitat should occur.  Area C is   already developed with three submillimeter observatories. The 2000 Master Plan indicates redevelopment of those existing facilities would be possible, but no new disturbance to Kūkahau‘ula or the cinder cone habitat should occur. However, Area C extends into the northern plateau area, beyond Kūkahau‘ula and the cinder cones, and the 2000 Master Plan indicates that expansion of the SMA could occur in that portion of Area C and also into adjoining Area D.

When it comes to siting new optical/infrared observatories on Maunakea, the 2000 Master Plan states “the first priority … will be the recycling of existing facilities that have aging technology.” In Areas A and B the maximum height and diameter of a new observatory is limited to approximately 130 feet by the 2000 Master Plan.  The height and diameter restrictions in Areas   A and B are related to a number of factors, including visibility, potential impacts to existing observatories, and wind forces. “The

second priority for siting [new optical/infrared observatories] will be at two new [areas] within the Astronomy Precinct, and only if a suitable summit

ridge site cannot be utilized for redevelopment.” The two new areas identified in the 2000 Master Plan are Areas E and F.

Recycling an existing optical/infrared observatory in Area A or B is not an option for the TMT Observatory because the TMT Observatory would exceed the diameter and height requirements. In addition, none of the existing observatories has a large

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enough footprint for the development of the TMT Observatory without additional disturbance to Kūkahau‘ula or the cinder cone habitat.  Therefore, the TMT Observatory will be sited in Area  E, consistent with the second priority.

The 2000 Master Plan provided a number of criteria to assist in the selection of an appropriate  site for the Next Generation Large Telescope (NGLT). The TMT Observatory fits the definition of a NGLT: a ground-based telescope with a primary mirror of 25 to 50 meters in diameter. The site selection criteria include:

• Minimize visual impacts from significant cultural areas.
• Avoid archaeologic sites.
• Minimize impact of wēkiu bug habitat.
• Avoid or minimize view from Waimea, Honoka‘a, or Hilo.
• Proximity to roads and existing infrastructure.
• Minimize impact on existing facilities.

In addition, the 2000 Master Plan indicates that Areas E and F have not been thoroughly tested to establish if potential observatory sites within them provide suitable astronomical “seeing” conditions. Therefore, site selection is contingent on positive findings during site testing to evaluate seeing conditions for the telescope.

The 2000 Master Plan specifies Area E as a preferred location for a NGLT. Area E was  identified as a preferred location because it  was anticipated to provide suitable observation seeing conditions with the minimum impact on existing facilities, wēkiu bug habitat, archaeological sites, and viewplanes. Area E ranges in elevation from 13,100 to 13,300 feet; the summit of Maunakea is at elevation 13,796 feet. Area E is located approximately 1/2-mile northwest of the eight existing optical/infrared observatories located near the summit, at elevations of 13,600 to 13,775 feet (Figure 2-3).

The same general area is identified in the 1983 Master Plan as Area D. Area D in the 1983 Master Plan is generally similar to Area E in the 2000 Master Plan, but encompassed a larger portion of the northern plateau. The 1983 Master Plan states Area D is “very suitable for future

optical/infrared telescopes. Three to four telescopes can be accommodated on the flatter portions within the area, with some flexibility in choice of sites based on technical site selection criteria such as laminar wind flow and obscuration.” The 1983 Master Plan identified similar potential benefits of siting observatories on the Northern Plateau instead of on the summit ridge, including fewer potential impacts to cultural/archaeological resources, fewer potential impacts to  arthropods, and better geotechnical conditions.

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Figure 2-3: Maunakea Summit Region

Within Area E, the TMT Observatory will be located on a roughly 5-acre site near the end of the existing 4-wheel drive road, at an elevation of approximately 13,150 feet (Figure 2-4). This site  is known as 13N in reference to its elevation and its location on the northern plateau.

Consideration of the 13N site for siting an observatory dates back to the 1960s, when both the 13N site and a site near the summit (the site of the existing UH 2.2 meter observatory) were

tested for the placement of a new observatory. In the mid-1960s UH selected the summit site because “seeing indicators at the summit [were] slightly superior.” ¹³

¹³ http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/users/jefferies/Selecting_a_specific_site.htm

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Figure 2-3: Maunakea Summit Region with Aerial Photograph Background

Site testing performed by TMT (Section 4.1) confirmed that the 13N site has good astronomical seeing characteristics.  Analysis performed by TMT indicates that areas closer to the  Kūkahau‘ula cinder cones, including the location within Area E specified for the NGLT in the 2000 Master Plan, likely have inferior seeing characteristics. Therefore, the 13N site is proposed was chosen for the TMT Observatory.

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Figure 2-4: TMT Observatory and Access Way

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Figure 2-4: TMT Observatory and Access Way with Aerial Photograph Background

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The building and operation of the TMT Observatory on Maunakea will require a sublease of the area from UH, which leases this ceded land from the DLNR. The sublease will be subject to approval first by the TMT Board and UH BOR followed by approval by the BLNR. The  sublease consideration will include benefits for the Island of Hawai‘i, as well as observing time for UH. The sublease is discussed in Section 3.10.3. The sublease will initially expire in 2033 when the UH master lease expires; however, it is very probable that TMT, along with some of

the existing observatories, would request UH seek a new lease beyond 2033 allowing operation to continue.

Telescope Design

The core of the TMT Observatory is the 30-meter aperture telescope, referred to as the TMT. The telescope will consist of the following primary components:

1. The primary mirror – the “eye” of telescope– will be 98 feet (30 meters) in diameter. This mirror will be made up of 492 individual mirror segments operating as one.
2. The secondary mirror sits above the primary mirror and will direct the light collected by the primary mirror to the tertiary mirror.
3. The tertiary mirror sits in the middle of the primary mirror and will direct the collected light into different instruments for analysis.

Figure 2-5 illustrates the telescope assembly, with the numbered list above corresponding to the numbers on the figure.

Figure 2-5: Thirty Meter Telescope Overview

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TMT Observatory Design

The TMT Observatory design is being and will continue to be developed in consultation with OMKM through their design review process. Whenever possible, the Project will incorporate sustainable technologies and energy efficient technologies into facility design and operations, per CMP Management Action IM-11. The design details provided here represent the current design. The OMKM design review process is not complete and parallels the Chapter 343 EIS process.

No significant design changes, such as Project site or dome and support building size and height, are anticipated; however, adjustments to finer details could still take place. The observatory will include the following:

• The telescope, described above. The surface of the primary mirror will be located approximately 66 feet above the ground surface.
• The instruments mounted around the primary mirror used to see and analyze both the visible part of the spectrum and the infrared spectrum (number 4 in Figure 2-5).
• The TMT AO system. The TMT also will be the first optical/infrared observatory of its size to integrate AO into its original design. AO systems correct for the image distortion that is caused by the atmosphere.  The AO system will project up to eight laser beams  into the atmosphere to create an asterism, or group, of “guide stars” that are used to determine the atmospheric distortion of the visible and infrared light from distant objects and thus correct for it. The TMT AO system will generate each of these eight beams using a 25-watts laser; the laser light will appear yellow (0.589 microns – the sodium D2 line).
• The dome housing the telescope will be a Calotte¹⁴ type enclosure with the following characteristics (Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7):

–          Total height of roughly 180 feet above the current ground surface, with an exterior radius of 108 feet.

–          The dome shutter will be 102.5 feet in diameter and it will retract inside the dome when opened.

–          The dome will rotate on two planes, one horizontal at the base structure 25 feet above the ground and the other at roughly 25 degrees as the cap structure, enabling the telescope to view from straight up into the sky to 65 degrees downwards toward the horizon.

–          The Calotte dome base, cap, and shutter structures will appear rounded and smooth and have a reflective aluminum-like exterior coating.

–          The fixed cylindrical structure below the rotating base will enclose 35,000 square feet, and extend to 25 feet above grade. The structure will be lava-colored.

–          The dome base structure and dome fixed structure will have a combination of 98 vents that will be closed during the day and will open at night. The vents will be

¹⁴ A Calotte type dome features a circular shutter and two planes of rotation. Standard observatory domes include a rectangular shutter and one plane of rotation. Benefits of a Calotte type dome include (a) overall smaller dome size,

(b)   improved air flow profile reducing air turbulence around the dome, (c) mechanically less complex, and (d) sheds snow better.

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Figure 2-6: TMT Observatory Cross Section

used to maintain temperature equilibrium between interior and exterior air at night and manage air flow through and around the dome.

• A three-level building support building will be attached to the dome (Figure 2-6 and Figure 2-7). The building design would use terracing, whereby three ascending levels would match the natural contours of the site.  Since the Draft EIS, the support building  has been refined; it is now one level and has a smaller footprint. The building will have a footprint roof area of approximately 28 21,000 square feet, a total interior floor area of roughly 75 18,000 square feet, a flat roof, and be lava-colored. The support building will include the following spaces:

–          Mirror coating and staging area.

–          Laboratory and shop spaces, including a computer room, engineering and electronics laboratories, and mechanical shop.

–          Utility spaces – including electrical services, chillers, a generator, pumps for fire suppression and other non-potable water needs, restrooms, and fluid dynamic bearing pumps that control the movement of the telescope.

–          Administration space, including offices and a kitchenette.

–          Visitor and public spaces, consisting of a lobby, restroom, and viewing platform.

• A roughly 6,000 square foot exterior equipment area on the north side of the support building (Figure 2-7) will include two electrical transformers and electrical service switchboards; three 5,000-gallon underground storage tanks – one for water storage, one for domestic waste storage, and one double-walled for chemical waste storage; two 25,000-gallon underground storage tanks for water storage as part of the fire suppression system; and one double-walled 2,000-gallon above-ground storage tank for diesel fuel to power the emergency generator. This equipment was either in the parking area or inside the support building in the previous design in the Draft EIS.

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Figure 2-7: TMT Observatory Plan View and Grading Plan

• A tunnel that will serve as an exhaust duct for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment will be present on the northwestern portion of the graded area (Figure 2-7).
• Parking area for observatory staff and delivery vehicles (Figure 2-7). Parking areas will be unpaved and located outside of the support facility. A guard rail will be placed along the top of the slope on the north and west sides of the graded area where there is a drop off.
• An atmospheric turbulence monitor will be mounted on a roughly 30 foot tall tower and that tower located on the north side of the graded area, just beyond the guard rail (Figure 2-7). The monitor is a roughly 8-foot square weather station.

The footprint of the TMT Observatory dome, support building, parking area, and area disturbed during construction will be roughly five acres. A small 0.5-acre portion of this area has previously been disturbed by the existing 4-wheel drive road and site testing equipment; the original disturbance occurred during site testing in the 1960s, site testing was also performed in this area for the TMT Project in the 2000s.

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2.5.2           Access Way

The Access Way will include a road and utility services to the TMT Observatory from existing facilities. Currently, utility services exist along the Mauna Kea Access Road to a point across

the road from the SMA building. The Access Way will start at that point and extend to the TMT Observatory (Figure 2-4). The necessary switch boxes to provide power and communication to

the TMT Observatory will be placed above ground next to the existing ones across the road from the SMA building. To the extent possible utilities from that point will be placed beneath the road to reduce the footprint of disturbance. Hawaiian Electric and Light Company (HELCO) will be granted an easement to maintain electrical service to the TMT Observatory.

As with the TMT Observatory design, the Access Way design is being and will continue to be developed in consultation with OMKM through their design review process. The existing SMA facility to the west and the unnamed Pu‘u Hau‘oki to the east (on which the Subaru Observatory sits) create a challenge to the route of the Access Way. Three options for the Access Way

through or around the core of the SMA facility were considered in the Draft EIS: (1) through the SMA core, (2) near the SMA core, and (3) following the existing 4-wheel drive road around the SMA core. Option 1 is no longer being considered due to conflicts with SMA operations.

Access Way Options 2 and 3 are still being considered but both Options have been refined since the Draft EIS was completed. The two options are discussed individually below.

Beyond the core of the SMA facility the route of the Access Way will follow the existing SMA roads and existing 4-wheel drive road to the extent possible. The roughly 0.5-mile long Access Way beyond the SMA core will have the following general characteristics:

• Maximum slope of 10 percent;
  • Twenty-four foot wide travel surface (two lanes) with 1-foot wide shoulders for a total width of 26 feet;
  • Banks graded to achieve a 2.5:1 slope; and
    • Underground conduit with pull boxes and the necessary electric and communication cables.

The two Access Way Options still being considered would be paved in the vicinity of the SMA core to avoid generating dust that could accumulate on the SMA antennas. Pavement would extend from where the pavement currently ends near the SMA entrance to a point just beyond where Access Way Option 2 and Option 3 join, a distance of roughly 750 feet. The two options are illustrated in Figure 2-4 and described in the following sections.

The footprint of the common TMT Access Way and the Access Way Options areas are summarized in Table 2-1. Portions of these areas were previously disturbed by the existing 4- wheel drive and SMA roads as indicated in the table.

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Table 2-1: Summary of Access Way Disturbances

Option 1 – Through SMA

This option would follow the primary SMA road off the Mauna Kea Access Road, and then  proceed through the lava flow  before reconnecting with the SMA road.  It is not possible to use the SMA road entirely because the first turn is too tight for large vehicles, such as construction trucks. This Access Way Option would be roughly 1,400 feet (quarter mile) long.

Approximately 600 feet would be new road, with

the remaining 800 feet using the existing SMA roads. The maximum slope of the road would be  6 percent. Option 1 is no longer being considered due to conflicts with SMA operations.

Option 2 – Near SMA Core

To address the SMA’s operational needs this Option has been refined since the Draft EIS was completed.  Currently three design approaches within Option 2 are being considered, all based on a TMT Access Way similar to that identified in the Draft EIS, that would have the following characteristics:

• Cut off the Mauna Kea Access Road between the SMA road and the currently at the blocked old 4-wheel drive road (the same location as Option 3) and connect with the SMA road once beyond the SMA core.
• Be roughly 1,000 feet long with approximately 275 feet of new road and the remaining 725 feet overlying existing SMA roads.
• Have a 20-foot wide travel way (2 lanes) that widens to the 26-foot wide

configuration once reaching relatively level ground.

• Have a wire guardrail, similar to other roads in the summit region, and a drainage channel on the downslope side, where necessary.
• Have a maximum slope of 15 percent.

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• Underground conduit with pull boxes and the necessary electric and communication cables would be installed along the Access Way.
• Be paved for a distance of roughly 300 750 feet, from the current end of pavement at the intersection of the Mauna Kea Access Road and the SMA road to a location just beyond the intersection of the SMA road and the blocked old 4-wheel drive road.

The refined design approaches within Option 2 would allow safe SMA operations. The refined design approaches include a realigned SMA road that would provide routes and grades suitable for the SMA antenna transporter that was not accommodated by Option 2 prior to refinement. These realigned SMA roads would also allow the transporter to reach as many of the SMA pad as possible on roads separate from the TMT Access Way. The three design approaches are discussed in the following sections and illustrated in Figure 2-8 and Table 2-1 summarizes the disturbances associated with each approach.

Option 2, Design Approach A (2A)

Option 2A would involve a road for SMA movements parallel to the TMT Access Way between the SMA core and the SMA pad just north of the SMA core (pad 16).  The SMA road would  have the following characteristics:

• Be roughly 200 feet long and 18 feet wide,
• Have a dirt surface,
• Be located as close to the TMT Access Way Option 2 road as possible, and
  • Have a slope of 12 percent, the maximum that can be traversed by the SMA antenna transporter.

Because the two roads (TMT Access Way and new SMA road) would be on different grades, a retaining wall between them would be necessary. The wall would be roughly 250 feet long and have a maximum height of roughly 6 feet.

This Option would allow SMA to access all its antenna pads without interference with TMT operations, except the four pads in the northeast portion of the SMA area.

Option 2, Design Approach B (2B)

Option 2B would involve a road for SMA movements parallel to the TMT Access Way between the SMA core and the SMA pad just north of the SMA core (pad 16) similar to Option 3A, however, the road would be just west of the TMT Access Way. The SMA road would have similar characteristics as the Option 2A SMA road except that it would be a sufficient distance from the TMT Access Way that a retaining wall would not be necessary between the two roads.

This Option would allow SMA to access all its antenna pads without interference with TMT operations, except the four pads in the northeast portion of the SMA area.

Option 2, Design Approach C (2C)

Option 2C would involve building two new SMA roads:

1. A 390 foot long road between antenna pads 14 and 24, and

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Figure 2-8: Access Way Option 2 Design Approaches

1. A 220 foot long road between antenna pad 16 and the road near pad 15.

The two dirt roads would be roughly 18 feet wide and essentially be flat because they follow existing natural contours.

This Option would allow SMA to access all its antenna pads without interference with TMT operations, except the two pads in the northeast portion of the SMA area.

Option 3 – 4-Wheel Drive Road Around the SMA Core

Based on comments received during the Draft EIS public review period and other input, this Option has been modified since the Draft EIS was completed. Currently two design approaches

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within Option 3 are being considered. All the design approaches include a TMT Access Way alignment similar to that identified in the Draft EIS (Figure 2-8); however, Access Way Option 3 has been refined to have the following characteristics:

• Cut off the Mauna Kea Access Road at the blocked old 4-wheel drive road, follow the currently blocked old 4-wheel drive road and connect with the SMA road once beyond the SMA core.
• Be roughly 1,000 feet long and require widening improving the old 4-wheel drive road over a distance of roughly 750 feet, with the remaining 250 feet following an existing SMA road.
• Where it coincides with the currently blocked old 4-wheel drive road, the Access Way would consist of only a single 12-foot wide travel lane with a single 4-foot wide shoulder (total width of 18 feet), instead of two 12-foot wide travel lanes with two 1-foot wide shoulders (total width of 26 feet). Due to the steepness of the pu‘u, a retaining wall up to  8 feet high would be built along a 700-foot long portion of the road to avoid grading a large portion of the Pu‘u. This design modification eliminates the need for a retaining  wall on the upslope side of the road, as opposed to requiring a retaining wall up to 8 feet tall necessary for the 26 feet wide road.
• Widen to the 26-foot wide configuration once it joins the existing SMA road.
• Have a maximum slope of nine percent.
  • Have a wire guardrail, similar to other roads in the summit region, and a drainage channel on the downslope side, where necessary.
  • Be paved for a distance of roughly 300 750 feet, from the current end of pavement at the intersection of the Mauna Kea Access Road and the SMA road to a location just beyond the intersection of the SMA road and the blocked old 4-wheel drive road.

The design approaches within Option 3 consist of different methods to improve the blocked old 4-wheel drive road, specifically, the slope of the bank on the downslope side of the improvements. The two design approaches are:

• ·

• Option 3, Design Approach B (3B). The bank of the slope would be a roughly 1 to 1 slope. Some sort of structural fill would be required to attain this slope and a facing of some type would be necessary to prevent erosion of the slope; however, this would minimize disturbance to the cinder cone.

Table 2-1 summarizes the disturbances associated with both approaches. Both Options 3A and 3B would allow SMA to access all its antenna pads without interference from TMT operations, except the two pads in the northeast portion of the SMA area.

With either design approach, the underground conduit with pull boxes for the necessary electric and communication cables could be placed either under the TMT Access Way Option 3 alignment or along the Access Way Option 2 alignment, or along the existing SMA roads.

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2.5.3           Potential TMT Mid-Level Facility

Like the existing Maunakea observatories, Project personnel will utilize the existing Hale Pōhaku facilities, including the dorms, cafeteria, office space, and utility infrastructure. These facilities are located within Hale Pōhaku (TMK 4-4-15: 12) and are operated by Mauna Kea Observatories Support Services (MKSS). Some existing utilities are located nearby in the surrounding Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (TMK 4-4-15: 1). The Project may also build a new TMT Mid-Level Facility. The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility improvements will include infrastructure improvements nearby in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and may include replacement and remodeling of facilities within Hale Pōhaku (Figure 2-9). The following sections describe the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility improvements.

In Hale Pōhaku

The Project may upgrade facilities within Hale Pōhaku. Any upgrades will be coordinated with current users of Hale Pōhaku and the public. Any upgrades will initially support the TMT Observatory construction-phase staff, which will be larger than the operational-phase staff.

Potential TMT Mid-Level Facility improvements within Hale Pōhaku (Figure 2-9) may include any, all, or none of the following:

• Replacing the existing vacant “Keck” construction dormitory facilities that are not up to current standards with new two-story dormitory/dining/recreation facilities that are up to standards.  Remodeling the four “Subaru” construction cabins.  These cabins are currently regularly used by the VIS personnel, rangers, and volunteers; if this improvement is undertaken allowances will be made so that those currently using the Keck and Subaru construction buildings will continue to have access to similar office, storage, and presentation spaces during TMT construction either in the new facilities or elsewhere at Hale Pōhaku.
• Installing a new septic system to service the replacement and remodeled facilities.
  • Grading the western portion of the lower part of Hale Pōhaku for parking about 20 vehicles and construction staging, as discussed in Section 0.

Should any or all of these improvements take place, the design of these facilities will be   reviewed by the OMKM design review committee to ensure their compliance with requirements. The potential improvements for the TMT Mid-Level Facility within Hale Pōhaku will disturb up to a roughly 3.2-acre area if they all occur. The area has been previously disturbed, primarily by construction camps for Subaru and Keck observatories.

Upon completion of TMT Observatory construction, any of these facilities built by TMT will become the property of UH. They will be transformed into useful space for the long-term needs of Hale Pōhaku and MKSR. MKSS would manage and use these facilities as they see fit.

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Figure 2-9: Existing and Potential Hale Pōhaku Facilities

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Figure 2-9: Existing and Potential Hale Pōhaku Facilities with Aerial Photograph Background

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Near Hale Pōhaku

Two transformers within the HELCO compound will be upgraded by the local electrical utility company. The HELCO compound is located across Mauna Kea Access Road from Hale Pōhaku (Figure 2-9). The new

transformers will be placed next to in the same location as the existing

transformers and the existing fenced compound will not be expanded slightly to make room for the new

transformer.

In addition, electrical service from the transformer compound near Hale Pōhaku to the existing utility boxes across the road from the SMA building will be upgraded by the local electrical utility company to support

the TMT Observatory’s power requirements. This will be done by removing existing conducting wire and placing new electric conducting wire in existing spare underground conduits.

The existing conduit is located approximately 50 feet west of the Mauna Kea Access Road within UH Management Areas for portions of the distance to the summit area; however, in areas the electrical conduit is located along a former access road alignment that is now within the Ice Age NAR (Figure 2-10).

Figure 2-10: Route of Electrical Conduit

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There are pull boxes located approximately every 300 feet along the conduit. Installing  new wire  in the conduit will not result in any new disturbance but the local utility company will need to access the pull boxes to install the new cable.

2.5.4           Headquarters

Due to the rigors of living and working at high elevation, observatories build headquarter facilities at lower elevations

for the majority of their administrative and operations staff. Most of the staff does not need to directly access the telescope on a daily basis. TMT has planned its operation to minimize the number of activities needing to be done by staff at the TMT Observatory and plans to maintain and operate much of the equipment remotely from the Headquarters. This reduces the number of trips to and people at the TMT Observatory.

The Headquarters will be located in Hilo on the UH Hilo campus, within the University Park of Science and Technology (University Park) development. University Park consists of portions of TMK 2-4-1: 7, all of TMK 2-4-1: 41, and a mauka expansion on portions of TMK 2-4-1: 122.

Some existing observatories have their headquarters in University Park. The options being considered for the Project Headquarters within University Park are all within either TMK 2-4-1: 7 or 2-4-1: 122 (Figure 2-11). The Headquarters will be an approximately 20,000 to 35,000 square foot office building; and it is planned to include solar hot water systems for domestic  water use, photo voltaic power systems to partially offset the general electrical power usage, maximum use of natural lighting, and all office lighting will use energy efficient light fixtures controlled by occupancy sensors. The Headquarters will be designed with local knowledge to make maximum use of the climate and natural ventilation.

2.5.5           Satellite Office – No Longer Considered

The Draft EIS considered a Satellite Office; however, it is no longer planned as part of the Project and all discussion related to it in Chapters 3 and 4 have been removed in the Final EIS.

The Satellite Office, in coordination with the Headquarters, would support operation of the TMT Observatory. The options being considered in Waimea include commercially-zoned vacant lots behind the Parker Ranch Center (Figure). The design of the Satellite Office would depend upon the selected location. The Satellite Office would be smaller than the Headquarters, and is currently estimated to be an office building of approximately 10,000 to 25,000 square feet.

Figure 2-10: Possible Satellite Office Locations in Waimea

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Figure 2-11: Possible Headquarters Location in Hilo

2.6       Construction Areas

During construction additional areas will temporarily be utilized and/or disturbed. Construction baseyards required for the construction of the telescope and observatory will include:

• “Port Staging Area.” An existing warehouse and/or yard near the port where Project components are received. This area will be used for receiving materials and assembly of those materials to the extent possible prior to transport to either another staging area or

the construction site.

• “Hale Pōhaku Staging Area.” A staging area in the western portion of the lower part of

Hale Pōhaku, within the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility boundary shown on Figure

2-9. This area may be used for parking plus vehicle washing and inspection and cleaning prior to proceeding up to the observatory site. It may also be utilized for the assembly of enclosure and telescope components to the extent possible prior to transport to the construction site and the storage of materials needed for construction work at Hale Pōhaku. This area has been used for similar purposes during the construction of other observatories.

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Figure 2-11: Possible Headquarters Location in Hilo with Aerial Photograph Background

• “Batch Plant Staging Area.” A roughly 4-acre area northwest of where the Mauna Kea Access Road forks near the summit (Figure 2-3). This area will primarily be used for storing bulk materials and a concrete batch plant, as it has been in the past during construction of other observatories.
• The area within the TMT Observatory, potential TMT Mid-Level Facility, and Headquarters sites not occupied by structures will also be utilized as staging areas during construction of those facilities. These areas will be utilized for materials needed in the short term and final pre- assembly of components prior to installation.

2.7       Project Phases and Activities

The TMT Observatory Project involves four major phases: planning and design, construction  and testing, operation, and decommissioning of the TMT Observatory after it reaches the end of its planned useful life. Table 2-2 presents the overall conceptual phasing framework for the Project that will be updated on an ongoing basis and refined as the process moves forward. The following sections discuss activities anticipated during the various phases of the Project.

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Table 2-2: Anticipated Activities Timeline

2.7.1           Planning and Design

The TMT Observatory Corporation conducted an extensive worldwide study to evaluate potential locations for the TMT. After narrowing the potential observatory sites to five, site testing was performed to evaluate observation conditions at each of the five sites. Based on

testing results and other factors, Maunakea in the United States was identified by the TMT Board for further consideration. The considerations used by the TMT Board to narrow the field of potential sites are discussed in Section 4.1.

The Chapter 343 environmental review process for the Maunakea site is ongoing. This Final EIS is the final step in the process, which is discussed in Chapter 1.0 of this EIS. Following the completion of the EIS process, planning work will continue in order to obtain the Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) and other necessary permits prior to construction.

The design of the TMT Observatory has been ongoing, and has included design of the telescope; instruments, including the AO system; and the dome and attached building. The design of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility is also on-going.

2.7.2           Construction and Testing

Project construction will begin in 2011 and take approximately seven years to complete. Construction will begin with Access Way improvements and the TMT Mid-Level Facility, if constructed. These improvements will support construction of the TMT Observatory.

Construction is detailed in Section 3.15.

It is anticipated that the construction crew at the TMT Observatory site will average 50 to 60 crew members through the life of construction; during certain phases, a crew of more than 100

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will be working at the site. Some of the TMT Observatory construction crew may be housed at

the existing dormitories at Hale Pōhaku, and, if built, the TMT Mid-Level Facility. Construction  is expected to take place six days a week, 10 hours a day; however, some special operations or construction phases will require longer work hours. It is also expected that winter weather conditions at the TMT Observatory site will interrupt construction at times, until the dome is completed.

First light, or the time when the TMT is first used to take an astronomical image, is expected in 2018. Tests will then be conducted and adjustments to the telescope and instruments made for a period of time to gain optimum efficiency and seeing.

2.7.3           Operation

The first scientific results using the TMT Observatory are expected in 2018. During the life of the TMT Observatory astronomical observations will be made by scientists from around the

world.  A staff of up to 140 people will be necessary to operate and maintain the observatory.  It  is expected that an average of 24 employees will work at the TMT Observatory during daytime operations, with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 43 possible depending on activities. Each night, approximately 6 system operators will be present at the TMT Observatory, while   observers and support astronomers will observe remotely from the Headquarters. All other members of the staff will work at the Headquarters. an estimated 44 members of the staff would work at the TMT Observatory, with approximately 60 members of the staff working at the Headquarters and approximately 30 members of the staff working at the Satellite Office.

2.7.4           Decommissioning

The TMT Observatory and the extent of the Access Way exclusively used to access the TMT Observatory will be dismantled and the site restored at the end of the TMT Observatory’s life in compliance with the Decommissioning Plan for the Mauna Kea Observatories, a Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan (OMKM, 2010a). Deconstruction and site restoration efforts will be managed by TMT with oversight by OMKM. A process similar to the MKMB-approved Project Review Process will be established to review, guide, and recommend the disposition of a site, including site restoration. Reviewers will include OMKM, Kahu Kū Mauna, and the MKMB Environment Committee, with MKMB approval required.

Site Decommissioning Plan

A Site Decommissioning Plan (SDP), as described in the Decommissioning Plan (OMKM, 2010a) will be required from TMT to document the condition of the observatory site, outline its approach to decommissioning, and propose a plan for site restoration. The TMT SDP will be developed in stages consisting of the following four components.

Notice of Intent (NOI)

The purpose of the NOI is for the sublessee to propose whether their site will be removed, continued for use as an observatory by a third party, or retrofitted for a different use. The NOI will also contain the intentions for site restoration, and a site description that summarizes the

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overall condition and land use, including a description of all structures, equipment, and other appurtenances.

Environmental Due Diligence Review

For all cases of potential future use described in the NOI, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of the observatory property will be conducted and the results submitted to UH and DLNR, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL). The goal of this is to identify any hazardous substances or petroleum products that may have been released into the ground, groundwater, or surface water of the property. If recognized environmental conditions are

identified in the Phase I, a more in-depth Phase II may be required.

Site Deconstruction and Removal Plan (SDRP)

The SDRP will document the proposed methods for demolishing, in part or total, any and all observatory structures and related infrastructure; grading and grubbing the site; stockpiling fill materials; and solid waste recovery, reuse, and disposal. A SDRP will not be required if ownership of the observatory is intended to simply be transferred and no deconstruction/construction activities are proposed.

Specific factors that need to be considered during the development of the SDRP include:

• Cultural Sensitivity. Cultural considerations with respect to deconstruction will be identified as part of the SDRP assessment and evaluation.
• Extent of Infrastructure Removal and Deconstruction. The foundation will extend below grade and will require considerable excavation to remove and significant material to backfill the voids. There are two possibilities with regard to the removal of the TMT facility and infrastructure:

a.

b. Infrastructure capping – all or part of the underground portion of the facility would be left in place, capped with an impermeable material, and topped with materials similar to the surroundings.

Site Restoration Plan (SRP)

The SRP will present specific targets for site restoration and describe the methodology for restoring disturbed areas after the demolition/construction activities described in the SDRP are completed. The Decommissioning Plan (OMKM, 2010a) states that the two primary objectives of site restoration are (1) restoring the look and feel of the summit prior to construction of the observatories, and (2) providing habitat for the aeolian arthropod fauna.

The level of restoration to be performed and the potential impact of the restoration activities on natural and cultural resources during and post-activity must be carefully evaluated in the SRP. Specific factors that need to be considered during the development of the SRP include cultural sensitivity.

Three levels of site restoration have been set forth in the CMP (UH, 2009a) and the Decommissioning Plan (OMKM, 2010a). Establishing three levels recognizes that in addition to

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the potential benefits of site restoration, there are also potential impacts. The three levels of site restoration are:

1. Minimal – would include the removal of all man-made materials and the grading of the site.
2. Moderate – would include the removal of all man-made materials, grading of the site, and enhancing the structure of the physical habitat to benefit the arthropod (insect)

community.

1. Full – would include return of the site to its original topography and restoration of the arthropod habitat.

The level of restoration to be done at the TMT Observatory site would be determined at a later time and would be determined based on an environmental cost/benefit analysis overseen by OMKM, Kahu Kū Mauna, and other stakeholders. The level of restoration to be performed by TMT will be negotiated between TMT, UH, and DLNR according to the sublease terms.

Site restoration activities may involve using cinder or materials similar to the surroundings either to fill holes or to reconstruct topography. Consideration will be given to where fill material will come from, how excavation and removal of materials will impact the collection area and any habitat surrounding the restoration area, and what the cultural considerations are for bringing materials from a different place to Maunakea.

Upon the completion of site restoration, monitoring of the restoration activities will begin and continue for at least three years. Results of monitoring activities will be submitted to OMKM.

Management Actions

The CMP also lays out several decommissioning management actions, they are:

1. Consider future decommissioning during project planning and include provisions in subleases that require funding of full restoration (CMP Management Action SR-3).
2. Once the observatory’s useful life has ended, develop a recycling and/or demolition plan (referred to as a SDRP and SRP in the Decommissioning Sub Plan) that considers items such as waste management and demolition best management practices (BMPs) (CMP Management Action SR-1).
3. CMP Management Action FLU-3 requires cataloguing the initial site conditions for use when conducting site restoration in the future.
4. Once the observatory’s useful life has ended, develop a SRP in association with the SDRP, which will include an environmental cost-benefit analysis and a cultural assessment (CMP Management Action SR-2). The cost-benefit analysis of the three levels of restoration will consider restoration costs and related impacts, including the cultural assessment. In compliance with CMP Management Action FLU-4, the site restoration plan would include visual renderings of the site setting pre- and post- restoration for each of the three levels of restoration to facilitate analysis of potential impacts to view planes.

To address the first management action, the Project has (a) included in the design of the TMT Observatory and Access Way the use of almost all excavated material on those sites so that it

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will be available for use again during site restoration, and (b) included in the planned Project operation budget annually setting aside funds that will be used for decommissioning of the TMT Observatory. The Project anticipates decommissioning and site restoration requirements will be included in the sublease. TMT is committed to preparing the necessary plans, such as the SDP, SDRP, and SRP, in accordance with the general timeline presented in the Decommissioning Plan and providing an opportunity for the public to comment on the plans. The current UH lease of

the MKSR expires in 2033 and the TMT Observatory and the portion of the Access Way exclusively used to access the TMT Observatory will be decommissioned and the site restored by that time, unless a new lease has been obtained from the BLNR.

2.8       References

National Research Council (NRC), 2001. Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium. By NRC; Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications; Board on Physics and Astronomy-Space Studies Board; Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee. National Academy Press, Washington D.C. 2001.

NRC-Canada, 1999. Canadian Astronomy and Astrophysics in the 21st Century, The Origins of Structures in the Universe. NRC-Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Canadian Astronomical Society.

Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM), 2010b. Public Access Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January 2010. Prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc., Island Planning, and Island Transitions, LLC, approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

OMKM, 2010a. Decommissioning Plan for Mauna Kea Observatories; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January 2010. Prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

OMKM, 2009b. A Cultural Resource Management Plan for the University of Hawai‘i Management Areas on Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe Ahupua‘a, Hāmākua District, Island of Hawai‘i, State of Hawai‘i. TMK: (3) 4-4-015: 09, 12; A Sub-Plan for the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. October 2009. Prepared by Pacific Consulting Services, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

OMKM, 2009a. Natural Resources Management Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. September 2009. Prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

University of Hawai‘i (UH), 2009c. Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Thirty Meter Telescope Project. May 23, 2009.

UH, 2009b. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan Final Environmental Assessment.

Prepared by Pacific Consulting Services, Inc. for UH. April 2009.

UH, 2009a. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January, 2009. Approved by BLNR on April 9, 2009.

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UH, 2000. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan. Available on the web http://www.hawaii.edu/maunakea/. Prepared by Group 70 International, Inc., adopted by the UH Board of Regents on June 16, 2000.

UH, 1999. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement.

Prepared by Group 70 International Inc. for UH. December 1999.

UH, 1983a. Mauna Kea Science Reserve: Complex Development Plan. Prepared by Group 70 International, Inc. for Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i. February 1983 (amended May 1987).

UH, 1983b. Mauna Kea Science Reserve: Complex Development Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement. Prepared by Group 70 International, Inc. for Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i. January 1983.

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3.0               Environmental Setting,

          Impact, and Mitigation          

Maunakea is one of the most significant cultural and astronomical sites in the world. Hawaiians feel a cultural kinship with Maunakea; traditional genealogy account that Wākea (the sky-father) and Papa (the earth mother) gave birth both to the islands and the first  man (Hāloa), and from   this ancestor all Hawaiian people are descended. Native Hawaiian traditions state that among the islands, Hawai‘i was first born and Maunakea represents the piko (umbilical cord) to Papa and Wākea. Maunakea is also exceptional for its quality for astronomical observations and is the scientific umbilical cord to the mysteries of the universe.

UH has been working to find ways for these two cultures to co-exist in such a way that is mutually respectful yet honors the unique cultural and natural resources of Maunakea. The most recent effort is the CMP recently approved by the BLNR and accepted by the UH BOR. The BLNR shares the belief that “these diverse interests can be accommodated,” recognizing that Maunakea’s summit area is unique and one of Earth’s special places. The CMP provides for the stewardship of the land with a road map to conserve, protect, and preserve this unique and most special resource. The CMP is the culmination of years of work by OMKM and UH Hilo in establishing the foundation for good management of UH’s management areas.

UH, UH Hilo, and TMT have gained an understanding of the cultural sensitivity of Maunakea through working with the community during the preparation of the CMP and this Final EIS. It is the intention of all those involved to be good stewards of the land and avoid miscommunication  or unintentional disrespect between the Project and the community.

This Chapter presents our current understanding of the environmental setting in the region and at specific Project locations.  Mitigation measures identified in this Final EIS have been developed  to avoid, minimize, rectify, or reduce the Project’s potential substantial adverse environmental impacts and be good stewards of the land. Mitigation measures have been considered throughout the Project planning process and incorporated into the Project design and construction plans.

3.1       Introduction

Each Section in this Chapter discusses (a) current conditions and/or management practices in the region and in the Project area related to the specific environmental subject, (b) the threshold used to determine the Project’s level of impact, (c) the Project’s potential long-term operation phase impacts related to the specific environmental subject, (d) the potential mitigation measures that could be implemented by the Project to avoid, minimize, rectify, or reduce potential substantial adverse environmental impacts, and (e) the Project’s relative potential impact that will remain after the potential mitigation measures are implemented. Operation phase effects will occur consistently throughout the operational life of the Project, and will at least partially end upon decommissioning.

Short-term potential construction phase and decommissioning phase effects are discussed in a single section, Section 3.15, and will be temporary.

The information about existing conditions, potential Project impacts, and potential mitigation measures presented in this Chapter has been developed through (a) the review and use of existing information related to Maunakea, specifically information related to the UH Management Areas (the MKSR, a corridor along the Mauna Kea Access Road, and Hale Pōhaku), and other Project areas; and (b) new studies conducted for this Project.  Existing information related to Maunakea  is extensive, and includes the following principal sources:

• Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan</span>; 2000, accepted by the UH BOR on June 16, 2000 (http://www.hawaii.edu/maunakea/)
• Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan, UH Management Areas (CMP); January 2009, approved by the BLNR on April 9, 2009 (http://www.maunakeacmp.com/overview/documents); including the following sub plans (http://www.malamamaunakea.org/?page_id=272):

–          Natural Resources Management Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan</span>; September 2009 (the “NRMP”)

–

–          Decommissioning Plan for the Mauna Kea Observatories; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan</span>; January 2010 (the “DP”)

–          Public Access Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan</span>; January 2010 (the “PAP”)

• Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) for the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP)</span>; April 1, 2009 (http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/EA_and_EIS_Online_Library/Hawaii

/2000s/2009-04-23-HA-FEA-Mauna-Kea-Comp-Management-Plan.pdf)

Each section also includes a list of references with additional sources of information used in the evaluation of the specific environmental subject.

Each environmental subject is discussed in this Final EIS as outlined in the following sections.

Page 3-2       Final EIS: TMT Observatory                                                                                Section 3.1 – Introduction

3.1.1           Environmental Setting

“Environmental Setting” describes the existing environmental conditions in the Project areas and the region as it currently exists, before the commencement of the Project. This provides a baseline for comparing “before the Project” and “after the Project” environmental conditions.

3.1.2           Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact

“Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact” defines and lists specific criteria used to determine whether an impact is

considered to be potentially significant. HRS Chapter 343, Section 2, defines “significant effect” to mean “the sum of effects on the quality of the environment, including actions that irrevocably commit a natural resource, curtail the range of beneficial uses of the environment, are contrary to the State’s environmental policies or long-term environmental goals as established by law, or adversely affect the economic welfare, social welfare, or cultural practices of the community and State.” Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) Section 11-200-12 then provides 13 “significance criteria” against which an action is to evaluate its potential impact. These criteria are:

1. Involves an irrevocable commitment to loss or destruction of any natural or cultural resource.
2. Curtails the range of beneficial uses of the environment.
   1. Conflicts with the state’s long-term environmental policies or goals and guidelines as expressed in Chapter 344, HRS, and any revisions thereof and amendments thereto, court decisions, or executive orders.
   2. Substantially affects the economic welfare, social welfare, and cultural practices of the community or State.
   3. Substantially affects public health.
      1. Involves substantial secondary impacts, such as population changes or effects on public facilities.
      2. Involves a substantial degradation of environmental quality.
         1. Is individually limited but cumulatively has considerable effect upon the environment or involves a commitment for larger actions.
         2. Substantially affects a rare, threatened, or endangered species, or its habitat.
         3. Detrimentally affects air or water quality or ambient noise levels.

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1. Affects or is likely to suffer damage by being located in an environmentally sensitive area such as a flood plain, tsunami zone, beach, erosion-prone area, geologically hazardous land, estuary, fresh water, or coastal waters.
2. Substantially affects scenic vistas and viewplanes identified in County or State plans or studies.
3. Requires substantial energy consumption.

The thresholds established correspond to the above criteria and other environmental laws. Each section of this Final EIS presents a significance threshold for its specific environmental subject; should the Project potentially cause an impact greater than the identified threshold then the potential impact would be considered to be significant.

3.1.3           Potential Project Impacts

The Project impacts will occur within the context of the current conditions in the summit region and are evaluated as occuring in such context.  That context includes the presence of  observatories and road in the summit region, as well as the presence of observatory employees  and visitors in the summit region. The potential impacts are also evaluated within the framework of the Project’s compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for its action type and location. The existing rules, regulations, requirements, and procedures applicable to the Project are considered a part of the existing regulatory environment. The applicable rules, regulations, and requirements include:

• Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR), including (but not limited to):

–          Title 4, Subtitle 6, Chapter 68, Noxious Weed  Rules

–          Title 11, Chapter 23, Underground Injection  Control

–          Title 11, Chapter 45, Community Noise Control

–          Title 11, Chapter 54, Water Quality Standards

–          Title 11, Chapter 55, Water Pollution Control

–          Title 11, Chapter 60, Air Pollution Control

–          Title 11, Chapter 62, Wastewater Systems

–          Title 11, Chapter 68, Litter Control

–          Title 11, Chapter 200, Environmental Impact Statement Rules

–          Title 11, Chapter 260, Hazardous Waste Management General Provisions

–          Title 11, Chapter 262, Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

–          Title 13, Subtitle 1, Chapter 5, Conservation District

–          Title 13, Subtitle 5, Chapter 107, Threatened and Endangered Plants

–          Title 13, Subtitle 5, Chapter 124, Indigenous Wildlife, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, and Introduced Wild Birds

–          Title 13, Subtitle 13, Chapter 275-284, Historic Preservation Review Process

–          Title 13, Subtitle 13, Chapter 300, Burial Sites and Human Remains

• Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS), including (but not limited to):

Page 3-4       Final EIS: TMT Observatory                                                                                Section 3.1 – Introduction

–          Chapter 6E, Historic Preservation

–          Chapter 183C, Conservation District

–          Chapter 195D, Conservation of Aquatic Life, Wildlife, and Land Plants

–          Chapter 205, State Land Use Law

–          Chapter 226, Hawai‘i State Planning Act

–          Chapter 342D, Water Pollution Law

–          Chapter 342J, Hawai‘i Hazardous Waste Law

–          Chapter 343, Environmental Impact Statements

–          Chapter 344, Hawai‘i State Environmental Policy

• County of Hawai‘i rules and requirements, including (but not limited to):

–          County of Hawai‘i General Plan

–          South Kohala Development Plan

• Maunakea UH Management Area requirements:

–          Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan</span>; June 16, 2000 (the “2000 Master Plan”)

–          Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan, UH Management Areas (CMP); January 2009. Including the following sub plan components:

• Natural Resources Management  Plan (NRMP)
• Cultural Resource Management Plan (CRMP)
• Public Access Plan (PAP)
• Decommissioning Plan (DP)

–          Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) for the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP)</span>; April 1, 2009

To ensure compliance, the Project will (a) design its facilities to comply and/or facilitate compliance, and (b) develop and implement a range of plans and programs outlined in this Final EIS. These plans and programs will include policies and procedures to be employed during long-term operation as well as construction of the Project. Among these plans and programs are the following:

• Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program. TMT Project personnel and contractors will all go through this training program prior to working in the summit region. This program will be implemented to comply with CMP Management Actions CR-3, NR-6, EO-2, P-4, and IM-2. TMT will coordinate and collaborate with OMKM and ‘Imiloa on the development of the program and its implementation. This program is outlined in Sections 3.2.3, 3.3.3, and 3.4.3.
• Invasive Species Prevention and Control Program. This program will be prepared and implemented to comply with CMP Management Action NR-2. TMT will coordinate and collaborate with OMKM on the development of the program and its implementation.  This program is outlined in Section 3.4.3.
• Waste Minimization Plan (WMP). This plan will include annual audits to reduce hazardous materials use and energy consumption. This plan will be prepared and

Section 3.1 – Introduction                                                                               Final EIS: TMT Observatory       Page 3-5

implemented to comply with CMP Management Actions IM-12 and IM-14. TMT will coordinate with OMKM on development and implementation of TMT’s plan. This plan is outlined in Sections 3.8.3 and 3.12.3.

• Materials Storage/Waste Management Plan and component Spill Prevention and Response Plan (SPRP). This plan will be prepared and implemented to comply with hazardous materials rules and regulations and is outlined in Section 3.8.3.

The details of these programs and plans are presented in the following sections of Chapter 3 as applicable.

3.1.4           Mitigation Measures

“Mitigation Measures” identifies Project-specific measures that may be needed that go beyond compliance with applicable existing rules, regulations, and requirements, to reduce a potentially significant impact, as applicable. The compliance with existing applicable rules, regulations, and requirements is considered a part of the existing regulatory environment, and is described above. The mitigation measures identified in this Final EIS have been developed to avoid, minimize, rectify, or reduce the Project’s potential substantial adverse environmental impacts. Mitigation measures have been considered throughout the Project  planning process and  incorporated into  the Project design and construction plans. Project mitigation measures are identified and detailed in subsection 4 of Sections 3.2 through 3.14, and Section 3.15.2. Examples of mitigation  measures include:

• A Community Benefits Package (CBP), which will commence upon the start of Project construction and continue for the term of the sublease. As part of the CBP, the TMT Observatory Corporation will provide $1 million annually during such period; the dollar amount will be adjusted annually using an appropriate inflation index. The CBP will be administered via The Hawai‘i Island New Knowledge (THINK) Fund Board of Advisors. The CBP is discussed more in Section 3.9.4.
• The TMT outreach office, in coordination with OMKM and ‘Imiloa, will support the development of exhibits regarding cultural, natural, and historic resources that could be used at the VIS, ‘Imiloa, TMT facilities, or other appropriate locations. Exhibits will include informational materials that explore the connection between Hawaiian culture and astronomy.
• TMT will partner with existing institutions to help develop, implement, and sustain a comprehensive, proactive, results-oriented Workforce Pipeline Program (WPP) that will lead to a highly qualified pool of local workers who could be considered for hiring into most TMT job classes and salary levels; special emphasis will be given to those programs aimed at preparing local residents for science, engineering, and technical positions commanding higher wages. The WPP is discussed more in Section 3.9.4.
• TMT will implement a Ride-Sharing Program. This program will reduce the number of vehicle trips a day to the summit. This will reduce the presence of vehicles on the mountain, in turn reducing the amount of dust and noise generated by vehicles. The Ride-Sharing Program is discussed more in Section 3.11.4.

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3.1.5           Level of Impact after Mitigation

“Level of Impact after Mitigation” indicates what effect remains after application of mitigation measures, and whether the remaining effect would be considered to be significant, as applicable.

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3.2       Cultural Resources Practices and Beliefs

Articles IX and XII of the State Constitution, other state laws, and the courts of the state require government agencies to promote and preserve cultural resources of native Hawaiians and other ethnic groups. To assist decision-makers in the protection of cultural resources, HRS Chapter 343 and HAR Section 11-200 establish rules for the environmental impact assessment process requiring project proponents to assess proposed actions for their potential impact on cultural resources.

“Cultural resources” is a broad term that encompasses cultural and religious practices and beliefs plus  historic properties, such as structures over 50 years old and archaeological sites.  The  historic properties component of cultural resources, including  archaeological sites,  is  discussed in Section 3.3. This section focuses on cultural resources practices and beliefs in the region and specific Project areas, the potential impact of the Project on those resources practices and beliefs, and mitigation measures the Project will employ to minimize those potential impacts.

3.2.1           Environmental Setting

In Hawaiian culture, natural and cultural resources are one and the same. Native traditions describe the formation (literally the birth) of the Hawaiian Islands and the presence of life on,  and around them, in the context of genealogical accounts. All forms of the natural environment, from the skies and mountain peaks, to the watered valleys and lava plains, and to the shore line and ocean depths are believed to be embodiments of Hawaiian gods and deities.

It was the nature of place that shaped the cultural and spiritual view of the Hawaiian people. “Cultural Attachment” embodies the tangible and intangible values of a culture – how a people identify with, and personify the environment around them. It is the intimate relationship (developed over generations of experiences) that people of a particular culture feel for the sites, features, phenomena, and natural resources, etc., that surround them – their sense of place. This attachment is deeply rooted in the beliefs, practices, cultural evolution, and identity of a people.¹⁵

The epic “Kumulipo,” a Hawaiian Creation Chant, was translated by Martha Warren Beckwith (1951). The “pule” (prayer) was given, in ca. 1700, at the dedication of the new-born chief, Ka- ‘i-i-mamao, also known as Lono-i-ka-Makahiki. Beckwith described the pule as:

The Hawaiian Kumulipo is a genealogical prayer chant linking the royal family to which it belonged not only to primary gods belonging to the whole people and worshiped in common with allied Polynesian groups, not only to deified chiefs born into the living world, the Ao, within the family line, but to the stars in the heavens and the plants and animals useful to life on earth, who must also be   named within the chain of birth and their representatives in the spirit world thus   be brought into the service of their children who live to carry on the line in the world of mankind …¹⁶

¹⁵ cf. James Kent, “Cultural Attachment: Assessment of Impacts to Living Culture.” September, 1995.

¹⁶ Beckwith 1951:8

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This pule further demonstrates the relationship between the Hawaiian people and Hawaiian land

–  ‘āina, that which sustains the people. At the heart of this relationship is the kinship to the ‘āina that comes from the Hawaiian traditional genealogical account that Wākea (the sky-father) and Papa (the earth mother) gave birth both to the islands and the first man (Hāloa), and from this ancestor all Hawaiian people are descended. It was in this context of kinship, that the ancient Hawaiians addressed their environment, and it is the basis of the Hawaiian system of land management and use.

Maunakea Summit Region

A number of research studies, plans, and impact assessments have been prepared in recent time concerning cultural resources on Maunakea. These include:

• Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan, UH Management Areas (CMP). This  plan provides information and management actions to protect, preserve, and enhance the cultural resources of Maunakea within the UH Management Areas. The management actions were formulated with input from the Native Hawaiian community, cultural practitioners, and families with lineal connections to Maunakea, as well as astronomers, scientists, and other interested parties. This plan was prepared by Ku‘iwalu, Inc. for UH (UH, 2009a).
• A Cultural Resource Management Plan for the University of Hawai‘i Management Areas on Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe Ahupua‘a, Hāmākua District, Island of Hawai‘i, State of Hawai‘i. TMK: (3) 4-4-015: 09, 12; A Sub-Plan for the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan (CRMP). This plan provides an overview of cultural resources and was formulated  to ensure that UH fulfills its mandate to preserve and protect the cultural resources within the UH Management Areas. The goal of the CRMP is to provide a tool UH can use to manage approved activities (such as astronomy) within its management areas in a manner both consistent with cultural resources rules, regulations, and laws and sensitive to  cultural resources.  This plan was prepared by Pacific Consulting Services, Inc. for OMKM on behalf of UH (OMKM, 2009b) and approved by the BLNR on March 25, 2010.

• Appendix F

  Mauna Kea-Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Āina. This document (title translates to Maunakea- The Famous Summit of the Land), attached to this Final EIS as Append F, provides a review of historic records and information collected through oral history interviews with kūpuna and kama‘āina pertaining to Maunakea. The purpose of the work was to provide  a platform for informed discussions regarding cultural and historic resources, so that the use/presence of cultural, natural, and scientific resources of Maunakea could find some harmony. This document was prepared by Kumu Pono Associates LLC for OMKM (Kumu Pono, 2005).

• Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan (UH, 2000) and its appendices, including:

–          Master Plan Appendix I: Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Hale Pōhaku Complex

Development Plan Update: Oral History and Consultation Study, and Archival Literature Research. Ahupua‘a of Ka‘ohe (Hāmākua District) and Humu‘ula (Hilo District) (Kumu Pono, 1999).

–          Master Plan Appendix N: Cultural Impact Assessment Study, Native Hawaiian Cultural Practices, Features, and Beliefs Associated with the University of

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Hawai‘i Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan Project Area (PHRI, 1999), which is attached to this Final EIS as Appendix E.

• Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project (NASA, 2005) and associated Cumulative Cultural Impact Study/Assessment, Desktop Study &amp; Ethnographic Survey, NASA W.M. Keck Observatory Outrigger Telescopes, Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe &amp; Humu‘ula Ahupua‘a, Moku of Hāmākua &amp; Hilo, Hawai‘i (Orr, 2004).

These documents provide a thorough description of the cultural resources of Maunakea on a whole, and this section provides an overview of the cultural resources practices and beliefs primarily drawn from these sources.  In addition, a Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) process   has been completed for the Project to gather community input and assist in the identification of cultural resources in the vicinity of the TMT Observatory and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility; the CIA report is provided in Appendix D. During the CIA process, 58 66 government agency or community organization representatives, or individuals such as long-time area residents and cultural practitioners were contacted. Thirty Twenty-nine people responded, and 13 16 kūpuna (elders) and/or kama‘āina (native-born) were interviewed for more in-depth contributions to the cultural impact survey.

Introduction

In any discussion of Hawaiian land – ‘āina, that which sustains the people – and its place in culture, it is also appropriate to briefly discuss traditional Hawaiian land terms, as the terms demonstrate an intimate knowledge of the environment about them. We observe once again, that in the Hawaiian mind, all aspects of natural and cultural resources are interrelated. Thus, when speaking of Maunakea – the piko  (umbilical) of the first born island-child, Hawai‘i, and the  abode of the gods – its integrity and sense of place depends on the well-being of the whole   entity, not only a part of it.

Hawaiian customs and practices demonstrate the belief that all portions of the land and environment are related. Indeed, just as place names tell us that areas are of cultural importance, so too, the occurrence of a Hawaiian nomenclature for the wao (an inland region) tells us that

there was an intimate relationship between Hawaiians and their environment.

‘Āina mauna, or mountain lands, reflects a term used affectionately by elder Hawaiians to describe the upper regions of all mountain lands surrounding, and including, Maunakea. The area was frequented by native practitioners and contained a native and cultural landscape that provided among other things:

• Places to worship
• Places to gather stones
• Kanu iwi (places to bury human remains)
• Kanu piko (places to bury umbilical cords)
• Places to traverse, i.e. for those who were crossing from one region to another
• Places to gather food, and catch birds
• Sacred and safe areas

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Historic Socio-political Context and Land Use

The MKSR is entirely within the ahupua‘a of Ka‘ohe in the Hāmākua District. An Ahupua‘a is a native land division or territorial unit generally equated with a community.   The Ka‘ohe  ahupua‘a has an uncharacteristically large land area with a small ocean frontage. In the mid- 1800s, Ka‘ohe was assigned to the government land inventory by King Kamehameha III, and  only a few native tenants with claims for land rights were identified at the time; at the close of

the Mahele, one native tenant was granted land in the lower region of Ka‘ohe.

Records indicate that the inhabitants of Ka‘ohe had the sole privilege to capture the “uwa‘u” or ‘ua‘u, the Hawaiian petrel (Pterodrama sandwichensis).  The boundaries of Ka‘ohe are  debatable; in the late 1800s, people appearing before the Commissioners of Boundaries appear to have differing accounts of the appropriate boundary between Ka‘ohe and the neighboring Humu‘ula ahupua‘a, which was Crown land. There was some dispute regarding the boundary along a gulch called Kahawai Koikapue (presumably Pōhakuloa Gulch today), Keanakāko‘i (the adze quarry), Waiau, and Pu‘uokūkahau‘ula (the summit cinder cone complex).  All of these  areas are shown within the Ka‘ohe ahupua‘a on modern maps. Figure 3-1 illustrates a small portion of the boundary between Ka‘ohe and Humu‘ula ahupua‘a.

Little is known ethnographically about the uses of the alpine and subalpine zones on Maunakea, both within Ka‘ohe and other ahupua‘a, except for a few accounts of adze making and burials. Most of what is known regarding traditional land uses is the result of archaeological investigations undertaken since the mid-1970s.

Evidence also indicates that the area above the limits of agriculture and permanent settlement was a vast “wilderness”, probably only known to a small number of Hawaiians engaged in special activities such as ceremonial practices, bird-catching, canoe making, adze making, and burial of the dead. Bird-catching and canoe making were likely concentrated in the upland forests, except for the capture of ‘ua‘u as these birds dug nests in the alpine and subalpine regions.

It is believed that the alpine region of Maunakea was known to early Hawaiians, though the only activity that is known with certainty to have occurred is the manufacture of stone adzes.

Archaeological research indicates that the adze quarry, known as Keanakāko‘i, on the southern slope of Maunakea (concentrated between 11,500 and 12,400 feet) was exploited over a period  as long as 700 years, between the years of 1100 and 1800. When the quarry was abandoned is unknown, but it may have occurred as late as Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778, or soon thereafter.

Myths, Legends, Traditional Histories, and Place Names

The origins of Maunakea and its central place in Hawaiian genealogy and cultural geography are told in mele (poems, chants) and mo‘olelo (stories, traditions). Native Hawaiian traditions state that ancestral akua (gods, goddesses, deities) reside within the mountain summit area. Several natural features in the summit region are named for, or associated with, Hawaiian akua; these associations indicate the importance of Maunakea as a sacred landscape. Each part of the mountain contributes to the integrity of the overall cultural, historical, and spiritual setting.

Maunakea has been referred to as Maunakea since at least 1823. Simply translated Maunakea means “White Mountain.” The name Maunakea is also known in native traditions and prayers as Mauna a Wākea, “The Mountain of Wākea.” In Hawaiian tradition, the island of Hawai‘i is

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Figure 3-1: Cultural Resources in the Maunakea Summit Region

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described as the first-born island child of Wākea (referred to as the Sky Father) and Papa (referred to as the Earth Mother). The union of Wākea and Papa also gave rise to the other Hawaiian Islands and Hāloa, the first man and ancestor of the Native Hawaiian people. In some native traditions, Maunakea is written Maunaakea (Mauna a Kea), literally, “Mountain of Wākea,” and is said to be the piko (umbilical cord) that connects the island-child Hawai‘i to the heavens.

Some contemporary Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners continue to view Maunakea as the first-born of the Wākea and Papa union and, thus, revered as a connection to all Native Hawaiian people and gods. Two chants, Mele a Paku‘i and ‘O Hānau ka Mauna a Wākea, were described  by Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele and her now-deceased husband, Edward Kanahele, in 1998 to

describe, respectively, the birth of Hawai‘i island from the union of Papa and Wākea, the ancestors of Native Hawaiians, and the birth of “budding upward” of Mauna Kea a mountain named for Wākea. As the firstborn of Papa and Wākea, Hawai‘i island is the hiapo, the respected older sibling of all Native Hawaiians. The mountain of Mauna Kea is the piko or origin point for the island, more specifically for the northern half, and therefore is a place of great mana. Because of the mana of the mountain and of Lake Waiau at its summit, Queen Emma went there to bathe in the water…¹⁷

A group of cinder cones make up the summit of Maunakea. Since the 1960s, these cinder cones have been referred to individually as Pu‘u Wēkiu, Pu‘u Hau‘oki, and Pu‘u Kea; one of the cinder cones has not been given a modern name (the one on which IRTF sits). Up until about 1932,  these cinder cones were collectively referred to as Kūkahau‘ula (Figure 3-1). Evidence suggests that the name Kūkahau‘ula referred to both a legendary figure and a character in traditional histories and genealogies, including references to Kūkahau‘ula as the husband of Līlīnoe or as an ‘aumakua (family deity). Kūkahau‘ula is referred to as the husband of Līlīnoe, and Kumu Pono reported (2005) that Kūkahau‘ula was “named for a form of the god Kū, where the piko of new- born children were taken to insure long life and safety.”¹⁸

There are several myths concerning the goddesses Poli‘ahu and Līlīnoe, both of which have pu‘u named for them on Maunakea (Figure 3-1). It has been claimed that Poli‘ahu was one of four snow goddesses “who embodied the mythical ideas of spirits carrying on eternal warfare   between heat and cold, fire and frost, burning lava and stony ice.”¹⁹  According to several  legends, Poli‘ahu was the rival of the fire-goddess, Pele. Poli‘ahu is said to be the first daughter  of Kāne and continues to be commonly referred to as the beautiful snow goddess of Maunakea. Contrary to popular belief, however, Poli‘ahu’s name was attached to the present-day Pu‘u Poli‘ahu in 1892 by the surveyor W.D. Alexander, and not through Native Hawaiian traditions²⁰.

The goddess Līlīnoe is commonly referred to as the “goddess of the mists and younger sister of

the more famous Poli‘ahu.”²¹ The pu‘u named after this goddess (Figure 3-1) does appear to be

related to use by Native Hawaiians and is considered the abode of the goddess. It has been

¹⁷ Langlas, 1999:7.

¹⁸ Kumu Pono, 2005:vi.

¹⁹ Westervelt, 1963:55.

²⁰ Kumu Pono, 2005.

²¹ Pukui and Elbert, 1971:392.

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claimed that Līlīnoe was another of the four snow goddesses, together with Poli‘ahu. Līlīnoe has also appeared as a person in genealogies and legends, including a reference to her as the “wife of Nu‘u, the ‘Noah’, of the discredited Hawai‘i Loa legend involving a great flood.”  Līlīnoe has  also been referred to as “the woman of the mountains” and the ancestress of Pea, a kahuna of Umi’s time.

As described in the CMP, Waiau is also mentioned as a goddess in several legends. The pu‘u named for this goddess also appears to be related to use by Native Hawaiians and is considered the abode of the goddess. Waiau has been identified as another of the four snow goddesses, together with Poli‘ahu and Līlīnoe. Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele has described that the three pu‘u-Poli‘ahu, Līlīnoe, and Waiau, are sister goddesses who are female forms of water, and that all three of the cinder cones or pu‘u are important religious sites. Lake Waiau, within Pu‘u Waiau, also appears within Hawaiian myth and is considered sacred by modern cultural practitioners.

McEldowney points out that while the myths and legends associated with the summit area do not figure prominently in traditional histories, those histories

revolve mainly around the lives and exploits of prominent chiefs, as passed down through genealogies, chants, and stories, and recorded primarily in works by Fornander and Kamakau. No major events from their histories occur within the summit plateau of Mauna Kea.²²

Ahu and Kūahu

Ahu are characterized as upright stones or a pile or mound of stones. Ahu may have served historically as altars or shrines, or as markers signifying a burial, ahupua‘a boundaries, or trail routes.  As discussed in Section 3.3.1, a number of ancient ahu have been identified in the  summit region; they have been characterized by archaeologists as shrines, burials or possible burials, or markers. More than 65 percent of the ancient ahu in the summit region have been categorized as shrines. There is little information available about the traditional religious observances practiced in association with shrines. It is unknown if some of the shrines are actually kūahu (alters). Kealoha Pisciotta offers that “some of the shrines mark the birth stars of certain ali‘i … and also birth and death.”²³

The ancient shrines within the MKSR have been divided by archaeologists into two categories:

(1) occupational specialist shrines related to adze manufacture, and (2) all others, termed “non- occupational.” The only thing that distinguishes the occupational shrines from the others is the presence of lithic scatters found either on the shrine or nearby. Archaeologist Pat McCoy believes that at least some of the shrines were used as locations for performing traditional ceremonies related to “rites of passage.”

Extensive archaeological surveys of the MKSR have documented over 300 modern ahu constructed within the past 35 years. The majority of these modern ahu, often classified as “find spots” by archaeologists, are interpreted to be modern shrines. These surveys reveal that the construction of modern shrines is an ongoing practice on Maunakea, although not all modern ahu

²² McEldowney 1982:1.4.

²³ Orr, 2004:47.

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can be verified to have been constructed by native Hawaiians or intended to serve as traditional shrines.

Archaeologists believe that the recent increase in find spots detected within the MKSR is directly related to the increased use of the summit region by visitors and native Hawaiian practitioners, some of whom are either modifying existing sites or constructing new features to memorialize their visit or to perform ritual activities (PCSI 2010a, App. B, p. 10-1).

Kealoha Pisciotta is a cultural practitioner who has attempted to maintain a contemporary kūahu on Maunakea, representing a revival of a traditional cultural practice.  Her efforts were  reportedly undermined by repeated destruction and removal of the shrine. The ahu in the MKSR are recognized cultural resources with various functions that are both historic, though largely unknown, and contemporary. The contemporary functions are rooted in traditional beliefs.

The only ahu within 200 feet of the TMT Observatory, Access Way, and Batch Plant Staging Area is a shrine near the end of the 4-wheel drive road in Area E. This shrine is believed to have been constructed in the early 2000s; but its creator is unknown. Ed Stevens, in his interview for the CIA for the Project noted:

The site that was chosen for the TMT has been surveyed for the cultural impact and there are no cultural historic objects within a 200-foot radius of the site. In other words, the site that they picked is free of bonafide, historic treasures. Now there are some historic sites but they are not within the immediate area that is proposed for the TMT.  That makes it simpler in that there is no danger of  harming any of the historic sites. Mostly, the historic sites I am talking about are shrines that were built by early Hawaiians to represent their gods and goddesses on the mountain. Unaltered select slabs of stone, the pōhaku of a certain size and shape, were stood upright to represent a god or a goddess. So when we say a shrine in this sense, we are talking about slabs of basalt material that were stood upright. Currently, there are at least 222 shrines around the circumference of the summit area, between the 11,000 and 13,000 foot elevation.

Burials

The subject of the presence of burials in the Maunakea summit region is a topic of considerable differences between the scientific, archaeological perspective, on the one hand, and the Native Hawaiian perspective, on the other. There is minimal archaeological evidence concerning confirmed human burials in the summit region. Direct evidence suggests that there are only four confirmed burials, all at Pu‘u Mākanaka. However, it was suggested in 1999 that

there is good reason to expect that more burials are to be found in the Science Reserve on the tops of cinder cones, either in cairns or in a small rockshelter or overhangs. The basis for this prediction is that all of the known and suspected burial sites on the summit plateau are located on the tops of cinder cones and, or particularly, on the southern and eastern sides. No burials have been found on the sides or at the base of a cone, or on a ridgetop amongst any of the shrines. There

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in fact appears to be a clear separation between burial locations and shrine locations.²⁴

Following the archaeological inventory surveys performed from 2005 through 2008, 28 29 sites in the MKSR have been interpreted as burials or possible burials. Most of these sites are classified as possible burials by archaeologists for compelling reasons, such as the topographic location and morphological characteristics of the structures. None of the sites identified as known or possible burials are within Area E, along the Access Way, or in the Batch Plant Staging Area. In his interview for the Project CIA, Patrick Kahawaiola‘a stated:

Hawaiians are very specific on sites. If they did something, it would be recorded through the mo‘olelo. Those that I know, families who take care of their iwi

there, say there is none over there [where the TMT is being proposed to be located]. There are no heiaus that have been identified. The problem that I see may be a conflict is regarding the proximity to several pu’u there. Although people will say the pu’u there could be burial places, but no one has evidence, that’s what I see.

On the other hand, there are perceptions among some Native Hawaiians, some of which are backed by various types of documentary evidence, that the summit area holds, or once held, many more burials than archaeologists have been able to document.

There are numerous historical references to human burials on the high elevation slopes of Maunakea. The Hawaiian practice of burying the dead in remote, high elevation areas may have been a common practice. One of the perhaps many reasons for taking the dead to remote areas was the fear that the bones might be used to make fishhooks.

Some early accounts indicate that there were burials in the vicinity of  Pu‘u Līlīnoe.  One account

indicated that in 1892 “At an elevation of nearly 13,000 feet, near Līlīnoe, a burying ground was

found, where the ancient chiefs were laid to rest in the red volcanic sand.”²⁵  Other visitors in the

same year reported what they interpreted as graves on the top of Pu‘u Līlīnoe. Today,

archaeologists have identified at least one possible burial in this area.

Pu‘u Mākanaka is perhaps the best known location of known or possible burials. Pu‘u Mākanaka is located on the northeastern slope of Maunakea at an elevation of roughly 12,000 feet, and its name translates to “hill crowded with people.” A USGS survey team found human remains on the summit of Pu‘u Mākanaka in 1925-1926. Today, numerous oral history interviewees reveal that they have knowledge of burials located at a number of pu‘u along Maunakea’s slopes, including Ahumoa, Kemole, Pāpalekōkī, Mākanaka, Kihe, Kanakaleonui, Kaupō, and ‘Ō‘ō.

Some cultural practitioners have stated they are aware of practices related to ancient family burials atop Maunakea.  Alexander Kanani‘alika Lancaster told Kepā Maly that he and his  family members went up to Maunakea “for ceremonial. They go up there bless the whole mountain for all our ancestors who’s buried up there … the old folks always said, ‘Our family is

up there.’”²⁶ As indicated in the CMP, because no documentation exists on traditional cultural

²⁴ McCoy, 1999:28.

²⁵ Preston, 1895:601.

²⁶ Kumu Pono, 1999:240.

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practices relating to ancient Maunakea burials, it is unknown whether blessing ceremonies would be considered a traditional cultural practice or a contemporary cultural practice.

Scattering of Cremation Ashes

In pre-contact time cremation was not a common practice; it was a punishment and meant to defile the dead person when it was done. Nevertheless, some cultural practitioners reveal that they have participated in the practice of scattering the cremated remains of loved ones from atop Maunakea. As described in the CMP, the scattering of cremation ashes today is a contemporary cultural practice that has taken the place of traditional interment practices. Debate over whether this practice has evolved from traditional practices and beliefs or whether it is a new practice based on modern customs and beliefs, still remains.

Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele has stated that while the scattering of cremation remains on Maunakea may be viewed by some as non-traditional, she feels “it may not be the ‘iwi [bones] itself, but the ashes are the essence of what is left of the ‘iwi. It doesn’t matter, it’s going

back.”²⁷ The CMP states on this debate that those Hawaiians who choose cremation in modern

times do it as a respectful commitment to the loved ones, which is a traditional cultural practice and fundamental value based upon ‘ohana.

Also others, not just Native Hawaiians, likely engage in the practice of scattering cremation ashes at or near the summit of Maunakea.

Piko Deposition

As described in the CMP, the phrase “piko kaulana o ka ‘āina,” which translates as “the famous summit of the land,” is used to describe Maunakea and expresses the belief that the mountain is a piko (the navel, the umbilical cord) of the island and therefore sacred. In this context, the significance of the cultural practice of transporting and depositing a baby’s piko on Maunakea may be better understood. Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele has explained the symbolic importance  of this practice, saying that

the piko  is the part of the child that connected the child back to the past. Connected the child back to the mama.   And the mama’s piko is connected back  to her mama and so on. So it takes it back, not only to the wa kahiko [ancient times], but all the way back to Kumu Lipo … So it’s not only the piko, but it is   the extension of the whole family that is taken and put up in a particular place,  that again connects to the whole family line. And it not only gives mana or life to that piko and that child, but life again to the whole family.²⁸

The practice has been reported by many cultural practitioners. Some report depositing the piko in the Lake Waiau while others have reported digging a little hole and putting the piko in the summit ground. It has been reported and the CMP indicates that maintaining cleanliness and purity is an important component in this cultural practice. Kealoha Pisciotta has expressed concern that Lake Waiau has become polluted and she fears that “people won’t put the piko of

the baby in there if it’s polluted.”²⁹ Water quality in the region is discussed in Section 3.7.

²⁷ Kumu Pono, 1999:A-337.

²⁸ Kumu Pono, 1999:A-376.

²⁹ Orr, 2004:45.

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However, Patrick Kahawaiola‘a made the following analogy during his CIA interview for the

dad and my mom, believe in putting it in the ocean. Are we to say if they are in

the ocean that one can no longer do anything in the water?”

Pilgrimage, Prayer, Offerings, and the Spiritual Resonance of Maunakea

The cultural importance of Maunakea is exemplified by the several pilgrimages made to the mountain by Hawaiian royalty to partake in ceremonial practices in the late pre-contact and early post-contact periods. King Kamehameha I (Pai‘ea) is reported to have traveled to Maunakea to make a ceremonial offering close to Lake Waiau in the company of Kekūhaupi‘o; the king made this pilgrimage and left the pū‘olo (bundle offering) because he feared dissension and treachery amongst some of his chiefs.  In 1881 or 1882, Queen Emma visited Lake Waiau and swam   across the lake, reportedly riding on the back of Waiaulima. It was a cleansing ceremony to help prove her genealogical connection to Wākea and Papa.

The CMP reports that some oral history interviewees, from a variety of studies, have indicated they saw or left pū‘olo at Lake Waiau and on the summit of Maunakea. Observed pū‘olo have included items wrapped in ti leaves and ‘ōpihi shells.

The spiritual resonance of Maunakea has been demonstrated by the following statements made by interviewees during various studies:

Libert Landgraf – “I looked at sites, the area, as the church. … In this instance maybe the summit of Mauna Kea represents to us what the church is, and the individual sites or the individual platforms is the alter.”³⁰

Kealoha Pisciotta – “This is a really hard issue for Hawaiian people, because Hawaiian people have really no temples. [They’re] in state and national parks. … So Mauna Kea represents one of the last kind of places where the practice can continue. … But for Mauna Kea, it’s not a temple built by man. It’s built by Akua…” ³¹

Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele – “Mauna Kea was always kūpuna to us. … And

there was no wanting to go to top. You know, just to know that they were there

… was just satisfying to us.  And so it was kind of a hallowed place that you  know it is there, and you don’t need to go there. You don’t need to bother it. … And it was always reassuring because it was the foundation for our island.”³² “If you want to reach mana, that [the summit] is where you go.”³³

Some people have stated they still ascend Maunakea for prayer and restoration. According to the CMP, these statements demonstrate that Maunakea continues to be viewed as a realm of great spiritual and sacred importance by Native Hawaiians. This belief is rooted in Hawaiian tradition.

³⁰ Orr, 2004:49.

³¹ Orr, 2004,49.

³² Kumu Pono, 1999:A-336.

³³ Kumu Pono, 1999:A-372.

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Trails

There are several ala hele (trails) traversing the Maunakea summit region (Figure 3-1).  Traditional accounts suggest that some ancient trails were present in the summit region. In some cases it is unknown if the current trails follow the same route as the ancient trails and in some cases it is known that current trails are on different alignments from ancient trails. Trails in the summit region include the following:

• Maunakea – Humu‘ula Trail.  This is probably the best known trail, and in ancient times   it apparently began in the Kalaieha area where the Humu‘ula Sheep Station is located and extended past Hale Pōhaku to Lake Waiau. The trail initially appears on maps made by  the W.D. Alexander survey party in 1892.  Today the trail begins just above Hale   Pōhaku, passes near Lake Waiau, and ends near the Batch Plant Stating Area. The trail originally went around the east side of Pu‘u Keonehehe‘e but in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps gave the trail a straighter course around the west side of the pu‘u.
• Maunakea – ‘Umikoa Trail. This trail is not mentioned in early accounts, and it first appears on maps in the 1920s. The trail may well be an ancient trail, but the name appears to be modern and likely derived from the ‘Umikoa Ranch. Horseback trips to Maunakea from the ranch took place in the early 1900s and perhaps earlier. The trail enters the MKSR between Pu‘u Mākanaka and Pu‘u Hoaka on the northeastern slope, passes below and west of Pu‘u Līlīnoe, and intersects the Humu‘ula Trail near Lake Waiau.
• Waiki‘i – Waiau Trail led up to Waiau from the west in ancient times.
• Makahālau – Kemole – Waiau Trail led to Waiau from the northwest in ancient times.

None of these trails are near the TMT Observatory or Access Way. Today the Maunakea – Humu‘ula Trail essentially ends at the Mauna Kea Access Road near the Batch Plant Staging Area. From this point to the summit, people walk on the road until a trail leads to the summit from near the UH observatories. Some people park at the Batch Plant Staging Area to walk along the trail to Lake Waiau.

With the construction of modern roads providing ready access to the summit area, trails are not believed to play a significant role in ongoing cultural practices.

Traditional Cultural Properties and Proposed State Historic District and State Historic Properties

The Maunakea summit region has been proposed to be designed as a historic district. However,  to date, no official application has been made; as such no review or determination has been  made.  The Maunakea summit region is not currently a historic district although it may be  eligible and the CMP discusses it as such. The Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District and Historic Properties in the summit region are discussed in detail in Section 3.3. Nearly the entire MKSR and nearly all the 263 Historic Properties within the MKSR are within the 17,820-acre Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District (Figure 3-1). Based on recent archaeological field work, it has been proposed that the Historic District be expanded to include the entire MKSR (PSCI, 2010a).

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Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) are designated by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO); in Hawai‘i the SHPO is the Director of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), under which is the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD).  A TCP is a property   or a place that is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places because of its association with cultural practices and beliefs that are (1) rooted in the history of a community, and (2) are important to maintaining the continuity of that community’s traditional beliefs and practices. Three places on Maunakea have been identified by the SHPD as TCPs (Figure 3-1). Three of the Historic Properties present on Maunakea deserve specific mention in any discussion of cultural practices. These are properties that have been determined to meet criteria set forth in HAR section 13-284-6 for listing as historic properties:

To be significant, a historic property shall possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association [and] … Criterion “e” have an important value to the native Hawaiian people or to another ethnic group of the state due to associations with cultural practices once carried out, or still carried out, at the property or due to associations with traditional beliefs, events or oral accounts–these associations being important to the group’s history and cultural identity.

One of the most significant Historic Properties from a cultural practices and beliefs standpoint is Kūkahau‘ula, State Inventory of Historic Places (SIHP) site number 50-10-23-21438 (typically abbreviated as SIHP # 21438). Kūkahau‘ula traditionally refers to the collective summit cinder cones, but in recent times these cinder cones have been referred to separately as Pu‘u Wēkiu, Pu‘u Kea, and Pu‘u Hau‘oki. In total Kūkahau‘ula covers 480 acres. Eight optical/infrared observatories, a portion of the SMA area, and the summit loop portion of Mauna Kea Access Road are located on Kūkahau‘ula (Figure 3-1).

Other cinder cones that are State-designated Historic Properties under criterion “e” are present nearby, and are:

• Pu‘u Līlīnoe, SIHP # 21439. The Pu‘u Līlīnoe cinder cone is located on the southeastern slope of Maunakea at an elevation of roughly 12,500 feet and covers a 68-acre area (Figure 3-1).
• Waiau, SIHP # 21440. Pu‘u Waiau, including Lake Waiau, is located in the Ice Age NAR on the southwestern slope of Maunakea at an elevation of roughly 13,000 feet and covers a 163-acre area (Figure 3-1).

These three State Historic Properties have sometimes been referred to as “traditional cultural properties (TCPs)” or “legendary properties.” This is due to the fact that they are not man-made historic sites, such as a building or archaeology site, but natural landscapes associated with cultural practices and beliefs and therefore meet criterion “e” of HAR section 13-284-6.

However, the term traditional cultural property (TCP) is associated with a Federal designation, and while SHPD considers these three State Historic Properties potentially eligible for Federal TCP designation, only the three places listed above are the currently designated TCPs no formal application for such designation has yet been put forward. Others have also put forth that large portions of Maunakea are potentially eligible for designation as Federal TCPs.

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Summary of Cultural Practices and Beliefs

Cultural practices in the Maunakea summit region at this time are broadly (1) traditional and customary practices and beliefs, and (2) contemporary cultural practices. The following practices and beliefs have been considered traditional and customary in previous studies³⁴:

• Performance of prayer and ritual observances important for the reinforcement of an individual’s Hawaiian spirituality, including the erection of ahu or shrines.
• Collection of water from Lake Waiau for a variety of healing and other ritual uses.
• Deposition of piko (umbilical cords) at Lake Waiau and the summit peaks of Maunakea.
  • Use of the summit region as a repository for human burial remains, by means of interment, particularly on various pu‘u, during early times, and more recently by means of releasing ashes from cremations.
  • Burial blessings to honor ancestors.
    • Belief that the upper mountain region of Maunakea, from the Saddle area up to the summit, is a sacred landscape – as a personification of the spiritual and physical connection between one’s ancestors, history, and the heavens.
    • Association of unspecified traditional navigation practices and customs with the summit area.
    • Annual solstice and equinox observations that take place at the summit of Kūkahau‘ula.

Contemporary cultural practices were defined in the 2000 Master Plan EIS as those based on modern beliefs. These are said to include “prayer and ritual observances, construction of new altars and subsistence and recreational hunting.”³⁵

Existing Conditions

The last 50 years have brought many changes to the Maunakea summit region. Starting in the  early 1960s, roads and then observatories were developed in the summit region. The most recent astronomy facility built on Maunakea was the SMA, which was completed in 2002.  As detailed  in Section 3.10.1, twelve astronomy facilities (11 observatories and one separate telescope) are currently present in the summit region; all of the facilities are within the State Historic District boundary and 8 optical/infrared observatories, portions of the SMA observatory area, and the  loop portion of the Mauna Kea Access Road are located on Kūkahau‘ula. Many of the existing observatories are visible from various culturally significant locations such as the summit of Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u Līlīnoe, and Waiau. The cumulative impacts related to the development of

the existing facilities are discussed in Section 3.16.2.

Despite the presence of the observatories in the summit region, cultural practices continue to take place, including those outlined in the Summary of Cultural Practices section above. Some of the largest cultural events are annual solstice and equinox observations that take place at the summit  of Kūkahau‘ula.

³⁴ PHRI, 1999:39; CRMP

³⁵ Kumu Pono, 1998; PHRI, 1999:40.

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Hale Pōhaku

Due to its location on the slopes of Maunakea, Hale Pōhaku is a part of the spiritual resonance of Maunakea. Hale Pōhaku is along the route of the historic Maunakea – Humu‘ula Trail; today

there is a trail head for this trail at the upper end of Hale Pōhaku.  Archaeologists have identified  a stone tool quarry/workshop complex in and around Hale Pōhaku. The complex is referred to as the Pu‘u Kalepeamoa complex, and is believed to be a multifunctional site consisting of several

temporary camp sites where the manufacture of adzes and octopus lure sinkers took place. Two shrines, located just to the south of Hale Pōhaku and both related to sinker manufacture, are a part of this complex.

Headquarters

In 1997, in support of the development of the makai portion of University Park, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, University Park, Final Environmental Impact Statement (DAGS, 1997) was prepared. In the southern area of the makai portion of University Park, four archaeological sites have been identified. However, based on the type and age of the sites, as well as the data  collected and analyzed during field work activities, no further work was recommended for the sites in the area.

In 2005, in support of the mauka expansion of University Park and the relocation of Hawai‘i Community College (HawCC) to the Komohana Campus, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Mauka Lands Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (UH Hilo, 2005) was prepared. In the mauka expansion of University Park, there are 20 archaeological sites, 18 of which require no further work; data recovery was recommended for the other two sites, associated with past dairy and military use.

During the development of University Park, cultural assessments of the area reveal that the area does not appear likely to have been used or is currently used for gathering, access, or other customary activities by Native Hawaiians. No trails were identified, and the botanical resources in the area were, and remain unlikely to have been culturally important for gathering.  The  mauka expansion Final EIS indicates that although no negative cultural impacts were identified during consultation with cultural specialists, special care should be taken to preserve as much of the natural landscape consisting of ōhi‘a lehua and neneleau.

3.2.2           Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact

In accordance with the significance criteria provided in HAR Section 11-200-12 significance criteria, an action can be determined to have a significant impact if it: (1) involves an irrevocable commitment to loss or destruction of any cultural resource; or (2) substantially affects the cultural practices of the community or State. The first criterion applies to both historic properties as well as cultural practices, while the second addresses primarily cultural practices and beliefs.

The majority of the historic properties found on Maunakea are man-made sites, such as shrines, ahu, and adze quarry workshops. Significant impacts would occur if those properties were physically altered or disturbed by the action. Historic properties are also discussed in Section 3.3.

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Other historic properties are significant because of their associations with cultural practices or beliefs, such as the three cinder cones recognized by the State as Historic Properties. Those

types of historic properties would be significantly impacted if the action were to substantially alter the property or introduce new elements on or in the immediate vicinity of the property that substantially alter the setting in which cultural practices take place. New elements may include, but are not be limited to, visual elements, noise, traffic and human presence.

Cultural practices would be significantly impacted if an action were to: (1) substantially alter or remove a location where those practices take place; (2) unduly restrict or prevent a cultural practice from taking place; or (3) introduce new elements that substantially alter the setting in which cultural practices take place. New elements may include, but are not be limited to, visual elements, noise, traffic and human presence.

3.2.3           Potential Environmental Impacts

The potential impacts of the Project are evaluated within the framework of compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for the Project type and location. This includes requirements of the CMP and CRMP in the UH Management Areas, and HRS Chapter 6E, the State Historic Preservation law, in all areas. Both the CMP and Chapter 6E require that no historic properties, such as historic shrines, be altered or destroyed. CMP requirements include maintaining access for cultural practitioners to culturally significant sites on Maunakea. The CMP states that “Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices shall not be restricted, except where safety, resource management, cultural appropriateness, and legal compliance considerations may require reasonable restrictions.”

Potential construction-phase impacts, including the inadvertent discovery of human remains, are discussed in Section 3.15. Potential impacts to archaeological/historic resources, such as shrines and burials, are discussed in Section 3.3.3. Cumulative impacts are discussed in Section 3.16.

This section focuses on the potential impacts to spiritual places and cultural and religious practices.

Maunakea Summit Region

The Project impacts will occur within the context of the current conditions in the summit region. That context includes the presence of eight optical/infrared observatories, portions of the SMA observatory area, and multiple access roads within Kūkahau‘ula, many of them visible from culturally important locations in the summit region, as well as the presence of observatory employees and visitors in the summit region and their associated impacts. As detailed in Section 3.16.2, the past actions on Maunakea have resulted in substantial, significant, and adverse   impacts to cultural resources. As discussed in the following sections, nearly every aspect of the project design has been considered in the effort to avoid, minimize and mitigate potential cultural impacts.

In discussing potential cultural impacts on Maunakea many find it is difficult to separate the impacts of the existing developments (cumulative impacts, discussed in Section 3.16.2) from the impacts associated with an individual project. The powerful emotional attachment Native Hawaiians have for Maunakea, and the impacts to its cultural resources to date make it difficult  to evaluate a new project.  Furthermore, as many consider the entire summit of  Maunakea as one

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cultural property, it is difficult to separate the impacts of one action from all other past and present actions or specify a level of significance for the impacts related to just one action.

There are diverse opinions concerning the Project’s potential impact on cultural resources practices and beliefs. This diversity is illustrated by the various opinions shared in interviews performed during the Project’s CIA process (Appendix D) and other cultural assessments conducted during the preparation of the 2000 Master Plan, Outrigger EIS, CRMP, and CMP. For the purposes of this discussion, the diverse range of opinions has generally been found to fall    into one of two broad categories:

1. The Hawaiian culture and astronomy can co-exist on Maunakea. Many people who hold this view also continue to feel that the general community, including the astronomy community, did not fully understand or appreciate how significant Maunakea is to the Hawaiian people. This opinion generally holds that, while the development of the Project will constitute an adverse cultural impact, that impact could be mitigated to lessen or minimize its significance.
2. Any development or disturbance of Maunakea by someone other than a Native Hawaiian following proper protocols is a significant desecration to the spiritual and sacred quality   of the mountain and impacts the cultural practices performed on the mountain.  Those  who hold this opinion feel the development of the Project at any location on Maunakea will be a significant adverse cultural impact. Those expressing this opinion generally feel that are no mitigation measures that could offset the adverse cultural impact of any development at Maunakea, including that of the Project.

Both of these broad opinions are enumerated in the Project’s CIA (Appendix D) to varying degrees. The CIA documents the responses of thirty 29 people who have participated in its process thus far, and represents the views of those Hawaiian and kama‘āina individuals. A range of opinions, falling into the broad categories above, were also expressed during the Project scoping period and have been recorded in other documents about Maunakea and its cultural significance.

Fourteen of the 29 CIA participants expressed opposition to the implementation of the Project (see Appendix D, Section 9.6-1).  However, a substantial minority of the interviewees felt that  the measures that have now been incorporated into the plan would more than compensate for the perceived impacts. Furthermore, other Hawaiian groups that were not interviewed for the CIA, such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, have concluded that the Project should be supported so long as it includes the mitigation measures that are now proposed.

The opinion that culture and astronomy can co-exist is demonstrated by a statement Mr. Daniel Akaka Jr. made during the Project’s CIA process: “The future of Maunakea is that, yes, it can serve as an educational center and a place for man to view the stars and the universe, but it has to remain a sacred and holy place.  It’s like stepping into a sanctuary, a very sacred place of peace,   a place that one can learn the things beyond what man knows now.” Those who prepared approved the CRMP and CMP, including the MKMB, UH BOR, and BLNR, also believe that through proper management, culture and astronomy, among other uses, can co-exist on Maunakea. The CMP states that “Cultural understanding and information to appreciate Mauna Kea from a cultural perspective will assist in avoiding miscommunications or unintentional disrespect. … if a person is culturally oriented about how valuable and vulnerable the cultural

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and natural resources are on Mauna Kea, they will become better stewards of Mauna Kea.”   Thus, one of the primary management actions called for in the CRMP and CMP is the education of those working and visiting the summit region regarding its spiritual and sacred quality and the cultural sensitivity of the landscape.

The other general opinion concerning development on Maunakea is demonstrated by a statement Ku‘ulei Keakealani during the Project’s CIA process: “I think my first and foremost thoughts would be that it doesn’t need to be done. Not because more research isn’t needed or anything along those lines. The latest technology and research helps educate all of us, but at the same

time, it’s about the location. When is enough, enough?” She goes on to say, “I just think that,  that Thirty Meter Telescope and all of those observatories up there have just overstepped the bounds of going into what is a sacred realm. I don’t know how many people can go to the summit of Mauna a Wākea and not acknowledge that you are in a different realm. That truly is the realm of the goddess Poli‘ahu and of all these other incredibly stronger forces above and beyond us as humans.” Those holding this opinion frequently call for all astronomy facilities to be removed from Maunakea.

During his interview for the Project’s CIA, Ed Stevens was asked to share his mana‘o about the TMT Project being erected on the northern plateau within the Astronomy Precinct, and his answer exemplifies a compromise approach:

“There are two parts to this answer. Culturally, there’s no more room for new telescopes on Mauna Kea. From a cultural viewpoint, the mountain top, the most sacred part of Mauna Kea, the summit, is already overbuilt, overcrowded with telescopes. So when you ask that question, that is the reply that you will get from most Hawaiians, is that we don’t want to see any more new construction. There  are already 13 facilities up there, and it’s overcrowded. They don’t leave much space for us up there. So back to your question, if any proposal is made for a new telescope, and if that telescope went through the process of being approved and it passes all of the requirements, and approval is obtained to build the telescope on Mauna Kea, then that site that is now picked for the TMT at 13N would be my preference to see it built there… below the summit in the north plateau.” Mr.

Stevens went on to stress that: “What I am saying is that if we have no other choice, and that telescope is going to be put up there after all the approval[s], then my preference is to put it in the north plateau which is essentially where TMT is being proposed. I see that area as more benign and [it] has less cultural artifacts that can be disturbed.”

The following sections attempt to focus, to the extent possible, on the potential impact of the Project on cultural resources practices and beliefs related to its location, footprint, and operations within the Maunakea summit region.

Cultural Practices

The CRMP and CMP generally allow for continued cultural practices provided they do not result in the alteration or destruction of historic properties. Additional policy recommendations are being developed in consultation with cultural authorities and practitioners for the use of sacred places.

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There are four ways the Project could impact cultural practices: (1) unduly deny or restrict  cultural practices beyond the limits of the Project developments; (2) through Project  development, alter or remove a location where cultural practices occur; (3) isolate cultural practices or beliefs from their setting; or (4) introduce elements which may alter the setting in which cultural practices take place.   The CMP requires that observatory operations do not deny  or unduly restrict cultural practices from taking place. The Project will comply with this requirement as a matter of policy and train TMT employees to respect, honor, and not interfere with cultural or religious practices.   The Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program will be developed in consultation with OMKM, Kahu Kū Mauna, and others consistent with the CMP requirements. The overall goal of the program will be to culturally sensitize TMT personnel to cultural, historic, and natural resources in the summit region. As discussed in the CMP, the Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program will include educational instruction and materials designed to:

• Impart an understanding of Maunakea’s cultural landscape, including cultural practices, historic properties and their sensitivity to damage, and the rules and regulations regarding the protection of historic properties.
• Impart an understanding of the Polynesian perspectives in astronomy and way-finding.
  • Provide guidance and information as to what constitutes respectful and sensitive behavior while in the summit area.
  • Instruct that Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices shall not be restricted.

The training program will be updated regularly to incorporate UH Management Area-wide updates by OMKM. All people involved in TMT Observatory operation and maintenance activities, including but not limited to scientists and support staff, shall receive the training on an annual basis. By implementing this program, the Project operations will limit its impact on cultural or religious practices in the view of those who believe cultural practices and astronomy can co-exist.

Based on numerous previous studies, Area E was selected in Master Plans to be a suitable location for observatory development because, for one, it would have either a limited or no adverse impact on physical cultural resources such as archaeological and historic resources. Within Area E, the site of the TMT Observatory, known as the 13N site, was selected in part because it is the portion of Area E most disturbed by previous activity. The Access Way maximizes the use of previously disturbed areas as well. Overall, roughly 6.3 6.2 acres of previously undisturbed land will be disturbed by the TMT Observatory and Access Way Access Way Option 3 be selected, an additional area of roughly 0.4-acre area would be  disturbed, with slight variations depending on which Access Way Option is selected. The following subsections discuss the potential impact of the Project on various cultural practices.

Pilgrimage, Prayer, Shrine Construction and Offerings

The summit region, which includes the Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District and Kūkahau`ula, is a sacred area in Hawaiian culture and serves as a site for individual and group ceremonial and spiritual practices. These practices include prayer, shrine erection and the placement of offerings. The area to be occupied by the TMT Observatory structure would not be available for future cultural practices of this nature. In addition, for some individuals, the

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introduction of new elements associated with the Project in the area of the northern plateau would adversely affect the setting in which such practices could take place.

Data collected during a series of archaeological surveys indicate that modern shrine construction occurs primarily in areas outside of the Astronomy Precinct. Approximately 90 percent of the over 300 find spots that have been interpreted to be modern shrines occur in areas away from the vicinity of the Astronomy Precinct. A modern shrine is present near the end of the 4-wheel drive road in Area E and this shrine would be displaced by the TMT Observatory. The construction of the new shrine has been classified as a contemporary cultural practice. Repeated archaeological inventory surveys in the area indicate that the shrine was erected in the early 2000s (Section 3.3.1); interviews and research conducted has not revealed who constructed this modern shrine. The CRMP states that Kahu Kū Mauna, in consultation with other Native Hawaiian  organizations, will develop protocols that will consider which kinds of features and locations are appropriate, and address the issue of whether a review process should be instituted, consistent

with CMP Management Action CR-7.³⁶ Based on the research conducted to date, the shrine is

not eligible for consideration as a historic property because it is less than 50 years old. Dismantling Relocating the one new shrine is considered an adverse but limited impact.

Kahu Kū Mauna, in consultation with other Native Hawaiian organizations, will develop protocols for the development of new cultural features consistent with CMP Management Action CR-7.

Although the Project may decrease the desirability of the northern plateau area for shrine construction, this is not anticipated to result in a substantial effect on shrine construction within the MKSR. The majority of the areas within the MKSR currently used for shrine construction

would not be affected by the Project. To some individuals, the Project could represent a decrease in the suitability of the northern plateau area for spiritual observances and offerings. However,

this would not result in a substantial adverse impact on the cultural practices of the community or State. The majority of the areas within the MKSR where observances and rituals are believed to occur would not be affected by the Project.  Further, while the introduced elements associated  with existing observatories may have had an effect on the perceived quality of the observances conducted, or may have caused some practitioners to conduct their observances further away   from the vicinity of the observatories, there is no evidence suggesting that the presence of the existing observatories has prevented or substantially impacted those practices. Similarly, the Project is not anticipated to result in substantial additional adverse effects on those practices.

Collection of Water from Lake Waiau

Water from Lake Waiau is collected by some cultural practitioners for use in healing and ritual practices. The Project would not affect that practice, nor would it affect the quality of the water in Lake Waiau (see Section 3.7.3 for further discussion of water impacts). There will be no adverse effect associated with the Project on this cultural practice.

Piko Deposition

Historically, piko deposition on Maunakea has been associated primarily with the Lake Waiau area of the summit region. The Project would not affect cultural practices at or near Lake Waiau.

³⁶ CRMP, 2009: 4-20 (Table 4-10).

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Some ethnographic studies also indicate that piko deposition may be occurring in other areas of the summit region. The area occupied by the observatory would not be available for future deposition of piko. In addition, individuals may be unwilling to deposit piko in the immediate

vicinity of the TMT Observatory due to the new elements introduced in the area as a result of the Project. This would not result in a substantial impact on the cultural practices of the community  or State.  The vast  majority of the MKSR as well as the Mauna Kea Ice Age NAR, including Lake Waiau, would remain unaffected by the Project. Substantial undisturbed areas are present within the summit region that could continue be used for piko deposition.

Scattering of Cremation Ashes

The scattering of cremation ashes in the summit area of Maunakea is considered an ongoing contemporary cultural practice. The area occupied by the TMT Observatory would not be available for the scattering of cremation remains in the future, and the new elements introduced by the Project could adversely affect the setting for some individuals wishing to scatter ashes in the immediate vicinity of the observatory. This would not result in a substantial impact on the cultural practices of the community or State. Significant undeveloped natural areas that could be used for scattering ashes will remain unaffected by the Project throughout the MKSR, as well as throughout the community and State.

Burial Blessing

Archaeological studies have identified 29 burials and possible burials within the MKSR. Ethnographic studies indicate that there may be additional undocumented burials on Maunakea, primarily associated with various pu‘u. Although human burials can no longer occur on Maunakea under State law, some descendants currently take part in blessing ceremonies within the MKSR to honor their ancestors.

The site of the Project is over one mile from the nearest known or possible burial identified   during past archaeological studies. No specific sites have been documented to be associated with burial blessing ceremonies within the northern plateau. As a result, the Project is not anticipated  to have substantial adverse effects on any burial blessing practices occurring on Maunakea.

Summary of Project Impacts to Cultural Practices and Beliefs

Within the context of the existing conditions, specifically the presence of eleven existing observatories within the summit region, the Project is anticipated to result in additional impacts   to cultural practices and beliefs for some, but not all, individuals. Cultural practices would essentially be precluded in the 6.2 acres of the 11,288-acre MKSR that would be occupied by the TMT Observatory and Access Way. Further, the presence of the Project in the currently undeveloped northern plateau would introduce new elements in that area (including the observatory and road, vehicle traffic, an increased number of human visitors and intermittent

noise and dust). For some individuals, those new elements would adversely affect the setting in which some cultural practices can occur. Such an incremental adverse effect on the sacred quality of Maunakea is not anticipated to result in a substantial or significant adverse effect on

the cultural practices of the community or State. The beliefs upon which existing cultural practices are based are not anticipated to be affected by the Project to a degree sufficient to result in any substantial or significant curtailment of cultural activities on Maunakea.

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The Project includes the allocation of resources to improve the understanding of native Hawaiian beliefs and practices related to Maunakea for visitors to the mountain. That aspect of the Project  is anticipated to result in a positive impact on the sacred quality of Maunakea when compared to the no action alternative, as it should result in a decrease in culturally insensitive behavior by visitors to the summit area.

Spiritual and Sacred Quality of Maunakea

The Project has the potential to impact the spiritual and sacred quality of Maunakea.  The types   of potential impacts are based on review of existing information and input obtained from interviews conducted during the CIA process. The Project could impact the spiritual and sacred quality of Maunakea by (a) degrading the integrity of a cinder cone; (b) adding a man-made structure on the northern plateau that would create a substantial visual disturbance; (c) placing employees in the northern plateau; (d) the potential accidental release of wastewater into the environment; (e) the potential accidental release of hazardous substances in the environment; and

(f) generating dust and noise. Any one of these could detract from the spiritual setting and sacred quality of Maunakea. Each is discussed below.

Integrity of Cinder Cones

Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u Līlīnoe, and Waiau have been designated as TCPs State Historic Properties. In general, all cinder cones, or pu‘u, are considered important features. Any Access Way

Option, all of which are discussed in detail in Section 2.5.2, would impact the Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property.  Currently eight optical/infrared observatories, a portion of the SMA observatory area, and the loop portion of the Mauna Kea Access Road sit on Kūkahau‘ula. Table 3-1 summarizes Access Way Option disturbances within the Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property;   these disturbances would occur on the western most extent of Kūkahau‘ula at the base of the cinder cone near the SMA as illustrated on Figure 3-2.

Table 3-1: Summary of Potential Disturbance to Kūkahau‘ula

With the exception of Option 3B, the impact associated with the Access Way Options is  primarily associated with the roughly 0.3 0.2-acre area of new disturbance, which would occur between and near two existing roads – the old 4-wheel drive road and a SMA road (Figure 3-2). The remaining disturbance within Kūkahau‘ula is associated with the improvement of existing roads. The area of new disturbance for Option 3B was reduced through the use of structural fill and a slope facing, but could result in other integrity impacts, as discussed below. With the selection of any Access Way Option, the new disturbance would be spread along the existing SMA road and the old 4-wheel drive road. In any case, the Access Way will result in a new disturbance of up to 0.24 acre, or less than one-tenth of one percent of the 480-acre Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property.

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Figure 3-2: Access Way Disturbances to Kūkahau‘ula

Following the construction of any Access Way Option, Kūkahau‘ula would retain its current shape but a roughly 0.6 acre area will be graded and a section of new or existing unpaved road at its base will be paved, and a guard rail installed along the Access Way’s downslope side. In addition, should Option 2A be selected, a roughly 250-foot long retaining wall with a maximum height of six feet would be installed between the TMT Access Way and the new SMA road; and should Option 3B be selected, the downslope (west side) of the road embankment, which would have a 1:1 slope, would be faced with a material to prevent erosion.

If Access Way Option 2 were selected it would require mitigation to replace Wēkiu bug habitat

at a 1:1 ratio (Section 3.4.3), this required mitigation could take the shape of  restoring a portion

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of the habitat degraded by the existing 4-wheel drive road (where option 3 is shown).  This  habitat restoration could also have an incremental benefit to the integrity of Kūkahau‘ula by restoring the scar made by the old road, potentially offsetting the impact of implementing Access Way Option 2.

Access Way Option 3 would improve the existing old 4-wheel drive road, which is currently blocked. The road was originally built in the 1960s to access the 13N site. Because the existing road is only one lane wide, to improve the road would require grading and a retaining wall on the upslope side of the Access Way. It has been indicated by cultural practitioners that the grading and retaining wall included in the design of Access Way Option 3 would reshape – or “cut,” or “scar,” Kūkahau‘ula.   Therefore, the potential impact of Access Way Option 3 is considered to  be significant and not mitigatable.

Visual Impact of Man-made Structure

The visual impact of the Project is described in detail in Section 3.5.3. The TMT Observatory will not be visible from the summit of Kūkahau‘ula, referred to as Pu‘u Wēkiu in modern times. This is due to the presence of the northern ridge of Kūkahau‘ula blocking the view from the summit peak. The TMT Observatory will also not be visible from Pu‘u Līlīnoe and Waiau.

Many of the existing observatories are visible from these culturally important areas. The TMT Observatory will be visible within the northern portion of the summit region, including the northwestern portion of Kūkahau‘ula, referred to as Pu‘u Hau‘oki, Pu‘u Pōhaku, and Pu‘u Poli‘ahu. Many of the existing observatories are also visible from these areas.

Currently there are roads and portions of the SMA observatory in the northern plateau area. The TMT Observatory will add a new visual element to the northern plateau area that will be visible   to varying degrees from the shrines along the northern slopes of Maunakea.  The TMT Observatory will appear in the view directly toward the summit from only a few of the shrines on the northern plateau.

In an interview with kupuna Leningrad Elarionoff conducted by Cultural Surveys Hawai‘i Inc. for the TMT Project CIA (Appendix D), Mr. Elarionoff offered the following statement in regards to the visual beauty and sacredness on Maunakea:

I think we should recycle the sites. If an outdated structure is identified and there is a need to build another telescope on the mountain, tear down the old structure and build the new one on the same footprint. The Mountain is valuable and respected by us. Do not sacrifice our cultural monuments for expedience or  budget concerns. Another structure can be another unnecessary intrusion that detracts from the beauty and majesty of Maunakea.

The following statement from Hawai‘i County Councilman Kelly Greenwell, is also from the TMT Project CIA (Appendix D). In this statement, Mr. Greenwell stresses the importance of maintaining the beauty of Maunakea, should the TMT Project proceed with locating at Maunakea:

I want to see it built … to see some respect for what is [being] built.  I don’t think  it needs to impact the aesthetics of the mountain itself …  To me; respect for  nature is not to deface it. You can enhance it, but not deface it … When it comes  to the bottom line, the only thing that really counts is that it is done in an

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appropriate manner, the alternative of that is inappropriate and this is not religious or any other than mechanical. What I have against windmills, they’re ugly and I don’t like them whirling about. It’s the same as solar panels, if we can come up with a way that’s not obtrusive, then I might warm up for it.

The Project has attempted to reduce the TMT Observatory’s visual impact as described in Section 3.5.4. Mr. Elarionoff brought up a subject that is frequently broached; however, as

outlined in Section 2.5.1, the Physical Plan in the 2000 Master Plan specifies that the Project is  not eligible to replace an older optical/infrared observatory on the summit.  The 2000 Master  Plan indicates that placing a NGLT (like the TMT), in Area E, instead of on a summit cinder   cone ridge, would reduce its potential visual and other impacts.  The 2000 Master Plan does  allow for the redevelopment of existing observatory sites, as Mr. Elarionoff suggests, however, it was not deemed feasible for a NGLT.

The Access Way will also result in a visual impact, particularly from a cultural perspective   where the Access Way occurs within the Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property. Any Access Way  Option would be located among the three existing roads in this area (the SMA road, the blocked 4-wheel drive road, and the Mauna Kea Access Road Loop); therefore, the road itself will be in character with the surroundings.  The paving of the Access Way for a distance of roughly 750  feet (600 feet on Kūkahau‘ula) and addition of a guard rail will result in a slight change to the character of the road. The Option 2A retaining wall and Option3B embankment facing would be new visual elements that would be noticeable to anyone in the immediate vicinity of those structures, primarily within the SMA area; however, the wall or embankment facing would not   be visible from the summit of Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u Līlīnoe, or Waiau.

Employees Increased Human Presence in the Northern Plateau

Native Hawaiians have expressed that just knowing that Maunakea is there is sufficient; there is not a strong need to visit.  In this framework, the regular presence of any people is not    considered a normal condition for Maunakea and could affect its spiritual and sacred quality for some individuals. It is estimated that approximately 100 employees currently work at the observatory facilities within MKSR.  It is expected that 50, at most (up to 44 during the day and    6 at night) an average of 24 employees will work at the TMT Observatory during daytime operations, with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 43 possible; nighttime operations will require an average of 6 employees at the facility.   In addition, there will periodically be   deliveries and pickups at the TMT Observatory. As discussed in Section 2.5.4, the Project has been planned and is being designed to minimize the number of people and activities performed at the TMT Observatory.  With TMT, the number of employees within the MKSR will increase  from an average of 100 to an average of 150 130, accounting for both daytime and nighttime operations.  In compliance with the CMP requirements, TMT employees will be trained to  respect, honor, and not restrict or interfere with cultural and religious practices, and will be   taught ways to reduce their impact on the cultural resources, including cultural practices and beliefs, of the mountain. In the view of those who believe cultural practices and astronomy can co-exist, these CMP-required steps will reduce the potential impact related to the addition of the TMT employees on the spiritual and sacred quality of the mountain.

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Accidental Release of Wastewater or Hazardous Substances

Some Native Hawaiians have indicated that the practice of releasing domestic wastewater into   the subsurface through septic systems by current observatories desecrates the spiritual and sacred quality of the mountain. The same has been said regarding the potential accidental spillage of wastewater or hazardous substances. For these reasons the CMP requires that all new uses  remove all domestic wastewater from the mountain for treatment. As detailed in Section 3.7.3,

the Project will comply with this requirement and will not utilize a septic system to dispose of domestic wastewater. No wastewater will be released and all wastewater will be trucked off the mountain for disposal. As detailed in Section 3.8.2, the Project will, in compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and requirements, also implement measures to reduce the potential for accidental spills of wastewater and hazardous substances and reduce the potential impact of those events should they occur. By implementing these required steps, plans, and programs, the potential impacts to cultural resources related to the generation and disposal of domestic

wastewater and the storage, use, and disposal of hazardous substances on the spiritual and sacred quality of the mountain will be limited for the Project resulting in any releases of wastewater or hazardous materials to the environment will be minimal.

Noise and Dust

Noise and dust could have an impact on the spiritual and sacred quality of the mountain and disturb those engaged in cultural practices; these impacts are discussed in detail in Sections

3.13.3 and 3.14.3, respectively. The conditions and required control measures discussed in those sections will limit the level of impact to the spiritual and sacred quality of the mountain. The increases in noise and dust levels anticipated to result from the Project would not be significant when compared to current conditions.

Summary of Project Impacts to Spiritual and Sacred Quality of Maunakea

With some variation depending on which Access Way Option is selected, the Project will disturb an area of roughly 0.6 acre of Kūkahau‘ula; however, only a roughly 0.2 acre portion of this    area, or less than one-tenth of one percent of the 480-acre area, is currently undisturbed.   The TMT Observatory will add a new visual element to the northern plateau area that will be visible  to varying degrees from the shrines along the northern slopes of Maunakea, but will appear in the view directly toward the summit  from only a few of the shrines on the northern plateau.  The TMT Observatory and Access Way will not be visible from the summit of Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u Līlīnoe, or Waiau.   The Project will result in a total daily average of 30 (24 in the daytime and 6  at night) employees in the Maunakea summit region and the Project will have a zero-waste discharge system such that only during transportation to or from the observatory could these materials come into contact with land in the summit region.  Noise and dust, closely related to    the nine daily round trips of employees and materials to and from the observatory, will be an infrequent and transient impact related to the Project.

Maunakea Summit Region Summary

Project impacts are discussed in detail above and include potential impacts to cultural practices and the spiritual and sacred quality of Maunakea. These Project impacts will occur within the context of the current conditions in the summit region. That context includes (1) the presence of eight optical/infrared observatories, a portion of the SMA observatory area, and access roads

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within Kūkahau‘ula, (2) many of the astronomy facilities being visible from culturally significant locations in the summit region, and (3) the presence of observatory employees and visitors in the summit region and their associated impacts. As detailed in Section 3.16.2, the past actions on Maunakea have resulted in substantial, significant, and adverse impacts to cultural practices and beliefs.

For those who hold the opinion that any development or disturbance of Maunakea by someone other than a Native Hawaiian is significant and unmitigatible, the Project’s added impact on cultural resources will be viewed as significant. However, through compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and requirements, including the CMP, CRMP, and the 2000 Master Plan, the Project’s impact on cultural resources will be limited and less than significant in the view of

those who believe cultural practices and astronomy can co-exist. Furthermore, the Project’s impact will not exceed the significance threshold stated in Section 3.2.2, which is based on the HRS Chapter 343 significance criteria.

When combined with the past actions that led to the existing conditions, the cumulative impact of all actions at and near the summit of Maunakea, including the future TMT Observatory, on cultural resources will continue to be substantial, significant, and adverse, as detailed in Section 3.16.4.

Hale Pōhaku

At an elevation of approximately 9,000 feet, Hale Pōhaku is considered by some to be within the larger cultural property that is Maunakea.  Therefore, the two general schools of thought  described previously for the Maunakea summit region apply to Hale Pōhaku as well.  The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility may involve development within previously disturbed areas and areas previously used for similar purposes. Therefore, the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility would not result in any new or significant impacts to cultural resources in the area.

Headquarters

Based on studies performed for the University Park as a whole and for individual developments within it, development of the Headquarters at University Park will not adversely affect cultural practices or beliefs.

3.2.4           Mitigation Measures

This section outlines mitigation measures that go beyond the management procedures discussed in Section 3.2.3 to comply with the CMP, CRMP, and other requirements. However, the CIA (Appendix D) lists as mitigation measures a number of items that will be part of the Project due to compliance, including:

• As discussed in Section 2.7.4, the Project must comply with the Decommissioning Plan, a sub plan of the CMP. This provides a detailed methodology for planning the removal of

the TMT Observatory and the Access Way exclusively used to access the TMT Observatory at the appropriate time.

• As described in Section 3.2.3, the Project will implement a Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program that will include training TMT employees to respect, honor, and not interfere with cultural or religious practices and practitioners and taught ways to

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reduce their impact on the cultural resources of the mountain. The training will also include imparting an understanding of the Polynesian perspectives in astronomy and way-finding to the TMT staff.

• As outlined in Section 3.15, an Archaeological Monitoring Plan will be developed in accordance with HAR section 13-279 and cultural and archaeological monitors will be present at construction sites on Maunakea and have authority to stop work if cultural finds are made, including historic properties. They will also inform workers of the possibility of inadvertent cultural finds, including human remains.
• A Mitigation Plan will be developed and implemented meeting the requirements of HAR section 13-284-8(a)(2). This Mitigation Plan will be developed in consultation with  native Hawaiian organizations, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to seek their views on the proposed forms of mitigation.

Beyond those compliance measures, Project mitigation measures will include the following:

• Reduced TMT Observatory operations to minimize daytime activities on up to four days in observance of Native Hawaiian cultural practices. TMT will work with OMKM and Kahu Kū Mauna to determine days for such observances. While the observatory will be operated during these periods, this measure will involve having only a skeleton crew at

the observatory, no vehicles will be visible, noise will be reduced, and no visitors will be allowed.

• The Access Way has been designed to reduce the impact to cultural resources by including the steep slopes of Option 2 and modifying Option 3 to a single lane configuration, even though these designs are not desirable from an observatory operation standpoint.
• To mitigate the Access Way’s effect on Kūkahau‘ula, the Access Way pavement will have a reddish color to blend with the surroundings. In addition, should Access Way Options 2A or 3B be selected, the retaining wall or embankment facing will be treated so as to blend into the natural environment to the extent feasible.
• TMT will support, through financial contributions and the utilization of its outreach staff, cultural training and annually host a cultural event or training. Examples of how this measure will be implemented include activities such as a star gazing program at the annual Makahiki festival, workshops on stone adze making, or on how to recognize archaeological sites and their importance.   This measure was partially developed based  on input from participants in the CIA for the Project.
• TMT will support, through financial contributions and the utilization of its outreach staff, the translation of chants and mele and the use of their teachings; the focus will include both (a) translation, and (b) developing programs that can be used in schools to spread what is learned about Hawaiian science and genealogy.
• Through its outreach office and in coordination with OMKM and ‘Imiloa, support the development of exhibits regarding cultural, natural, and historic resources that could be used at the VIS, ‘Imiloa, TMT facilities, or other appropriate locations. Exhibits will include informational materials that explore the connection between Hawaiian culture and astronomy.

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• Contribute to the funding of translating modern astronomy lessons into Hawaiian language for use at Hawaiian language charter schools. This measure was partially developed based on input from participants in the CIA for the Project.
• Have an open door policy so that TMT’s outreach management can be contacted by the Native Hawaiian community to discuss issues.
• Initial and then annual or as-needed tours of the TMT Observatory will be provided, with the Native Hawaiian community invited at least two weeks prior to the tour.
• TMT will request permission to attend, on a quarterly basis, meetings of the Kahu Kū Mauna Council. A TMT representative will be available to review cultural impact issues, should there be any, related to the Project.
• The TMT Observatory, potential TMT Mid-Level Facility, and Headquarters will be furnished with items to provide a sense of place and encourage and remind personnel of the cultural sensitivity and spiritual quality of Maunakea. This will be done to serve as a constant reminder of the lessons learned during the required annual cultural training to respect, honor, and not restrict or interfere with cultural or religious practices.
• As detailed in Section 3.11.4, TMT will implement a Ride-Sharing Program to reduce the number of vehicle trips between Hale Pōhaku and the TMT Observatory. This step could further reduce the Project’s impact to the spiritual and sacred quality of Maunakea by reducing dust, transient noise, and general movements in the summit region.
• TMT’s outreach efforts (two full time staff) will work with ‘Imiloa and Native Hawaiian groups to support/fund programs specific to Hawaiian culture and archeological resources.
• As suggested by cultural specialists consulted during the cultural impact assessment for  the mauka expansion of University Park, special care will be taken to preserve as much of the natural landscape consisting of ōhi‘a lehua and neneleau at the Headquarters site as possible.
• The CBP will be administered by the THINK Fund Board of Advisors. As discussed in Section 3.9.4, it is envisioned that THINK Fund purposes could include grants, scholarships, programs, internships, and summer jobs for students at Hawaiian charter schools.

In addition to those long-term and ongoing measures, the Project will continue consultation with SHPD and Kahu Kū Mauna Council to assess the modern shrine in the vicinity of the TMT Observatory site and determine appropriate protocols for dismantling relocating it. The Project will also perform archaeological data recovery for the shrine, notwithstanding that it has been determined not to be a historic property.

Mitigation measures related to construction are discussed in Section 3.15 and include actions such as cultural and archaeological monitoring.

3.2.5           Level of Impact after Mitigation

For those that hold that cultural practices and astronomy can co-exist, the mitigation for the cultural impacts outlined above would incrementally reduce the Project’s potential impact on

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cultural resources. As stated above, there are diverse opinions concerning the Project’s potential impact on cultural resources.

For those of the opinion that any use, development, or disturbance of Maunakea by someone  other than a Native Hawaiian is significant and unmitigatible, the Project’s impact to the cultural, spiritual, and sacred quality of the summit region will be significant.

For those who believe nature and Native Hawaiian cultural practices can co-exist with astronomy, through compliance with all applicable governmental laws, codes, ordinances, rules, regulations, requirements and procedures; conformance with UH Management Area planning and management documents and policies (including the 1983 and 2000 Master Plans and the CMP, including all its associated sub plans); and implementation of the identified mitigation measures and management procedures, the Project’s potential adverse impacts will be incrementally reduced and be less than significant.

The Project is not anticipated to result in any substantial or significant adverse effect on the cultural practices of the community or State. The Project’s impact on cultural practices and beliefs after considering compliance and the identified mitigation measures will be less than significant pursuant to the significance threshold stated in Section 3.2.2, which is based on the HRS Chapter 343 significance criteria.

3.2.6           References

Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), 1997. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo University Park Final Environmental Impact Statement, Hilo, Hawaii.  TMK: 2-4-01: 7, 12, 19, 41and 2-4-03: 26. Prepared by Engineering Concepts, Inc. for DAGS. September 1997.

Kumu Pono, 2005. Mauna Kea-Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Āina (Mauna Kea—The Famous Summit of the Land); A collection of Native Traditions, Historical Accounts, and Oral History Interviews for: Mauna Kea, the Lands of Ka‘ohe, Humu‘ula and the ‘Āina Mauna on the Island of Hawai‘i. Prepared for the Office of Mauna Kea Management. March 30, 2005.

Kumu Pono, 1999. Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Hale Pōhaku Complex Development Plan Update: Oral History and Consultation Study, and Archival Literature Research; Ahupua‘a of – Ka‘ohe (Hāmākua District) and Humu‘ula (Hilo District), Island of Hawai‘i. February 1999.

Kumu Pono, 1998. Mauna Kea – Kuahiwi Kū Hao Malie. A Report on Archival and Historical Documentary Research, Ahupua‘a of Humu‘ula and Ka‘ohe, Districts of Hilo and Hāmākua, Island of Hawai‘i. Kumu Puno Associates. Hilo.

Langlas, Charles, 1999. Supplement to Archaeological, Historical and Traditional Cultural Property Assessment for the Hawai’i Defense Access Road A-AD-6(1) and Saddle Road (SR200) Project.

McCoy, Patrick, 1999. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Archaeological Site Inventory: Formal, Functional, and Spatial Attributes.

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McEldowney, Holly, 1982. Ethnographic Background of the Mauna Kea Summit Region. Report 1 in Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of the Mauna Kea Summit Region. Bishop Museum Department of Anthropology.

Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM), 2010a. Decommissioning Plan for Mauna Kea Observatories; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan.

January 2010. Prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

OMKM, 2009b. A Cultural Resource Management Plan for the University of Hawai‘i Management Areas on Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe Ahupua‘a, Hāmākua District, Island of Hawai‘i, State of Hawai‘i. TMK: (3) 4-4-015: 09, 12; A Sub-Plan for the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. October 2009. Prepared by Pacific Consulting Services, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

Orr, Maria, 2004. Cumulative Cultural Impact Study/Assessment, Desktop Study &amp; Ethnographic Survey, NASA W.M. Keck Observatory Outrigger Telescopes, Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe &amp; Humu‘ula Ahupua‘a, Moku of Hamakua &amp; Hilo, Hawai‘i. Prepared for International Archaeological Institute, Inc. (IARII), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Tetra Tech, Inc., and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

Pacific Commercial Services, Inc. (PCSI). 2010a. Draft Report, Archaeological Inventory

Survey of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Ka‘ohe, Hāmākua, Island of Hawai‘i.

Prepared for the Office of Mauna Kea Management. January 2010.

Preston, E. D, 1895. Determination of latitude, gravity, and the magnetic elements at stations in the Hawaiian Islands, including a result for the mean density of the earth, 19-891, 1892. In Report of the Superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1893, part II. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.

Paul H. Rosendahl, Ph.D. Inc. (PHRI), 1999. Cultural Impact Assessment Study: Native Hawaiian Cultural Practices, Features, and Beliefs Associated with the University of Hawai‘i Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan Project Area. Prepared for the UH IfA. In the 2000 Master Plan, Appendix N. August 1999.

SHPD, 2000. Mauna Kea Historic Preservation Plan, Management Components. Prepared for UH IfA. In the 2000 Master Plan, Appendix F. March 2000.

University of Hawai‘i (UH), 2009b. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan Final Environmental Assessment. Prepared by Pacific Consulting Services, Inc. for UH. April 2009.

UH, 2009a. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January, 2009. Approved by BLNR on April 9, 2009.

UH, 2005. Mauka Lands Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement TMK 2-4-01: 122.

Prepared by PBR Hawai‘i for UH. February 2005.

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Westervelt, W.D, 1963. Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes. Reprint. Charles E. Tuttle, Rutland, VT.

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3.3       Archaeologic/Historic Resources

This section discusses the archaeological/historic resources (Historic Properties)  in the region  and specific Project areas, the potential impact of the Project on those resources, and mitigation measures the Project will employ to mitigate those potential impacts. Archaeological surveys were performed for the Project; technical reports related to these studies are provided in  Appendix G and Appendix H. In addition to these reports prepared specifically for the Project, Appendix I provides the Archaeological Inventory Survey of the Astronomy Precinct in the Mauna Kea Science Reserve (PCSI, 2010b) recently completed for OMKM and Appendix J provides the Mauna Kea Historic Preservation Plan (SHPD, 2000) that was prepared during the 2000 Master Plan. Archaeological/historic resources are a component of “cultural resources”; cultural practices and beliefs, another component of “cultural resources” are discussed in Section 3.2

Pursuant to HRS Chapter 6E-2, “Historic Property” means any building, structure, object,   district, area, or site, including heiau and underwater site, which is over fifty years old. “Historic Districts” are geographically definable areas possessing a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of contributing properties – sites, buildings, structures, or objects united by past events or aesthetically by plan or physical development. Contributing properties add to the historic architectural qualities, historic associations, or archaeological values for which a district is significant because it was present during the period of significance, and possesses historic integrity reflecting its character at that time or is capable of yielding important information about the period.

3.3.1           Environmental Setting

Maunakea Summit Region

Multiple archaeological surveys have been conducted in the MKSR, as outlined in Table 3-2.

Table 3-2: Summary of Archaeological Surveys and Fieldwork in the MKSR

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The archaeological surveys within the MKSR have identified and recorded 222 263 historic properties of various types, as listed in Table 3-3. Most of the identified sites are single-feature sites and all have been listed on the State Inventory of Historic Properties (SIHP) and assigned site specific SIHP numbers.

Table 3-3: Historic Property Types

Note: * = burials or possible burials are not illustrated on figures in this report or the CMP. Source: PCSI, 2010a.

All the buildings in the MKSR, including observatories, are less than 50 years old; therefore, there are no historic buildings in the MKSR. The discussion below focuses on conditions in Area E and along the Access Way. The CMP, CRMP, and other documents discuss the

conditions throughout the MKSR. An archaeological inventory survey of Area E, the area along the Access Way, and the Batch Plant Staging Area was performed for the preparation of this EIS (Appendix G). The survey confirmed the results of previous surveys in the area; the new survey did not encounter any previously unidentified sites.

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Twenty-six Twenty-nine sites in the MKSR have been interpreted as burials or possible burials. Most of these are classified as possible burials; they have been classified as such by archaeologists for compelling reasons, such as the topographic location and morphological characteristics of the structures. None of the sites identified as known or possible burials are within Area E, along the Access Way, or in the Batch Plant Staging Area; the nearest known possible burial is over one mile from Area E.

In 1999, during the preparation of the 2000 Master Plan, SHPD proposed that the cultural landscape on the top of Maunakea be recognized as the Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District. The district is listed as SIHP # 50-10-23-26869. Nearly the entire MKSR is within the roughly 17,820-acre Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District. The TMT Observatory  Project 13N site, the Access Way, and the Batch Plant Staging Area are all within the Mauna  Kea Summit Region Historic District. The boundaries of the district generally coincide with the extent of the glacial moraines and crest of the relatively pronounced change in slope that creates the impression of a summit plateau surrounding the cinder cones at or near the summit (Figure 3-1). The district encompasses a concentration of historic properties, including most of the 263 summarized in Table 3-3, that are historically, culturally, and visually linked within the context of their setting and environment. The spiritual and sacred quality of Maunakea is related to this

context and the link between the Historic Properties and their setting and environment. Although the Mauna Kea Summit Historic District is only officially designated as a Historic District at the State level, it has been stated by SHPD that it is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a district; however, no official application for such inclusion has been submitted. All of the Historic Properties discussed in this section are within the Historic District and are considered contributing properties.  Based on recent archaeological field work, it  has  been proposed that the Historic District be expanded to include the entire MKSR (PSCI, 2010a).

Historic Properties in Vicinity of Area E and the Access Way

The Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property is located in the vicinity of the Access Way; Kūkahau‘ula is discussed in a separate section below. This section describes other, archaeological, Historic Properties in the vicinity of Area E and the Access Way.

Three historic shrines and one historic site of unknown function are present in the vicinity of Area E and the Access Way and within the Astronomy Precinct. One historic shrine is located north of Area E and the Project 13N site and two historic shrines are located southeast of Area E and east of the Access Way; additional shrines are located at greater distance from Area E and

the Access Way. These three historic shrines were originally identified in 1982. These three shrines were located during the survey for this Project and their location confirmed and mapped. The location of the three shrines, along with others in the area, is illustrated in Figure 3-3. The shrines are at least 100 feet from Area E and the existing roads and more than 200 feet from any Project area.

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Figure 3-3: Historic Sites near Area E, the Access Way, and Batch Plant Staging Area

Details regarding these three shrines are as follows:

• SIHP # 16172, originally identified in 1982 is located roughly 225 feet to the north of the Project 13N site and consists of a single upright with several support stones. Later in 1982, Dr. Frank Howarth, Bishop Museum entomologist, reported seeing a crude C- shaped structure and other walls in this general area. None of these walls were observed during the 1995 or 2005 re-examination of the site.

·

·

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arranged in two groups. When the site was revisited in 1999 it was noted that several of the uprights had been reset in a vertical position along the edge of the outcrop.

The Historic Property of unknown function, SIHP # 21449, was first recorded in 2005 and is located in Area E approximately 200 feet east of the Access Road and 700 feet south of the Project 13N site (Figure 3-3).  Site 21449 consists of a single terrace and is on a small  gelifluction terrace on the side of a ridge. This site was tested to determine the presence/absence of cultural materials and to obtain information that would aid in determining the site’s function. No cultural material is present on the terrace or surrounding area. Following testing the function of this site is still unknown.

Historic Properties in Vicinity of the Batch Plant Staging Area

The Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property is located in the vicinity of the Batch Plant Staging Area; Kūkahau‘ula is discussed in a separate section below. This section describes other, archaeological, Historic Properties in the vicinity of the Batch Plant Staging Area.

The Batch Plant Staging Area has been disturbed by a variety of construction activities over the years and no surveys have encountered a historic property there. Two historic shrines are present more than 500 feet west of the Batch Plant Staging Area. These two shrines were originally identified in 1982. These two shrines were located during the survey for this Project and their locations confirmed and mapped; they are illustrated in Figure 3-3.

Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property

Two TCPs have been designated within the MKSR; they are Kūkahau‘ula and Pu‘u Līlīnoe. A third TCP, Waiau,  is located in the neighboring Ice Age NAR.  These are discussed in more   detail in Section 3.2.1 and illustrated on Figure 3-3. All of Maunakea down to the 6,000 foot elevation has been suggested as a TCP. During the preparation of the 2000 Master Plan and draft Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) in 1999-2000, SHPD determined that Kūkahau‘ula and two

others cinder cones on Maunakea met the “e” criteria for designation as Historic Properties. As discussed in Section 3.2.1, the two other cinder cones are Pu‘u Līlīnoe in the MKSR and Waiau in the Mauna Kea Ice Age NAR, but the Project facilities are not near these two properties. The “e” designation criterion is that the property:

have an important value to the native Hawaiian people or to another ethnic group of the state due to associations with cultural practices once carried out, or still carried out, at the property or due to associations with traditional beliefs, events or oral accounts–these associations being important to the group’s history and cultural identity.

Properties on the registry because they meet criterion “e” are commonly referred to as  “traditional cultural properties (TCPs)” or “legendary properties.”  However, the term  Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) is associated with a Federal designation, and while SHPD considers Kūkahau‘ula eligible for Federal TCP designation no formal application for such designation has yet been put forward. Federal law defines a TCP as a location that is eligible for inclusion in the NRHP because of its association with cultural practices or beliefs of a living community that (a) are rooted in that community’s history, and (b) are important in maintaining the continuing cultural identity of the community. The intent of this is to recognize the inherent

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connection between cultural practices/beliefs and their physical manifestation within certain geographic areas. The CMP and CRMP recognize the importance of Kūkahau‘ula and other criterion “e” Historic Properties and prescribes management actions for their protection.

Kūkahau‘ula includes the summit cinder cones, traditionally collectively referred to as Kūkahau‘ula but  in recent times referred to separately as Pu‘u Wēkiu, Pu‘u Kea, and Pu‘u Hau‘oki (Figure 3-3).  In total the Kūkahau‘ula covers roughly 480 acres and roughly one-third   of that area is within the Astronomy Precinct. Kūkahau‘ula was found eligible under State criterion “e” and considered eligible for listing as a Federal TCP because of its association in Native Hawaiian Mythology with Wākea, the sky god and ancestor of the Hawaiian people, and with Kūkahau‘ula, a male deity, who has been identified as a form of the god Kū and the lover of Poli‘ahu. Kūkahau‘ula is also identified in Hawaiian traditional histories and genealogies as a chief, an ‘aumakua (family deity) of fishermen, and the husband of Līlīnoe. The summit is thus associated with the activities of Hawaiian deities, and appears as the focal point in numerous legends and oral histories. Kūkahau‘ula is also critical landscape elements in maintaining the integrity of Maunakea and the Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District.

Kūkahau‘ula also  contains eight optical/infrared observatories and their supporting  infrastructure, a portion of the SMA observatory area, and the summit  loop portion of Mauna  Kea Access Road. Historically, significant modifications have been made to the various cinder cones incorporated in Kūkahau‘ula, including Pu‘u Hau‘oki and Pu‘u Kea, during the development of the existing observatory structures and roads. Currently, Kūkahau‘ula receives frequent visitor traffic from employees of the observatories, UH management personnel, tourists, and cultural practitioners. Cultural practices associated with Kūkahau‘ula are on-going as evidenced by the existence of modern shrines and staging of cultural events in the area.

The TMT Observatory is roughly 1,700 feet northwest of Kūkahau‘ula, the Access Way will traverse the westernmost portion of Kūkahau‘ula, and the Batch Plant Staging Area is across Mauna Kea Access Road from Kūkahau‘ula.

Find Spots

Two “find spots,” or sites that resemble historic properties, were identified within Area E (Figure 3-3). One was initially interpreted to be a possible pre-contact shrine, consisting of two upright stones, located in the northwestern portion of Area E.  The second was initially interpreted to be   a possible pre-contact temporary habitation complex, consisting of a C-shaped enclosure and two small terraces, located within a lava channel in the northern portion of Area E. Upon completion of the initial pedestrian survey, a site visit was conducted with SHPD staff and Dr. Patrick  McCoy to discuss the significance of the two finds in Area E.  Following discussions, neither   was determined to warrant historic property designation. The shrine was determined to most  likely be a modern structure, likely constructed within the last 10 years. This determination was based on prior surveys undertaken by McCoy within the survey area that did not identify the feature. The possible temporary habitation complex was determined to most likely be a natural geological feature that only appeared to have been man-made.  Therefore, neither of the find  spots in the Project area are considered Historic Properties.

Another feature thought to be a potential historic property was recorded by McCoy during survey work in Area E in preparation of the CMP.  Its location is illustrated in Figure 3-3, and was   issued SIHP site number 21449. Due to doubts about its nature and in consultation with SHPD,

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a subsurface testing program was carried out. During the testing process no evidence of historic origin was encountered.  Therefore, this feature, although illustrated on figures in the CMP, is  not a historic property within Area E. After further consideration, SIHP # 21449 is considered a Historic Property of unknown function and is discussed above.

Upon careful survey, research, and consideration no historic properties were identified within Area E, along the Access Way, or in the Batch Plant Staging Area.

Hale Pōhaku

Multiple archaeological surveys and field work have been conducted in Hale Pōhaku, as outlined

in Table 3-4.

Table 3-4: Summary of Archaeological Investigations at Hale Pōhaku

An archaeological assessment of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area was performed for  the preparation of this EIS (Appendix H). The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area includes roughly six 3.2 acres within the southern/lower portion of Hale Pōhaku and an area around the HELCO substation outside Hale Pōhaku within the surrounding Mauna Kea Forest Reserve. The survey confirmed the results of previous surveys in the area; the new survey did not encounter  any previously unidentified sites.

Two “Lithic Scatters” were identified in Hale Pōhaku in 1985 and determined to be part of the Pu‘u Kalepeamoa site complex. The Pu‘u Kalepeamoa site complex has been categorized as a Stone Tool Quarry/Workshop Complex. Initially, the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) planned to preserve the two lithic scatters, however, dormitory construction increased erosion in the vicinity and, in consultation with SHPD, a data recovery program was agreed to. Based on data recovery in 2002 it was concluded that the sites were modest, out-lying, open, lithic workshop sites with octopus lure sinker manufacture of both “coffee-bean” and “bread-loaf” morphological types.

Also part of the Pu‘u Kalepeamoa site complex are two shrines located south, across the 4-wheel drive road from, and at least 190 feet away from Hale Pōhaku and the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility.

While there are areas where physical evidence of human activity was observed in the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area during the recent survey, there were good grounds for concluding that the specific constructions were less than fifty years old and hence the physical evidence of

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human activity was regarded as inappropriate for designation as a historic property. All but one  of these findings was located completely outside the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility areas, though some fell within 200 feet of the areas. In order to provide a more complete record, and to avoid any possible misunderstandings, these cases were documented and are shown in Appendix

H. Three previously identified historic properties that are outside of Hale Pōhaku but in the vicinity of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility were confirmed as being outside of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area.

Upon careful survey, research, and consideration no historic properties were identified within the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area, which includes only a portion of Hale Pōhaku. Within Hale Pōhaku, the three stone cabins (two rest houses from the 1930s and one comfort station  from 1950) are greater than 50 years old and therefore historic properties; however, they are not within 200 feet of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area.

Headquarters

The University Park area was surveyed for archaeological resources during the preparation of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo University Park Final Environmental Impact Statement (DAGS, 1997). Four rock mounds and a portion of a stacked boulder wall were identified in the southern portion of University Park, and determined to have been constructed and maintained historically as part of Waiākea Mill Co.’s sugar cane operations. The construction and maintenance of the mounds and wall were done to increase the cultivatable soil area by removing rocks from the fields and piling them into mounds and/or along field edges (e.g., the wall). The features were included within SIHP # 50-10-35-18670, and no further work was recommended.

In 2005, in support of the proposed expansion of the University Park and the relocation of Hawai‘i Community College (HawCC) to the Komohana Campus, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Mauka Lands Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (UH Hilo, 2005) was prepared. In the UH Hilo Mauka Lands project area, there are 20 archaeological sites, 18 of which require no further work; data recovery was recommended for the other two sites, associated with past dairy and military use. The two sites requiring data recovery are not slated for preservation, or any further work beyond data recovery. SIHP # 50-10-35-24243 is a large multi-component site consisting of eleven features that was originally constructed as a dairy facility after 1939, and was later used as a center for U.S. Army training during World War II. SIHP # 50-10-35-24244 is an anti-aircraft gun emplacement that was used during World War II, and includes ancillary features associated with that function. There are no pre-contact archaeological sites present.

3.3.2           Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact

In accordance with the Chapter 343 significance criteria, the Project would result in a significant impact if it involves an irrevocable commitment to loss or destruction of any natural or cultural resource.  The majority of the historic properties found on Maunakea are man-made sites, such  as shrines, ahu, and adze quarry workshops. Significant impacts would occur if those properties were physically altered or disturbed by the action.

Other historic properties are significant because of their associations with cultural practices or beliefs, such as the three cinder cones recognized by the State as Historic Properties. Those types of historic properties, commonly referred to as TCPs, would be significantly impacted if

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the action were to substantially alter the property or introduce new elements on or in the immediate vicinity of the property that substantially alter the setting in which cultural practices take place. New elements may include, but are not be limited to, visual elements, noise, traffic and human presence.

The Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District would be significantly affected if the action were to: (1) substantially alter the district or components of the district that contribute to its uniqueness; or (2) introduce new elements into the historic district that substantially alter its character. New elements may include, but are not be limited to, visual elements, noise, traffic and human presence.

Ultimately, potential impacts would be considered significant if they substantially compromise the integrity of the historic property.

3.3.3           Potential Environmental Impacts

The potential impacts of the Project on historic properties are evaluated within the framework of compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for the Project type and location. This includes requirements of the CMP and CRMP, within the MKSR and Hale  Pōhaku. Potential impacts to the cultural practices and beliefs associated with these properties  are discussed in Section 3.2.3.

Maunakea Summit Region

The TMT Observatory, Access Way, and Batch Plant Staging Area are within the Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District. There is one Historic Property, Kūkahau‘ula, SIHP # 21438, and one Historic District, SIHP # 26869, that will be physically affected by the development of the Project components.

Project Effects on Kūkahau‘ula

As discussed in Section 3.2.3, summarized in Table 3-1, and illustrated on Figure 3-2, the Access Way will disturb approximately 0.6 acre, except Access Way Option 3B which will disturb approximately 0.4 acres, on the westernmost portion of the roughly 480-acre Kūkahau‘ula cinder cone complex. Roughly 0.4 acre of this area has been previously disturbed by roads, including a SMA road, the old blocked 4-wheel drive road, and the Mauna Kea Access Road Loop. The Access Way effect will primarily be associated with a 0.2-acre area of new disturbance. In addition, Options 2A and 3B require the construction of a retaining wall and installation of slope facing, respectively, which will affect Kūkahau‘ula. A roughly 600 foot-long section of the Access Way within Kūkahau‘ula would also be paved and a guard rail installed on the down  slope side of the road.

The area comprising Kūkahau‘ula has been significantly modified by previous development activities including eight optical/infrared observatories, a portion of the SMA observatory, and roads.  Yet, it  is still recognized as a culturally important landscape.   Despite the historic  physical changes associated with development within the Astronomy Precinct, the area has retained its integrity for some, but not all, native Hawaiians. The Project will alter a minimal portion of 480-acre Kūkahau‘ula along the Access Way (less than one-tenth of one percent of the area), but it will not substantially affect the overall integrity of the cinder cones. Consequently,

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the potential physical impacts to Kūkahau‘ula from the proposed Project components are anticipated to be less then significant.

Project Effects on Historic District

The Mauna Kea Historic Preservation Plan, Management Components (SHPD, 2000; provided as Appendix J of this Final EIS) prepared by SHPD for IfA and included as Appendix F of the 2000 Master Plan states:

“Within the historic district, the effect of a project on the historic district as a whole needs to be assessed as well as the project’s effect on individual historic properties located within or immediately adjacent to the project area.  The effect  of a project on the historic district must be addressed even if no individual historic properties are found within or immediately adjacent to the project area.

“Effects on a district would consider the visual impact of a facility on the surrounding landscape (i.e., the various land forms creating the setting and context of the multiple historic properties encompassed by the district) and on those individual historic properties which contribute to the significance of the district. Creating a network of roads would affect the historic district because, in addition to altering the landscape, it creates easier access to more areas in the historic district and thus increases the possibility of historic properties being damaged by visitors.” (page 20 to 21)

Project effects on the Historic District and the contributing properties include:

• Physical effects on the integrity of cinder cones within the district.
• The visual effect of the Project’s man-made structures within the district.
  • The effect of increased number of people and their vehicles associated with Project operation (observatory employees and deliveries) in the summit region.
  • The effect of the potential accidental release of wastewater or hazardous substances due to Project activities within the district.
  • The effect of dust generated by Project activities within the district.

These and other issues identified in the Mauna Kea Historic Preservation Plan, Management Components are discussed in the following subsections.

Historic Properties and Integrity of Cinder Cones

The Project physical effects on Kūkahau‘ula, the only individual Historic Property within or adjacent to the Historic District affected by the Project, are discussed above. All Project components within the Historic District are more than 200 feet away from all other Historic Properties within or adjacent to the Historic District.

Because Kūkahau‘ula is comprised of cinder cones, the Project effects on it are also the Project effects on the integrity of cinder cones. The only other Project facility that is within 200 feet of a cinder cone in the district is the Batch Plant Staging Area.  The Batch Plant Staging Area is  located across Mauna Kea Access Road from the southeastern portion of Kūkahau‘ula. The

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Batch Plant Staging Area has been used during previous construction projects and the Project’s use will be similar to those past uses. No additional areas will be disturbed by the Project, including the Kūkahau‘ula cinder cone across the road from the staging area.

Visual

The visual impact of the Project is described in detail in Section 3.5.3.

The TMT Observatory will not be visible from the summit of the State Historic Property

Kūkahau‘ula; therefore, the TMT Observatory will not be visible in the views documented as

those of greatest cultural concern, including the open view from the summit to the west. This is due to the presence of the northern ridge of Kūkahau‘ula that blocks the view from the summit peak. The TMT Observatory will also not be visible from Pu‘u Līlīnoe and Waiau. Many of the existing observatories are visible from these culturally important areas.

However, the TMT Observatory will add a new visual element to the northern plateau area that will be visible to varying degrees from the northern ridge of Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u Pōhaku, Pu‘u Poli‘ahu, and some of the historic shrines and other historic properties along the northern slopes of Maunakea. The TMT Observatory will appear in the view directly toward the summit from only a few of the shrines on the northern plateau. From all locations within the district that the TMT Observatory will be visible, multiple existing observatories are also visible.

Although the TMT Observatory will be built in a relatively undeveloped portion of the MKSR Astronomy Precinct, it will be more isolated and less visible within the Historic District than the existing observatories. This will reduce its overall visual impact on the Historic District as well as other historic properties in the vicinity. Consequently, the potential visual impact to the Historic District and its contributing properties are not anticipated to be significant.

The Access Way would also be visible within the Historic District. Because the Access Way, regardless of which Option is selected, would be located among the existing roads in the area (the SMA road, the blocked 4-wheel drive road, and the Mauna Kea Access Road Loop);

therefore, the road itself will be in character with its surroundings.  The paving of the Access  Way for a distance of roughly 750 feet (600 feet on Kūkahau‘ula) and addition of a guard rail where needed will result in a slight change to the character of the road. The Option 2A retaining wall and Option3B embankment facing would be new visual elements that would be noticeable  to those in the immediate vicinity of those structures, primarily within the SMA area; however,

the wall or embankment facing would not be visible from the summit of Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u

Līlīnoe, Waiau, or any shrine.

Roads and Access

The Access Way will primarily improve existing roads. The Access Way will not create a “network” of roads, but will create easier access to a limited area of the Historic District. The Access Way will only substantially improve access over a 0.3 mile length starting north of the SMA access road, by improving the 4-wheel drive road currently in Area E to an improved dirt road. Nevertheless, TMT employees and visitors will be accessing a portion of the Historic District that is currently rarely visited. It is estimated that approximately 100 employees  currently work at the observatory facilities within MKSR. It is expected that an average of 24 employees will work at the TMT Observatory during daytime operations, with a minimum of 15

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and a maximum of 43 possible; nighttime operations will require an average of 6 employees at the facility.

The increase of employee and visitor traffic in the vicinity of the North Plateau may result in  some potential impacts to individual historic properties; however, as described below, TMT will implement the Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program to educate its employees regarding the necessity to avoid impacts to historic properties, among other things. Nevertheless, some sites that may be too remote for some people to visit today may become more accessible.

This may result in improved access for cultural practitioners to historic properties and the development of further modern shrines in the vicinity of the TMT. It also may result in the alteration of existing historic properties by non-TMT employees.

The increased potential for construction of modern shrines and the illegal alteration of historic properties in the vicinity of the TMT is not anticipated to be significant. Archaeological surveys of the MKSR indicate that tampering with historic properties and/or the construction of modern shrines typically occurs in areas that are relatively distant from the Astronomy Precinct.

Accidental Release of Wastewater or Hazardous Substances

Some Native Hawaiians have indicated that the practice of releasing domestic wastewater into   the subsurface through septic systems by current observatories desecrates the spiritual and sacred quality of the mountain, and hence the district. The same has been said regarding the potential accidental spillage of wastewater or hazardous substances. For these reasons the CMP requires that all new uses remove all domestic wastewater from the mountain for treatment.  As detailed   in Section 3.7.3, the Project will comply with this requirement and will not utilize a septic   system to dispose of domestic wastewater. No wastewater will be released and all wastewater  will be trucked off the mountain for disposal; no hazardous substances will be introduced to the outside environment of Maunakea.

Dust

Dust could have an effect on the historic properties and hence the district; these impacts are discussed in detail in Section 3.14.3.  Project construction will also generate dust and is  discussed in Section 3.15. The movements of employees and materials to and from the TMT Observatory will generate dust when traveling on unpaved roads. The dust generated by Project activities is not anticipated to be significant enough to generate a discernable physical impact to historic properties or the Historic District.

Treatments

The following treatments, commonly known as mitigation measures, will be implemented by the Project. The treatment/mitigation measures are listed here, instead of Section 3.3.4, due to their relationship to characterizing the Project’s effects to historic properties and the Historic District.

• In compliance with the CMP and to mitigate potential effects on cultural practices and Historic Properties, among other things, a Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program will be developed and implemented. As discussed in the CMP, the Cultural and

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Natural Resources Training Program will include educational instruction and materials designed to:

–          Impart an understanding of Maunakea’s cultural landscape, including cultural practices, historic properties and their sensitivity to damage, and the rules and regulations regarding the protection of historic properties.

–          Make it clear that any disturbance of a historic property is a violation of HRS Chapter 6E-11 and punishable by fine.

–          Provide guidance and information as to what constitutes respectful and sensitive behavior while in the summit area.

The training program will be updated regularly to incorporate UH Management Area- wide updates by OMKM. All people involved in TMT Observatory operation and maintenance activities, including but not limited to scientists and support staff, will receive the training on an annual basis.

• To mitigate the TMT Observatory’s visual effect within the Historic District:

–          In compliance with the 2000 Master Plan, the TMT Observatory has selected the 13N site within Area E, which, as the 2000 Master Plan details, was selected to minimize the Project’s visual effect.

–          The Project has attempted to reduce the TMT Observatory’s visual impact as described in Section 3.5.3 and 3.5.4. Steps include design efforts to reduce its  size, finish the support building and fixed structure exterior with a lava color, and finish the dome with a reflective aluminum-like finish similar to the Subaru Observatory.

• To mitigate the Access Way’s effect on Kūkahau‘ula and the Historic District, the Access

Way Options:

–          Have been designed to reduce disturbance by including the steep slopes of Option 2 and modifying Option 3 to a single lane configuration, even though these  designs are not desirable from an observatory operation standpoint.

–          Will have pavement with a reddish color to blend with the surroundings (it will be paved for a length of approximately 750 feet, of which roughly 600 feet  are  within the Kūkahau‘ula Historic Property).

–

to the extent feasible.

• To mitigate the generation of wastewater in the summit region, the Project will implement a zero discharge wastewater system and remove all wastewater from the mountain for treatment, as detailed in Section 3.7.
• To mitigate the chance of an accidental release of a hazardous substance, the Project will comply with applicable rules, regulations, and requirements, plus implement measures to reduce the potential for accidental spills of hazardous substances and reduce the potential impact of those events should they occur as detailed in Section 3.8.
• ·

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Observatory, which is discussed in Section 3.11.4. Additional control measures discussed in Sections 3.13 and 3.14 will also be implemented.

• To mitigate the presence of the TMT Observatory during culturally significant events that take place within the Historic District, TMT Observatory daytime operations will be reduced to minimize activities on up to four days in observance of Native Hawaiian cultural practices. TMT will work with OMKM and Kahu Kū Mauna to determine days  for such observances. While the observatory will be operated during these periods, this measure will involve having only a skeleton crew at the observatory, no vehicles will be visible, noise will be reduced, and no visitors will be allowed.
• To mitigate the general development of TMT Observatory, the following additional mitigation measures will be implemented:

–          The Project will work with OMKM and ‘Imiloa to develop exhibits for the VIS and ‘Imiloa regarding cultural and archaeological resource.

–          TMT’s outreach efforts (two full time staff) will work with ‘Imiloa and Native Hawaiian groups to support/fund programs specific to Hawaiian culture and archeological resources.

Summary of Effect in Maunakea Summit Region

The Project will not result in the loss or complete destruction of any historic properties within the Maunakea summit  region.   The physical impacts on the only historic property physically effected, Kūkahau‘ula, will be minimal and will not be significant.

Impacts to the Historic District and its contributing properties will be confined to the impacts on Kūkahau‘ula and the introduction of the Project components into the Historic District. Although the TMT will be a new structure in the Historic District, it will be isolated in the Northern

Plateau and will not be visible from most areas with the district. The district is currently recognized as a significant cultural landscape based on the multitude of historic properties in the area and despite the existence of the modern structures and numerous find spots in the area that may detract from its overall character.

Because the Project will (a) have certain facilities within a Historic District, (b) affect a Historic Property within the district, and (c) provide treatments/mitigations to address those effects, it has been determined that the Project will result in an “effect with treatment/mitigation  commitments.”

Because the Project will not result in the loss or complete destruction of any archaeologic/historic resource within the Maunakea summit region, this impact is considered to be less than significant.

Hale Pōhaku

As no archaeological or historic properties were identified in any of the Project areas in or near Hale Pōhaku, including the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area, no historic properties will be affected. With this determination, no effect or significant impact is expected.

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Headquarters

The Headquarters will not adversely impact any archaeological sites within the University Park area.  There are two sites designated with SIHP numbers that could potentially be impacted by   the Project, depending on the final location of the Headquarters. However, these two sites were not recommended for preservation, but instead for data recovery due to their importance to documenting military defense and training activities in the upland area of Hilo, and because data recovery at these sites will contribute archaeological data to the scant documentary information presently on record. At SIHP # 50-10-35-24243, recovery, if necessary, would include  excavations at strategic locations to fully understand the feature construction sequences and the specific functions of features, as well as conducting additional research into military activities of this type in Hilo and interviews with individuals and groups involved with this activity. At SIHP  # 50-10-35-24244, recovery, if necessary, would include fully exposing the architecture of the  gun emplacement and excavations at strategic locations around the emplacement to understand  the full organization of such site, as well as conducting additional research into military activities of this type in Hilo and interviews with individuals and groups involved with this activity.

The data recovery efforts would be designed in consultation with individuals and/or groups that have expertise in the military history of Hilo. If the Headquarters is located within the vicinity of either of these sites, the Project will perform the data recovery as recommended, and therefore,   no adverse impacts are expected.

3.3.4           Mitigation Measures

This section lists mitigation measures that will be implemented by the Project. The mitigation measures go beyond the management procedures outlined above to comply with the CMP,  CRMP, and other requirements. Items that are considered to be compliance management procedures include the Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program (required by the CMP), and Project design that provides for compliance such as a zero discharge wastewater system (required by the CMP) and siting the Observatory in Area E to reduce impacts (per the 2000 Master Plan), and no additional mitigation is required. Mitigation measures include the other

treatment/mitigation measures outlined in Section 3.3.3; they are discussed in Section 3.3.3 due to their relationship to the determination of “effect with treatment/mitigation commitments.” Together, the management procedures and other treatment/mitigation measures will ensure that Project impact will not have a significant impact on historic resources.

Notwithstanding the finding that the modern shrine at the 13N site is not a Historic Property, the Project will continue consultation with SHPD and Kahu Kū Mauna Council to establish appropriate protocols for dismantling relocating it per CMP Management Action CR-9. In addition, the Project will perform archaeological data recovery for the two find spots – the modern shrine and the site that initially appeared to be a temporary habitation – notwithstanding that they have been determined not to be historic properties.

Mitigation measures related to construction are discussed in Section 3.15 and include items such as cultural and archaeological monitoring.

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3.3.5           Level of Impact after Mitigation

Because the Project will (a) have certain facilities within a Historic District, (b) affect a Historic Property within the district, and (c) provide treatments/mitigations to address those effects, it has been determined that the Project will result in an “effect with treatment/mitigation  commitments.”

Because the Project will not result in the loss or complete destruction of any historic property within the Maunakea summit region or substantially alter the Mauna Kea Summit Region Historic District, this impact is considered to be less than significant. The mitigation measures outlined above will incrementally reduce the Project’s impact on historic properties.

No archaeological or historical properties were identified in any of the Project areas and the recommendation by Cultural Surveys Hawai‘i‘ was a “no historic properties affected” determination, this, along with the mitigation measures discussed result in the Project having no significant impact on archaeological and/or historical resources.

3.3.6           References

Allen. 1981. An Analysis of the Mauna Kea Adze Quarry Archaeobotanical Assemblage.

Master’s thesis, University of Hawai‘i.

Bonk. 1986. An Archaeological Survey at the Middle Level, Southern Flank of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Papers in Ethnic &amp; Cultural Studies 86-2.

Borthwick and Hammatt. 1990. Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey of the Proposed Galileo Telescope Sites C and D, Summit of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i (TMK 4-4- 015:09). Prepared for MCM Planning.

Cleghorn. 1982. The Mauna Kea Adze Quarry: Technological Analyses and Experimental Tests. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Hawai‘i.

Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), 1997. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo University Park Final Environmental Impact Statement, Hilo, Hawaii.  TMK: 2-4-01: 7, 12, 19, 41and 2-4-03: 26. Prepared by Engineering Concepts, Inc. for DAGS. September 1997.

Escott, Glenn.  2004.  An  Archaeological Inventory Survey on Approximately 258  Acres of Land for the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo Mauka Lands Development, Waiākea Ahupua‘a, South Hilo District, Island of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i (TMK 2-4-01:122). Prepared for PBR Hawai‘i.

Hammatt and Borthwick. 1988. Archaeological Reconnaissance of Two Proposed Antenna Sites for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i.

Hammatt and Shideler.  2002.  Data Recovery and Report for Two Archaeological Lithic   Scatters, Site 50-10-23-10,310 and 50-10-23-10,311 at the Puu Kalepeamoa Complex, Hale Pōhaku, Ka‘ohe Ahupua‘a, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i Island (TMK 4-4-15:12). Prepared for The Institute of Astronomy, University of Hawai‘i.

Section 3.3 – Archaeologic/Historic Resources                                            Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-55

Kam and Ota. 1983. Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey of Mauna Kea Observatory Powerline: Upper Portions, Mauna Kea, Hāmākua, Hawai‘i. State Historic Preservation Division Office. Prepared for University of Hawai‘i. On file at State Historic Preservation Office.

McCoy, Patrick. 1977. The Mauna Kea Adz Quarry Project: A Summary of the 1975 Field Investigations. Journal of the Polynesian Society 86(2):233-244.

McCoy, Patrick. 1979. Letter Report Dated August 22, 1979 to Mr. Francis Oda on Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey for the Preparation of the Mauna Kea Mid- Elevation Facilities Master Plan. Department of Anthropology, Bernice P. Bishop Museum.

McCoy, Patrick. 1981. Letter Report Dated June 9, 1981 to J. Jeffries on archaeological survey for the proposed Kitt Peak National Observatory. Department of Anthropology, Bishop Museum.

McCoy, Patrick. 1982a. Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey, In Patrick C. McCoy and Holly McEldowney, Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of the Mauna Kea Summit Region. Department of Anthropology, Bishop Museum.

McCoy, Patrick. 1982b. Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Site of the Caltech 10-Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prepared for Group 70, Inc. Department of Anthropology, Bishop Museum.

McCoy, Patrick. 1984b. Mauna Kea Summit Region Survey: A summary of the 1984 Fieldwork. Ms. on file at the Department of Anthropology, Bishop Museum.

McCoy, Patrick. 1985. Preliminary Archaeological Survey of the Puu Kalepeamoa Site, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prepared for MCM Planning for Draft Supplemental Impact Statement for Construction Camp Housing at Hale Pōhaku, Hāmākua, Hawai‘i. Ms. on file at the Department of Anthropology, Bishop Museum.

McCoy, Patrick.  1990.  Subsistence in a “Non-Subsistence” Environment: Factors of Production in a Hawaiian Alpine Desert Adze Quarry. In Pacific Production Systems: Approaches to Economic Prehistory, edited by D.E. Yen and J.M.J. Mummery, pp. 85-119. Occasional Papers in Prehistory, No. 18, Department of Prehistory, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, Canberra.

McCoy, Patrick. 1991. Survey and Test Excavations of the Puu Kalepeamoa Site, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prepared for Facilities Planning and Management Office, University of Hawai‘i. Ms. on file in the Department of Anthropology, Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Honolulu.

McCoy, Patrick. 1993. Letter Report on the Inspection of Two Sites Located in the Vicinity of the Smithsonian Submillimeter Array. Submitted to the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory.

McCoy, Patrick. 1999a. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Archaeological Site Inventory: Formal, Functional, and Spatial Attributes. In Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan (Appendix K), Group 70 International, Inc. Honolulu.

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McCoy, Patrick. 1999b. Neither Here Nor There: A Rites of Passage Site on the Eastern Fringes of the Mauna Kea Adze Quarry, Hawai‘i. Hawaiian Archaeology 7:11-34.

McCoy, Patrick. 2005. Archaeological Monitoring of Four Septic Tank Excavations at the Mid- Level Facilities Located at Hale Pōhaku, Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe, Hāmākua. Island of  Hawai‘i (TMK: [3]:4-4-015:012). Prepared for the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy.

Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM), 2009b. A Cultural Resource Management Plan for the University of Hawai‘i Management Areas on Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe Ahupua‘a, Hāmākua District, Island of Hawai‘i, State of Hawai‘i. TMK: (3) 4-4-015: 09, 12; A

Sub-Plan for the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. October 2009. Prepared by Pacific Consulting Services, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

McCoy, Patrick et al Pacific Consulting Services, Inc. (PCSI). 2005. Mauna Kea Science  Reserve Archaeological Inventory Survey, Ka‘ohe, Hāmākua, Island of Hawai‘i, Interim Report No. 1. Prepared for the Office of Mauna Kea Management.

McCoy, Patrick and Nees PCSI. 2006. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Archaeological Inventory Survey, Ka‘ohe, Hāmākua, Island of Hawai‘i, Interim Report No. 2. Prepared for the Office of Mauna Kea Management.

McCoy, Patrick and Nees PCSI. in prep 2010a. Draft Report, Archaeological Inventory Survey  of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Ka‘ohe, Hāmākua, Island of Hawai‘i. Prepared for

the Office of Mauna Kea Management. January 2010.

PCSI. 2010b. Final Report, Archaeological Inventory Survey of the Astronomy Precinct in the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Ka‘ohe, Ahupua‘a, Hāmākua District, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i. Prepared for Office of Mauna Kea Management. January 2010.

PCSI. 2010c. Final Report, Architectural Inventory Survey of Hale Pōhaku Rest Houses 1 and 2 and Comfort Station, Ka‘ohe Ahupua‘a, Hāmākua District, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i.

Prepared for Office of Mauna Kea Management.   January 2010.

PCSI. 2010d. Final Report, Archaeological Inventory Survey of the Mauna Kea Access Road Management Corridor, Ka‘ohe Ahupua‘a, Hāmākua District, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i. Prepared for Office of Mauna Kea Management. January 2010.

Robins and Hammatt. 1990. Archaeological Reconnaissance for Summit and Mid-Level Facilities for the Proposed Japan National Large Telescope. Prepared for MCM Planning, Honolulu.

Sinoto. 1987. Post-Field Report on the Archaeological Surface Survey of the Halepohaku Substation Site and Overland Transmission Line-Mauka Approach Areas, Halepohaku, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i Island. Mountain Archaeology Research Area, and Bishop Museum Anthropology Department, Honolulu. Letter Report Submitted to Clyde Akita, Facilities Planning and Management Office, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu.

State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD). 2000. Mauna Kea Historic Preservation Plan, Management Components. Prepared for Institute for Astronomy. March 2000.

Section 3.3 – Archaeologic/Historic Resources                                            Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-57

University of Hawai‘i (UH), 2009a. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January, 2009. Approved by BLNR on April 9, 2009.

UH, 2005. Mauka Lands Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement TMK 2-4-01: 122.

Prepared by PBR Hawai‘i for UH. February 2005.

Williams. 1987. Post-field Letter Report Dated July 7, 1987 to Mr. Clyde Akita on the Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey of the Summit Road Between Halepohaku and the Stockpile Area, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i Island. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Williams. 1989. A Technological Analysis of the Debitage Assemblage from Ko‘oko‘olau Rockshelter No. 1, Mauna Kea Adze Quarry, Hawai‘i. Unpublished M.A. Thesis, Washington State University.

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3.4       Biologic Resources

This section discusses the biologic resources (flora and fauna, including rare, threatened, and endangered species) in the region and in the Project areas, the potential impacts of the Project on those resources, and mitigation measures the Project will employ to mitigate those potential impacts. Impacts associated with construction and decommissioning activities are discussed in Section 3.15 of this EIS.

3.4.1           Environmental Setting

Maunakea Summit Region

Detailed information about Project area inventories and assessments may be found in the Biological Resources Technical Report in Appendix K.

National Natural Landmark

The U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, National Natural Landmarks Program designated a portion of Maunakea as a National Natural Landmark (NNL) in November 1972. A brief prepared by the program indicates that  Maunakea was designated a NNL based primarily  on its topography, morphology, and geology; these subjects are discussed in detail in Section 3.6.

Flora

There are two general vegetation types/ecosystems or habitats in the Maunakea summit region (Figure 3-4):

• Alpine Shrublands and Grasslands. This is generally the area from 9,500 feet (the tree line) to 12,800 feet.
• Alpine Stone Desert. This is the area above 12,800 feet.

Vegetation generally decreases in diversity, density and size towards the summit of the mountain, moving from alpine shrublands and grasslands above the treeline, at roughly 9,500 feet, to a stone desert above 12,800 feet. Area E, the Access Way, and the Batch Plant Staging Area are located in the alpine stone desert.

The alpine shrublands and grasslands vegetation on Maunakea begins just above Hale Pōhaku. Alpine shrubs and grasses grow predominantly on ‘a‘a lava flows, cinder cones, and air-fall deposits of lapilli and ash. The most common native vascular plants³⁷ that occur here include pūkiawe (Styphelia Leptecophylla tameiameiae), nohoanu (Geranium cuneatum), and ‘ohelo (Vaccinium reticulatum), but various other native shrubs, grasses, sedges, and ferns can also be found. The alpine shrublands and grasslands are also home to the Mauna Kea silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense), an endangered species. A fence exclosure surrounds the largest known population, about 30 plants near 9,350 feet elevation above the Wailuku river basin.

³⁷ Vascular plants are those that have lignified (woody) tissues for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include ferns, conifers, and flowering plants.

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-59

Figure 3-4: Overview of Maunakea Ecosystems

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Except for a single plant near the Mauna Kea Access Road that is also enclosed in protective fencing, the Mauna Kea silversword is rare and does not occur near astronomy activity.

The plant community in the alpine stone desert consists of several species of mosses and lichens, and a limited number of vascular plants.

• Lichens. The highest densities and diversity of the 21 known species of lichens tend to grow on north and west facing rocks in protected locations away from direct early morning sun exposure. Areas to the southwest of the major cinder cones support a lower density and diversity of lichens

than other areas, likely due to a rain shadow effect created by the cinder cones. Some species of lichens occur only in the numerous small caves and collapsed lava tubes found throughout the Maunakea summit region.

A recent survey of Area E detected 10 lichens

species (Appendix K). All of the species encountered also occur at somewhat lower elevations and none are unique to Hawai‘i. The low diversity and extremely low cover (less than 1 percent) may be due to a lack of suitable habitat. There is a greater abundance of lichens at the same elevation elsewhere in the Maunakea summit region where there are mounds of rocks rather than the solid flows present in Area E.

• Mosses. The 12 species of mosses reported to be present in the alpine stone desert occur in habitats partially protected by rock overhangs, or in deeply shaded pockets and crevices. Availability of water appears to be the most important factor determining the distribution of mosses. Even the most drought tolerant genus, Grimmia, is always associated with small runoff channels where moisture is available.

Two species of mosses were detected during the recent botanical survey of Area E (Appendix K). Both species are indigenous³⁸ to Maunakea, and occur elsewhere Hawai‘i and the world.

• Vascular Plants. Vascular plants that survive in the alpine stone desert occur mainly at the base of rock outcrops where there is an accumulation of soil and moisture, and some protection from wind. Six species are reported from the summit region: two Hawaiian endemic grasses, Hawaiian bentgrass (Agrostis

³⁸ The status of species are defined as:

Endemic – A species native to, or restricted to Hawai’i.

Indigenous – A species native to Hawai’i but that naturally occurs outside of Hawai’i as well. Non-indigenous – A species not native to Hawai’i.

Adventive – Not native, a species transported into a new habitat by natural means or accidentally by human activity. Purposely introduced – A species released in Hawai’i for a particular purpose, usually to control a weedy plant or another insect.

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-61

sandwicensis) and pili uka (Trisetum glomeratum); two naturally occurring ferns, ‘iwa‘iwa (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum) and Douglas’ bladderfern (Cystopteris douglasii); and two exotic daisies, Hairy cat’s ear (Hypochoeris radicata) and common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

Seven vascular plant species were detected in Area E during the recent botanical survey, all present in low abundance (Appendix K). The endemic spleenwort, ‘oāli‘i (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. densum) was uncommon in Area E, occurring in crevices of rocks.

This species, not previously reported from the alpine stone desert, is locally abundant in full sunlight in open areas on lava fields and in kīpuka from 3,950 to 8,850 feet on East Maui and Hawai‘i. The Hawaiian endemic Douglas’ bladderfern was observed and is known to occur at high elevations on Haleakalā and Maunakea but also occurs in moist forests on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Lāna‘i, and Maui, and is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) species of concern. In the summit region, this fern is more common to the  east, in the vicinity of Area F, near an existing unimproved dirt roadway, where several patches occur.

Fauna

The only resident faunal species in the Alpine Stone Desert ecosystem above 12,800 feet on Maunakea are arthropods. At least 10 confirmed resident species of indigenous Hawaiian arthropod species have been collected near the summit including: wēkiu bugs (Nysius  wekiuicola), lycosid wolf spiders (Lycosa sp.), two sheetweb spiders (genus Erigone), two mites (Family Aystidae and Family Eupodidae: both species unknown), two springtails (Family Entomobryidae: two species unknown), a centipede (Lithobius sp.³⁹), a noctuid moth (Agrotis  sp.).  Several other indigenous Hawaiian species have also been collected near the summit but  their resident status is unconfirmed.   Additional arthropod species, non-indigenous to Hawai‘i,  are thought to be resident to the summit area cinder cones. One of the indigenous arthropods, the wēkiu bug, is proposed as a candidate species for Federal listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Wēkiu bug lives only in loose cinder habitats on the cinder cones above 11,715 feet on  Maunakea. There is a similar species, Nysius aa, which occurs in the upper elevations on Mauna Loa. The wēkiu bug is a small “true bug” that has made a remarkable adaptation in feeding behavior. Many true bugs, including most of those found elsewhere in Hawai‘i, are herbivores  and feed on seeds and plant juices.  The wēkiu bug is a scavenger that uses its straw-like mouth  to feed on insects blown up to the summit area from the surrounding lowlands. These aeolian insects accumulate in protected pockets on the cinder cones; they quickly become moribund in

the cold and thus easy prey for foraging wēkiu bugs who have adapted to the harsh conditions of the summit area.

Wēkiu bugs are generally concentrated on the cinder cones in the summit area, but also utilize

other habitats. Six arthropod habitat types have been identified in the alpine stone desert.

³⁹ The abbreviation “sp.” is used when the actual specific name cannot be specified.

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• Type 1 – Snow patches: Seasonal patches of snow accumulate insects that are blown up the mountain from lower elevations. Wēkiu bugs are thought to exploit the edges of these patches, feeding on aeolian insects as they emerge from the melting snow.
• Type 2 – Tephra ridges and slopes: On cinder cones, where tephra cinders are large enough (≥1 cm), wēkiu bugs, spiders, caterpillars (Agrotis sp.) and smaller arthropods are able to move within the interstitial  spaces and utilize humid, protected microhabitats among the tephra. This is the habitat where wēkiu bugs are observed in greatest abundance.  Smaller  arthropods, like springtails (Collembola), and mites inhabit smaller (≤1c m) tephra cinders.
• Type 3 – Loose, steep tephra slopes: The unstable

steep outside slopes of cinder cones where tephra cinders are smaller and subject to

downward creep. Wēkiu bugs are present in low abundance in this habitat.

• Type 4 – Lava flows:  ‘a‘a and pāhoehoe lava flows with large outcrops of andesitic  rocks. This is the principal habitat for lichens and mosses, lycosid wolf spiders, and centipedes. Wēkiu bugs are uncommon in this habitat, presumably because of the lack of suitable microhabitat.
• Type 5 – Talus  slopes and highly fractured rock outcrops:  Usually found as islands  within Type 4 habitat, these are areas of talus slopes, highly fractured rock outcrops, and depressions between lava flows with glacially deposited, rounded cobbles and rocks lie  on fine loess. Small voids provide suitable microhabitats for wēkiu bugs which can occur in moderate abundance during times of high population outbreaks.
• Type 6 – Compacted ash, silt, and mud: Found on roadways, disturbed areas, and where fine aeolian loess accumulates. The interstitial spaces are mostly filled with fine-grained material and therefore not suitable for wēkiu bugs and lycosid spiders. Springtails and mites are the most abundant arthropods in this habitat type.

About 5 percent of the lava flow terrain of Area E and other Access Way areas can be classified  as Type 5 wēkiu bug habitat, with the remainder being Type 4. During a 1982 arthropod survey wēkiu bugs were present in low density in Type 5 habitats within Area E, based on captures in    14 traps placed in the area.  Wēkiu bug have not been collected in Area E or similar nearby  habitat since, despite three subsequent intensive collecting efforts. Twenty-five traps were set in 1997/1998 along the 13N access road but no wēkiu bugs were captured in any of those traps. No wēkiu bugs were collected during the 2008 sampling effort, which included 20 sampling points within Area E and along the Access Way (Figure 3-5). Wēkiu bugs were not found during the 2009 sampling effort within Area E (6 sample points) but were found in the cinder along the southern portion of the Access Way (6 sample points).

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-63

Figure 3-5: Arthropod Sampling in Vicinity of Area E and the Access Way

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The bulk of the Access Way alignment is habitat similar to the lava flow terrain in Area E (Types  4 and 5) while the rest is Type 6 habitat.

Access Way Options 2 and 3 primarily comprises a combination of Type 3 and Type 6 habitat. Wēkiu bugs are present in low abundance in the Type 3 habitat at the base of the unnamed pu‘u (the northwestern extent of Kūkahau‘ula). Although wēkiu bugs were not found in this area in 2008, they were found in the spring of 2009 in abundances similar to those in other nearby cinder cone habitat.

Threatened and Endangered Species

There are no currently-listed threatened or endangered⁴⁰ species known to occur in the   Astronomy Precinct. However, in a comment on the Draft EIS, it was reported that an ‘io (Buteo solitaries), the endangered Hawaiian Hawk, has been observed circling above the summit region on occasion. ‘Io are known to use a broad range of forest habitats and are not frequent visitors to elevations greater than roughly 7,000 feet, and do not reside in the summit region; however individuals can be observed in the area occasionally.  The Mauna Kea silversword  (Argyroxiphium sandwicense), an endangered species, is known to occur at lower elevations and  is discussed below in the Hale Pōhaku section. A recent arthropod and botanical survey of the Project areas in the Maunakea summit region did not encounter any species listed as endangered or threatened under either Federal or State of Hawai’i endangered species statutes.

One species is currently a candidate for listing, the wēkiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola). Wēkiu bugs were not found in Area E during studies for the Project, but were found during Project studies in the Spring of 2009 in Type 3 habitat along Access Way Options 2 and 3. wēkiu bugs are known to occur on a number of cinder cones above an elevation of 11,700 feet; they are most common  in Type 2 habitat but are also known to frequent Type 3 habitat.

One species currently considered a species of concern by the USFWS, the Douglas’ bladderfern (Cystopteris douglasii), are known to occur in the Maunakea summit region. The Douglas’ bladderfern was found throughout Area E; it is known to be widespread, occurring on all main Hawaiian Islands and on Maunakea is more common to the east, in the vicinity of Area F. Area  E is not considered critical habitat for the Douglas’ bladderfern.

The ‘ua‘u (Pterodrama sandwichensis) the endangered Hawaiian petrel, may have historically utilized the lower portions of the alpine shrublands and grasslands on Maunakea, but none have been observed near Project sites.

⁴⁰ There are several terms that are used to describe the status of species. These include:

Endangered species – Any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, as listed in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or HRS Chapter 195D.

Threatened species – Any species which is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future, as listed in the ESA or HRS Chapter 195D.

Candidate species – Any species being considered by the Secretary of the Interior for listing as an endangered or a threatened species, but not yet the subject of a proposed rule.

Species of Concern – Those species about which regulatory agencies have some concerns regarding status and threats, but for which insufficient information is available to indicate a need to list the species under the ESA. Rare species – Those species that occur very infrequently, but are not classified threatened or endangered.

Sensitive species – Those species which rely on specific habitat conditions that are limited in abundance, restricted in distribution, or are particularly sensitive to development.

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-65

Hale Pōhaku

Detailed information about Project area inventories and assessments may be found in the Biological Resources Technical Report in Appendix K.

Flora

Hale Pōhaku is located in the māmane subalpine woodlands ecosystem that extends down to the Saddle Road (Figure 3-4). The subalpine woodlands are dry most of the year, and māmane trees (Sophora chrysophylla) intercept fog that provides them and other plant species with the small amounts of moisture they need to survive.

The understory of the māmane subalpine woodland near Hale Pōhaku is comprised largely of native shrubs like ‘āheahea (Chenopodium oahuense), pūkiawe (Styphelia Leptecophylla tameiameiae), and less abundant are nohoanu (Gernium cuneatum), two native mints, Stenogyne microphylla and mā‘ohi‘ohi (Stenogyne rugosa), and the Hawaiian catchfly (Silene hawaiiensis), a threatened species. Pili uka (Trisetum glomeratum) and hairgrass (Deschampsia nubigena) are the most abundant indigenous grasses.

The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility would be located in the southern portion of Hale Pōhaku. Portions of the area are compacted ash and rock, with little vegetation and have been used for construction staging and parking for several of the observatories on Maunakea. Māmane trees  are present in the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility site, but are less dense than in the surrounding forest, which is the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve. The ground cover of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility site consists of a mixture of non-indigenous plants, dominated by needlegrass (Nassella cernua) growing between common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis), pin clover (Erodium cicutarium), common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), evening primrose (Oenothera stricta), and telegraph plant (Heterotheca grandiflora).

In a recent survey, only a few native plant species were present in the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area: māmane trees (Sophora chrysophylla), ‘aheahea (Chenopodium oahuense), hinahina (Geranium cuneatum), mā‘ohi‘ohi (Stenogyne rugosa), littleleaf stenogyne (Stenogyne microphylla), Hawaiian bent grass (Agrostis sandwicensis), pili grass (Trisetum glomeratum), and another grass (Deschampsia australis). All of these species occur over a wide range and most on other islands in Hawai‘i and none are considered rare or threatened. (Appendix K).

Fauna

The open-canopied māmane forest is home to the palila (Loxiodes bailleui), a native Hawaiian

bird listed as endangered.  The māmane  forest on Maunakea has a diverse arthropod fauna.   More than 200 arthropod species have been collected there.  The arthropod fauna includes  several species of Plagithmysus (a genus of native Hawaiian long-horn beetles), seven species of small native caterpillars (Cydia spp.) that live in māmane pods and are important prey of palila,

the Kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) – the official state insect of Hawai‘i, and the koa bug (Coleotichus blackburniae).

Thirty-three species of arthropods and two snails were observed on or near the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility site within Hale Pōhaku. Fifteen of the species detected are endemic to Hawai‘i, seventeen are purposeful or adventives non-indigenous species, and three are of unknown origin. The arthropod fauna at the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area consists

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mostly of non-indigenous species and common endemic species that are abundant throughout the māmane forest, and occur on other islands. None of the species found are designated as serious pests, and no ants were detected during the sampling (Appendix K).

Threatened and Endangered Species

A number of threatened, endangered or species of concern are potentially present in the māmane

subalpine woodlands. These include:

• Flora

–          Mauna Kea silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense subspecies sandwicense), an endangered species. There are no wild individuals of this species near Hale Pōhaku. However, they are being outplanted within an exclosure behind the Visitor Information Station.

–          Hawaiian catchfly (Silene hawaiiensis), a threatened species.  A small population of the Hawaiian catchfly was reported in rocky areas on the steep slopes adjacent to and above the maintenance area in the northern/upslope portion of Hale Pōhaku by Char in 1985.

–          ‘Akoko (Chamaesyce olowaluana), na‘ena‘e (Dubautia arborea), Hawai‘i black snakeroot (Sanicula sandwicensis), and Douglas’ bladderfern (Cystopteris douglasii); all State species of concern. These species are all potential present in the habitat surrounding Hale Pōhaku but have not been detected during surveys within the Hale Pōhaku boundaries.

–          Diamond spleenwort (Asplenium fragile var. insulare), an endangered species.

–          Kiponapona (Phyllostegia racemosa var. racemosa), an endangered species.

–          Hawaiian vetch (Vicia menziesii), an endangered species.

• Fauna

–          Palila (Loxiodes bailleui), a native Hawaiian bird listed as endangered. Hale Pōhaku is within the boundaries of palila critical habitat, but no palila were detected there during surveys in 2007.

–          ‘Amakihi (Hemignathus virens), ‘apapane (Himatione sanguine), ‘i‘iwi (Vestiaria coccinea) are bird species of concern. These species have been observed in māmane subalpine woodlands but only ‘amakihi and ‘apapane were detected during the 1979 and 1985 bird surveys near Hale Pōhaku. ‘I‘iwi were observed at Hale Pōhaku in 2006 but have been described as seasonal, uncommon visitors to

the area.

–          ‘Akiapola‘au (Hemignathus munroi), an endangered bird. The ‘akiapola‘au are found primarily in koa-ōhi‘a forests and therefore not likely in the Hale Pōhaku area.

–          ‘Io (Buteo solitaries), the endangered Hawaiian Hawk. ‘Io use a broad range of forest habitats and are not frequent visitors to the māmane subalpine woodlands, but could pass through occasionally.

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-67

–          Nēnē (Branta sandvicensis), the endangered Hawaiian goose. Nēnē may inhabit high elevation grasslands and dry forests during breeding season, but evidence suggests that this species no longer utilizes the area around Hale Pōhaku.

–          ‘Ope‘ape‘a (Lasiurus cinerus semotus), the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat. The ‘ope‘ape‘a, has been observed in māmane subalpine woodlands on Maunakea, but the status of this species at Hale Pōhaku is unknown.

–          Koa bug (Coleotichus blackburniae), a species of concern, is not likely to be present at Hale Pōhaku because its common host plants koa (Acacia koa) and a‘ali‘i (Dodonea viscosa) do not occur there.

–          Black-veined Agrotis noctuid moth (Agrotis melanoneura), a species of concern, is known to reside on Maunakea (Bishop Museum 2007) and has not been collected observed at light traps at Hale Pōhaku in recent years. Very little information is available regarding this species and while it is uncommon, it is widespread on Maunakea (Giffin 2009). and may be extinct.

–          Two yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus difficilis and H. flavipes), both species of concern have been observed at. Only H. flavipes, a federal and state species of concern, has been confirmed from Hale Pōhaku.

–          Two species of snails (Succinea konaensis and Vitrina tenella), both species of concern, have been collected at Pu‘u La‘au from elevations ranging from 6,200 to 8,600 feet.

A recent arthropod and botanical survey at the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility site found no species listed as endangered, threatened, or that are currently proposed for listing under either Federal or State of Hawai’i endangered species statutes. The Yellow-footed yellow-faced bees, the Difficult yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus difficillis) and the Yellow-footed yellow-faced bee (H. flavipes), and a succineid snail (Succinea konaensis) were the only Federal or State species of

concern detected during the arthropod survey. The Difficult yellow-faced bee was observed only during the Spring 2009 sampling period and normally may forage at higher elevations during warmer weather. This species also occurs on Maui, Lāna‘i, and Moloka‘i. The Yellow-footed yellow-faced bee was observed during both sampling periods foraging on māmane; this species also occurs on Maui and Lāna‘i. Little is known about the distribution of the succineid snail; however, it is known to occur near Pu‘u La‘au on the western slopes of Maunakea.

Headquarters

Botanical studies conducted of the University Park area have  found the area to be characterized by three vegetation types: ōhi‘a tree/uluhe fern forest, strawberry guava thicket, and ruderal vegetation.  The birds found in the area are mostly completely non-indigenous introduced  species. Endangered bird species may fly over University Park occasionally between the months of April and October; these species include the Hawaiian Hawk or ‘io (Buteo solitarius), the Short-eared Owl or pueo (Asiofiammeus sandwichensis), the ‘ua‘u (Pterodrama sandwichensis) the endangered Hawaiian petrel, and the Newell’s Shearwater or ‘ao (Puffinus newelli).

Additionally, a comment received on the Draft EIS, reported that a Hawaiian hoary bat or ‘ope‘ape‘a (Lasiurus cinerus semotus) was observed in the area in 2004. ‘Ope‘ape‘a are known to use a broad range of rural habitats but are not frequent visitors to urban areas; however, individuals may be observed in the area occasionally.

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Based on the study, none of the plants inventoried were listed as threatened or endangered species, nor were any proposed as candidate for such status. The area is not considered critical habitat for any species.

3.4.2           Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact

In accordance with the Chapter 343 significance criteria, the Project would result in a significant effect to the existing biological resources if it (1) caused/involved an action that irrevocably commits a natural resource, (2) curtails the range of beneficial uses of the environment, or (3) or substantially affects a rare, threatened, or endangered species, or its habitat.

Therefore, a significant adverse impact would occur if the Project caused long-term loss or impairment of a substantial portion of local habitat of indigenous Hawaiian species; caused a substantial reduction in the population of a protected species, as designated by Federal and State agencies, or a species with regional and  local significance; introduced or increased the  prevalence of undesirable non-native species; curtailed the range of a native Hawaiian species; or otherwise reduced the range of beneficial uses of the environment.  This can occur with a reduction in numbers; by alteration in behavior, reproduction, or survival, or by loss or  disturbance of habitat.

3.4.3           Potential Environmental Impact

The potential impacts of the Project are evaluated within the context of the existing environment and framework of compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for the project type and location. The current context includes the presence of observatories and roads within the MKSR, including direct impacts to roughly 63 acres to Type 2 and 3 wēkiu bug habitat, and developments at Hale Pōhaku. As detailed in Section 3.16.2, the past actions on Maunakea have resulted in various levels of cumulative impact to the ecosystems of Maunakea. Applicable rules, regulations, and requirements include the CMP and associated NRMP, the  2000 Master Plan, the Endangered Species Act, USFWS Species Recovery and Conservation Plans, and the State of Hawai‘i Environmental Policy (HRS 344).

Impacts on biological resources were evaluated by assessing the sensitivity, significance, or rarity of each resource that could be adversely affected by the Project. The significance may be different for each habitat or species and is based on the resource’s rarity or sensitivity and the level of impact that will result from the Project. Most impacts on high sensitivity resources are considered significant, while the determination of significance for impacts on the moderate and low sensitivity resources is based more on site-specific factors, such as the habitat quality and population size, as well as the nature and extent of the expected impact.

Potential long-term impacts associated with the Project include; (a) the replacement of existing habitat with the TMT Observatory, Access Way, potential TMT Mid-Level Facility, and Headquarters; (b) dust generated by vehicles traveling along the unpaved Access Way and parking at the TMT Observatory and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility; and (c) paving a roughly 300-foot section of the Access Way.

Each of these potential impacts is discussed below. As a general measure to avoid impacts to natural resources during operations, the Project will implement a Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program as required by the CMP (Management Action EO-2). The program will be

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-69

used to raise awareness and appreciation of the area being experienced. As discussed in the  CMP, the Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program will include educational instruction and materials designed to:

• Describe the status, condition, and diversity of natural resources present on the mountain, including biotic and physical elements.
• Outline the potential and existing threats to the natural resources.
• Summarize the protection afforded the natural resources in various rules and regulations.
  • Provide expectations and requirements to avoid habitat damage, including but not limited to:

–          A prohibition on off-road vehicle use.

–          The requirements of the Invasive Species Prevention and Control Program detailed below.

–          Watch for and avoid impact with nēnē along the roads.

–          Restrictions on smoking and other potential sources of fire.

• Provide steps to take and consider regarding personal safety and potential hazards of working on the mountain.

The training program will be updated regularly to incorporate UH Management Area-wide updates by OMKM. All people involved in TMT Observatory operation and maintenance activities, including but not limited to scientists and support staff, shall receive the training on an annual basis.

The CMP requires (Management Action FLU-5) that an airflow analysis be performed on the design of proposed structures to assess potential impacts to aeolian ecosystems. The aeolian ecosystem is related to the wēkiu bug and the fact that its food supply consists of insects blown from lower elevations to the summit, where they come to rest and become wēkiu bug prey.

Because the TMT Observatory is not located on a cinder cone and wēkiu bugs are not normally present in the area, this requirement is not applicable to the Project.

Species or Habitat Displacement

CMP Management Action FLU-6 requires that habitat mitigation plans be incorporated into the project planning process to address potential impacts to sensitive habitats. Three Access Way Options were evaluated in the Draft EIS. As discussed in Section 2.5.2, the Access Way Options have been revised since the Draft EIS was completed.  Modifications included planning actions   in compliance with FLU-6 to reduce Access Way Option 3’s impact on a sensitive habitat. The original Option 3 design would have resulted in the displacement of roughly 0.7 acre of Type 3 wēkiu bug habitat; the refined design, which shrinks the road from two lanes to one lane, would result in either a 0.2 or 0.1 acre displacement of Type 3 wēkiu bug habitat, depending on which design approach is employed.

The decision to pave a 750 foot long portion of the Access Way near the SMA core and Type 3 wēkiu bug habitat was also made to reduce the Project’s potential impact on sensitive habitat in compliance with FLU-6. Paving this portion of the Access Way will reduce the generation of dust where the Access Way is adjacent to sensitive habitat.

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In addition to these design choices made to mitigate the Project’s impact on sensitive habitat, TMT will work with OMKM on the development and implementation of a habitat restoration study.

The Project will also implement a number of measures during construction to reduce potential construction-phase impacts. Construction phase measures are outlined in Section 3.15.1 and include a BMP Plan to limit the area disturbed during construction and an Invasive Species Prevention and Control Program to aggressively reduce the potential for invasive species introduction during construction.

Species and habitats that will be displaced by the Project include:

• TMT Observatory: Roughly 4.7 4.5 acres of alpine stone desert lava flow habitat (wēkiu bug habitat Types 4 and 5) will be displaced. Roughly 0.5 acre of the 5.2 5-acre TMT Observatory site has previously been disturbed by roads and site testing (wēkiu bug habitat Type 6).
• Access Way: Roughly 1.3 1.4 acres of lava flow habitat similar to that at the TMT Observatory site will be displaced by the portion of the Access Way north of where the Access Way Options come together (the “common” Access Way). Roughly 1.2 1.1 acres of the 2.5-acre common Access Way area has previously been disturbed by roads. Table 3-5 summarizes habitat displacements that would occur for each of the Access Way Options being considered.

Table 3-5: Summary of Habitat Displacements by Access Way Options

Access Way Option 2A

Option 2B

Option 2C

Option 3A

Access Way Option 3B

The following additional habitat could be displaced, depending on which Access Way Option is selected:

–          Option 1: Another 0.3 acre of habitat similar to the TMT Observatory site could be displaced; roughly 1.0 acre of the 1.3-acre Option 1 area has previously been disturbed by roads (Wēkiu bug habitat type 6).

–          Option 2: 0.3 acre of cinder cone habitat (Wēkiu bug habitat type 3) associated with the pu‘u could be displaced; roughly 1 acre of the 1.3- acre Option 2 area has previously been disturbed by roads (Wēkiu bug habitat type 6).

–    

• Batch Plant Staging Area: This roughly 4-acre area has been disturbed previously by other construction efforts. Sensitive habitat and species of concern will not be displaced.

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• Potential TMT Mid-Level Facility: All of the roughly 3.2 acres that may be impacted by the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility have previously been disturbed by construction activities for other observatories. A few māmane trees and other species exist within or around the parameter of the area.
• Headquarters: An unknown area of abundant low-land habitat that does not harbor any species of concern will be displaced.
• Port Staging Area: Existing warehouses and/or yards to be utilized will be chosen so that no species or habitat of concern will be displaced.

Overall, the displacements will not have a significant impact on biological resources because species and habitat of these areas are not unique to the Project sites and are found elsewhere on Maunakea and/or on other islands in Hawai‘i. The following sections discuss some of these areas individually.

TMT Observatory and Common Access Way

The six roughly 5.9 acres of new habitat displacement will not have a significant impact on biological resources. The botanical species and habitat of these areas are not unique to the  Project sites and are found elsewhere on Maunakea and/or on other islands in Hawai‘i. The habitat is not considered critical habitat for any species and floral, lichen, moss, and arthropod species present occur in greater abundance in other nearby areas. Roughly 5.7 5.6 acres of Type  4 wēkiu bug habitat (95 percent of the area) and 0.3 acre of Type 5 wēkiu bug habitat will be displaced. The mix of Type 4 and 5 habitats is not considered optimal for wēkiu bugs; they may only occupy this area during extreme population explosions that push the insects into marginal habitats. Lycosid wolf spiders, centipedes, lichens, and mosses regularly occupy this habitat.

The amount of habitat that will be disturbed represents only a small portion (less than 0.5 percent) of the total wēkiu bug habitat similar to this (mix of Type 4 and 5 habitats) available on Maunakea and will have a less than significant impact on wēkiu bug populations.

Access Way Options

Option 1 would displace about 0.3 acre of Type 4 habitat and small areas of Type 5 habitat. As with the TMT Observatory, this is not prime habitat. In addition, since the amount of habitat that would be displaced is small, and these species are more abundant elsewhere in the Maunakea summit region, the impact of Option 1 would be less than significant.

As listed in Table 3-5, the various Access Way Options would displace from 0.01 to 0.5 acre of lava flow habitat (wēkiu bug Type 4 and 5 habitat) and 0.06 to 0.23 acre of alpine cinder cone habitat (wēkiu bug Type 3 habitat). For the reasons described above for the TMT Observatory and common Access Way, the small displacement of lava flow habitat by any of the Options would not result in a significant impact.  The alpine cinder cone habitat, wēkiu bug Type 3  habitat that would be displaced by the Access Way Options is considered to be good, but not optimal wēkiu bug habitat. Wēkiu bugs have been reported in low abundance in Type 3 habitat. No wēkiu bugs were collected in this area during the 2008 sampling, but were collected during the Spring 2009 sampling. Because the displacement is a relatively small area, the impact to wēkiu bugs and other Maunakea summit region arthropods will be less than significant  regardless of which Access Way Option is selected.

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The Project would prepare and implement a Habitat Restoration Plan to compensate for the loss  of Type 3 Wēkiu bug habitat should the Access Way Option 2 or 3 be selected.  Habitat would    be restored at a 1:1 basis; therefore, roughly 0.3 acres of habitat would be restored should Option  2 be selected and 0.7 acres of habitat would be restored should Option 3 be selected.  At this time  it  is envisioned that, should Option 2 be selected, at least a portion of the area disturbed by the  old 4-wheel drive road would be restored (the area where Option 3 is located).  Should Option 3  be selected, it is envisioned that the disturbed area below the Subaru Observatory would be restored using methods described in the Outrigger Habitat Restoration Plan, which was never implemented. The restoration plan would focus on the creation of new Wēkiu bug habitat, and would include two to five years of monitoring to assess restoration results.

In addition to the FLU-6 considerations discussed above, the Project will monitor arthropod activity in the vicinity of the portion of the Access Way that will impact the sensitive, Type 3 wēkiu bug alpine cinder cone habitat. Monitoring will be performed prior to, during, and for at least two years after construction in this area. This monitoring program is proposed to replace the habitat restoration measure discussed in the Draft EIS. This modification is based on comments received during the Draft EIS public review period, the Project’s limited impact on

Type 3 wēkiu bug habitat, and the uncertainty associated with the feasibility and effectiveness of any physical habitat restoration approach.

Furthermore, TMT will work with OMKM on the development and implementation of a habitat restoration study. Depending on the results of this study, it could be used to support the design and implementation of a Habitat Restoration Plan in the future.

Potential TMT Mid-Level Facility

Less than one acre of māmane subalpine forest could be displaced by the TMT Mid-Level Facility. The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility will not disturb any previously undisturbed areas. However, there are some māmane trees that have grown in the area that may need to be trimmed or removed. No palila, for which this area is designed critical habitat, have been detected at Hale Pōhaku during recent surveys, and the māmane forest on the site is less dense than that found outside the limits of Hale Pōhaku. Six species of indigenous Hawaiian plants grow on this Project site. Three species identified as Federal or State species of concern were

also observed in this area: the Difficult yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus difficillis), the Yellow-footed yellow-faced bee (H. flavipes), and a succineid snail (Succinea konaensis). All of these species, except the succineid snail, are known to occur over a wide range and most occur on other islands in Hawai‘i. Little is known about the distribution of the succineid snail other than it  is also present at Pu‘u La‘au. Due to the distribution of these species and the small area of potential habitat displacement, the impacts from habitat displaced by the potential TMT Mid-Level  Facility would be less than significant.

Headquarters

The Headquarters will be in an urban setting where no critical habitats are present, and species of concern are not regularly observed. Therefore, this displacement will not have a significant  impact on biological resources.

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-73

Dust from Operations

It is estimated that about 50 an average of 24 daytime and 6 nighttime employees will commute daily to the TMT Observatory and there will also be occasional freight pickups and deliveries to support operations. Generation of excessive dust from vehicle traffic on the unpaved Project areas, including the Access Way, TMT Observatory parking area, and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility parking area, could impact biological resources, particularly in the Maunakea summit region. Wind-blown dust that covers plants, lichens and mosses, deprives them of needed sunlight. The potential impact of excessive dust could have a moderate effect on the flora in habitats adjacent and downwind of the Access Way and TMT Observatory. However, because

the lichens, mosses, and plants that will be impacted are found elsewhere in the Maunakea summit region and Hawai‘i, the overall impact to the flora will be less than significant.

Wind-blown dust can also impact arthropod habitats by filling interstitial spaces and microhabitats where arthropods reside. It is not likely that the amount of dust generated from vehicle traffic during operation of the TMT Observatory will be sufficient to affect spiders and centipedes in adjacent or downwind habitats, but there is a potential for impacting wēkiu bugs. However, wēkiu bugs only occupy habitats nearby and downwind of the Project sites during periods of high population, an uncommon event, and generally are more abundant elsewhere in the Maunakea summit region that will not frequently receive dust from the Project areas.

Nevertheless, the Access Way will be paved where it is adjacent to, but upwind of, sensitive wēkiu bug habitat. Thus the overall impact to arthropods due to dust generated by Project operations in the Maunakea summit region will be less than significant.

Paved Road through SMA Core Area

Paving the Access Way through the SMA core area will have little impact on the flora and fauna of the Maunakea summit region. The species that are most abundant in habitats adjacent to the road will likely not be affected. Wēkiu bugs have been seen crossing dirt roads, but none have been observed crossing paved roads. Only wēkiu bugs that occasionally cross the dirt road while dispersing during periods of high population could be impacted by the pavement. Therefore, the number of wēkiu bugs likely to be impacted will be small. Paving the Access Way through the SMA core area will not have a significant impact. In fact, paving the road could reduce dust generated by vehicle traffic on the road thereby protecting nearby habitats.

Impacts Associated with Potential Accidents

In addition to the long-term Project impacts, as discussed above, there will be a potential for impacts that may occur if there were to be an accident associated with the Project. These potential impacts are discussed below.

Accidental Introduction of Invasive Species

Movement of vehicles, personnel, and equipment to the Project areas may accidentally introduce invasive, non-indigenous species to the Maunakea summit  region or Hale Pōhaku.   Invasive plant species can displace indigenous species and thereby reduce their populations. Arthropods introduced outside of their natural range can represent a threat to natural systems because they can deplete indigenous arthropod food resources and/or prey on indigenous species. Non- indigenous arthropod species that successfully establish populations within the Mauna Kea

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Science Reserve could out-compete or exclude indigenous species, such as the wēkiu bug, lycosid wolf spider, and other native resident arthropods. Alien arthropods can arrive at Project sites from localities on the Island of Hawai‘i where they are already established, or in crates, boxes, containers, or construction equipment that are shipped from off the Island.

The Project, as required by the CMP (Management Action NR-2), will reduce the probability for invasive species being introduced to the environment by implementing an Invasive Species Prevention and Control Program. The program will be developed in coordination with OMKM and also be in place during construction activities, as discussed in Section 3.15. The portions of the program applicable to TMT operations will include:

• Requirements that everyone who plans to pass beyond Hale Pōhaku brush down their

clothes and shoes to remove invasive plant seeds and invertebrates. This will be done at

the Headquarters or other lower elevation location, prior to boarding observatory vehicles bound for the summit area.

• Regular inspections and washing, at lower elevation facilities such as the Headquarters, of observatory vehicles and other items that are regularly transported between the TMT Observatory and lower elevations.
• Regular monitoring of the habitat along the Access Way and around the TMT Observatory and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility, and the interior of the TMT Observatory and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility for invasive species, and eradication of such species when found using methods that will not impact indigenous resident species.
• Inspection, by a biologist, of major shipments of new equipment bound for the TMT Observatory prior to transportation beyond the Headquarters.

Thus the potential impacts due to invasive non-indigenous species are likely to be less than significant.

Accidental Vehicle Impacts

There are reports of nēnē killed by vehicles on the Mauna Kea Access Road below Hale Pōhaku. Nēnē may utilize the lower portions of this road, especially during breeding season, and inattentive drivers may strike these birds. Nēnē are not often seen on the Mauna Kea Access  Road and occur elsewhere on the island in greater abundance, however the taking of endangered species is serious.  While the overall impact of Project traffic on the Mauna Kea Access Road  will be less than significant to the nēnē population of Hawai‘i, to avoid the potential for such an accident, the TMT personnel will be informed of the potential impact to nēnē during the required cultural/natural resources training and required to take precautions at all times while traveling on this segment of the road.

3.4.4           Mitigation Measures

The Project will comply with existing regulations and requirements, which will mitigate many of the potential impacts, as discussed above. The Project’s policies to comply with applicable rules and regulations will include the following CMP Management Actions detailed above:

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-75

• Management Action NR-6: implementation of a Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program. This program, detailed in Section 3.4.3, will require that TMT personnel receive an annual orientation regarding natural resources.
• Management Action NR-2: implementation an Invasive Species Prevention and Control Program. This program, detailed in Section 3.4.3, will outline steps to be taken to avoid the potential impacts associated with invasive species.
• Management Action FLU-6: the following has occurred or will be implemented:

–          The Access Way has been designed to limit disturbance and displacement of sensitive habitat and will be paved where adjacent to sensitive habitat to reduce dust-related impacts.

–          Construction-phase measures will be implemented to reduce impacts to sensitive habitat (Section 3.15), and arthropods will be monitored in the area of the Access Way prior to, during, and for two years after construction on the alpine cinder cone habitat.

–          Implement a Habitat Restoration Plan should Access Way Options 2 or 3 be selected. The restoration plan would comply with CMP Management Action FLU-6. TMT will work with OMKM on the development and implementation of  a habitat restoration study.

Mitigation measures that go beyond what is required by the CMP and other applicable requirements related to biological resources include the following.

• The Access Way Options have been designed to reduce the impact to wēkiu bug habitat by including the steep slopes of Option 2 and modifying Option 3 to a single lane configuration, even though these designs are not desirable from an observatory operation standpoint.
• The Project will work with OMKM and ‘Imiloa to develop exhibits for the VIS and ‘Imiloa regarding natural resource.
• ·

• TMT will implement a Ride-Sharing Program, described in Section 3.11.4. This program will reduce the number of vehicle trips a day to the summit, including pickup and deliveries to about 14 9 trips. Dust generated along unpaved section of the Mauna Kea Access Road and the Access Way will be reduced relative to the number of trips reduced by the program.

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• TMT may elect to use soil-binding stabilizers to control dust along the unpaved portion   of the Access Way. Several dust-suppressing soil stabilizers are considered “environmentally friendly” and appear to be free of residuals that can harm native arthropod populations. This would only be implemented following the approval of OMKM. Soil stabilizers would not be used indiscriminately, nor would they ever be applied beyond the unpaved Access Way travel way.   Application of soil stabilizers would only be performed at intervals recommended by the manufacturer and then applied under light wind conditions to prevent drift into adjacent habitat.

3.4.5           Level of Impact after Mitigation

Project impacts on biological resources will be less than significant with implementation of the Cultural and Natural Resources Training Program and Invasive Species Prevention and Control Program.

Implementation of the additional mitigation measures, including VIS exhibits, tree plantings, and the implementation of the Ride-Sharing Program and use of soil-binding stabilizers, will further reduce the potential impact of the Project.

3.4.6           References

Bishop Museum. 2007c. Mauna Kea Online: Species found at Mauna Kea (Entomology Collection) website: http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/mkmk2/natsci.asp?Locality=Mauna%20Kea&amp;Collection

=Entomology. Accessed April 12, 2010.

Char, W.P. 1985. Botanical survey for the proposed Temporary Construction Camp Housing at

Hale Pōhaku, Mauna Kea, Island of Hawai‘i. Prepared for MCM Planning.

Char, W.P. 1999a. Botanical Resources, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Prepared for Group 70, Inc. Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), 1997.  University  of Hawai‘i at Hilo

University Park Final Environmental Impact Statement, Hilo, Hawaii.   TMK: 2-4-01: 7,

12, 19, 41and 2-4-03: 26. Prepared by Engineering Concepts, Inc. for DAGS. September

1997.

Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). 1997. Indigenous Wildlife, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, and Introduced Birds. Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai’i. Administrative Rules §13-1 through §13-134-10.

Englund, R.A. D.A. Polhemus, F.G. Howarth, and S.L. Montgomery. 2002. Range, Habitat, and Ecology of the Wēkiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola), a rare insect species unique to Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i Island. Final Report. Hawai‘i Biological Survey Contribution No. 2002-23.

Englund, R.A., A. Ramsdale, M. McShane, D.J. Preston, S. Miller, S.L. Montgomery. 2005.

Results of 2004 Wēkiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola) surveys on Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i Island. Final Report. Hawai‘i Biological Survey Contribution No. 2005-003.

Federal Register. 1999. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. 50 CFR 17:11 and 17:12.

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-77

Federal Register. 2005. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 50 CFR 17.

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Review of Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petition; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. Federal Register, 70 No. 90 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005): 24870-24934.

Federal Register. 2006. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 50 CFR 17.

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants–Proposed Critical Habitat Designations; Proposed Rule. Federal Register, 70 No. 90 (September 12, 2006): 53755-53835.

Gerrish, G. 1979. Botanical survey of principal site (Hale Pōhaku) and two alternate sites.

Prepared for Group 70, Inc.

Giffin, J. G. 2009. Correspondence and comments from Jon Griffin, The Nature Conservancy, to the Office of Mauna Kea Management, on the July 2009 Pre-Final Natural Resources Management Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea.

Hartt, C.E. and M.C. Neal. 1940. The Plant Ecology of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Ecology 21(2):237- 266.

Hawai‘i Biodiversity and Mapping Program. 2008. Hawai‘i Biodiversity and Mapping Program website: http://hbmp.hawaii.edu/printpage.asp?spp=PPDRY07020. Accessed November 16, 2008.

Howarth, F. G., G. J. Brenner, and D. J. Preston. 1999. An arthropod assessment within selected areas of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. Prepared for the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy. 62 pp. plus maps.

Howarth, F.G. and F.D. Stone. 1982. An Assessment of the Arthropod Fauna and Aeolian Ecosystem near the Summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Prepared for Group 70, Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Howarth, F.G. and S.L. Montgomery. 1980. Notes on the ecology of the high altitude Aeolian zone on Mauna Kea. ‘Elepaio 41(3):21-22.

Leonard, David L. Jr., Paul C. Banko, Kevin W. Brinck, Chris Farmer, And Richard J. Camp. 2008. Recent Surveys Indicate Rapid Decline of Palila Population. Elepaio 68(4):27-30

Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM), 2009a. Natural Resources Management Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea

Comprehensive Management Plan. September 2009. Prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

Pacific Basin Information Node. 2008. U.S. Geological Survey – National Biological  Information Infrastructure Pacific Basin Information Node website: http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/natscidb/?w=PBIN&amp;srch=b&amp;pt=t&amp;lst=o&amp;cols=8&amp;rpp= 50&amp;pge=1&amp;tID=383068168&amp;lID=1455184240. Accessed November 16, 2008.

Smith, C.W., W.J. Hoe, and P.J. O’Conner. 1982. Botanical survey of the Mauna Kea summit above 13,000 feet. Prepared for Group 70, Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

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University of Hawai‘i (UH), 2009a. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January, 2009. Approved by BLNR on April 9, 2009.

UH, 2005. Mauka Lands Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement TMK 2-4-01: 122.

Prepared by PBR Hawai‘i for UH. February 2005.

Wagner, W.L., D.R. Herbst, and S.H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai’i.

University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu.

Wolfe, E.W., W.S. Wise, and G.B. Dalrymple. 1997. The Geology and Petrology of Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawai‘i – A Study of Postshield Volcanism. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1557. United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

Section 3.4 – Biologic Resources                                                                    Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-79

3.5       Visual and Aesthetic Resources

This section describes the existing visual conditions on the Island of Hawai‘i and Maunakea, discusses the visual impacts the Project may have, and identifies how the Project mitigates its potential visual impacts. For a more thorough discussion of the Project’s potential impacts on visual and aesthetic resources see the Visual Impact Assessment Technical Report (Appendix M).

3.5.1           Environmental Setting

The Island of Hawai‘i’s landscape and visual resources are varied. On the northern tip, the coast is rugged, covered in dense vegetation and dotted with waterfalls and rivers. Inland, around the town of Waimea, at an elevation of 4,000 feet, the landscape is comprised of rolling pastures  used for cattle ranching. The western side of the island consists of popular resorts and beaches, but lacks vegetation.  The southern and southeastern portions of the island experience high rainfall and are covered with lush vegetation; Volcanoes National Park is located in this area.

The eastern portion of the island consists of steep terrain with dramatic views of the rainforest and cliffs along the coast.

The Hawai‘i County General Plan (County of Hawai‘i, 2005) includes a chapter on Natural Beauty that recognizes the importance of preserving the island’s natural and scenic beauty. The chapter includes goals, policies and standards to identify and protect scenic vistas and viewplanes. One goal is to “Protect scenic vistas and view planes from becoming obstructed.” The General Plan also provides guidelines for designating sites and vistas of extraordinary natural beauty to be protected, and includes the standard “Distinctive and identifiable landforms distinguished as landmarks, e.g. Maunakea, Waipio Valley.” Around the island of Hawai‘i the following natural beauty sites have been identified that include Maunakea:

• View of Maunakea and Mauna Loa from Pāhoa-Kea‘au, Volcano-Kea‘au Roads, and various Puna subdivisions
• Viewpoint of Hilo Bay with Maunakea in background
• Mauna Kea State Park area

In addition, the South Kohala Development Plan (County of Hawai‘i, 2008) includes a policy to preserve Waimea’s sense of place. To do this, the plan recommends the strategy to “protect the pu‘u of Waimea that have cultural, historical and visual importance” and which have “grand views of Mauna Kea.”

Maunakea Summit Region

In contrast to the lush coastal areas, the summit of Maunakea is an alpine ecosystem. Above the tree line, at roughly 9,500 feet, vegetation is comprised of low shrubs and above 12,800 feet vegetation is limited to lichens, moss, and small ferns. A small alpine lake, Lake Waiau, is situated on the upper southern flank of the mountain.  The summit of Maunakea is often   obscured by vog, a volcanic smog formed when sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea mix with oxygen, moisture, and sunlight. The vog has been especially thick since February 2008 when gas emissions from Kīlauea dramatically increased.

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There are 11 observatories on Maunakea within the Astronomy Precinct. The 11 observatories and the attributes that affect their visibility are listed in Table 3-6. Some of these existing observatories are visible from locations around the island such as Hilo, Honoka‘a, and Waimea; the viewshed of each observatory, the percent of the island’s land area from which the observatory is potentially visible, is listed in Table 3-6. On the west coast of the island, the existing observatories appear most visible at sunset, when they are lit by the setting sun; on the east coast they appear most visible at sunrise. Some of these observatories also use laser guide stars as part of their AO system, similar to the TMT AO system described in Section 2.5.1. The laser guide stars may be visible within some portions of the MKSR. Considering all existing observatories together, at least one observatory is visible from roughly 43 percent of the island’s land area.

Table 3-6: Existing Observatory Visual and Aesthetic Attributes

The 2000 Master Plan includes a discussion of a NGLT. The Master Plan recognizes that the size of a NGLT makes the visual impact considerations very important, and recommends siting such a facility within Area E of the Astronomy Precinct because it would “minimize its visibility.”

Viewer Groups and Viewpoints

The people that view the island of Hawai‘i, and more specifically Maunakea, can be described as residents, sightseers and cultural practitioners, each with a different expectation of their visual experience.

Seventeen Eighteen representative viewpoints within the northern portion of the island have been identified as places that are of visual significance to the three viewer groups. The viewpoints are all located in the northern portion of the island because the location of the TMT Observatory is such that it  will not be visible from the southern portion.  Table 3-7 provides the viewpoint   name, description, the viewer group expected, and the primary view direction. The viewpoints  and the direction of the primary view from each viewpoint are mapped in Figure 3-6.

Figure 3-7 illustrates the combined viewshed of the existing 11 observatories near the summit within the Astronomy Precinct, where the top of at least one of the existing observatories is visible. From approximately 43 percent of the island area a viewer is able to potentially see at

Section 3.5 – Visual and Aesthetic Resources                                              Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-81

least one existing observatory. According to 2000 U.S. Census data, 72 percent of the population of the Island of Hawai‘i, or about 107,000 people reside within the viewshed of the existing observatories.

Table 3-7: Description of Viewpoint, Viewer Group and Primary View Direction

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Figure 3-6: Viewpoints and Primary View Direction from Viewpoints

Section 3.5 – Visual and Aesthetic Resources                                              Final EIS: TMT Observatory      Page 3-83

Figure 3-7: Viewshed of Existing Observatories on Maunakea

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Hale Pōhaku

The existing support facilities at Hale Pōhaku are not visible from other locations on the island. The 2000 Master Plan provides a number of design guidelines to maintain the visual aesthetics of Hale Pōhaku. These guidelines aim at maintaining the proportions of developments in Hale Pōhaku and help them blend into the physical landscape.

Headquarters

There are no designated or recognized visual resources associated with University Park of UH Hilo. The zoning of the area regulates the height of structures to 45 feet.

3.5.2           Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact

In accordance with the Chapter 343 significance criteria, the Project would result in a significant impact if it substantially affects scenic vistas and viewplanes identified in County or State plans or studies. Therefore, the Project would have a significant impact if it would block or  substantially obstruct a vista by placing a structure in the foreground so as to prevent a view of  an identified resource from an identified area or create a structure that would be incongruous  with existing structures currently in the vista or viewplane.  Thus, the impact would be  considered to be significant if it would affect any of the following identified views:

• View of Maunakea from Pāhoa-Kea‘au, Volcano-Kea‘au Roads, and various Puna subdivisions
• Viewpoint of Hilo Bay with Maunakea in background
• Mauna Kea State Park area

In addition, the South Kohala Development Plan includes a policy to preserve Waimea’s sense of place. The plan recommends the strategy to “protect the pu‘u of Waimea that have cultural, historical and visual importance” and which have “grand views of Mauna Kea.”

3.5.3           Potential Environmental Impact

The Project impacts will occur within the context of the current conditions in the summit region as described in Section 3.5.1. That context includes the presence of 11 observatories within the Astronomy Precinct that are visible from roughly 43 percent of the island’s land area. As detailed in Section 3.16.2, the visual impact of past actions on Maunakea is considered substantial, significant, and adverse.

The potential impacts of the Project are evaluated within the framework of compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for the Project type and location. This includes requirements of the CMP. This analysis primarily focuses on the potential visual impacts that will occur from locating the TMT Observatory at the 13N Site on Maunakea.

The vast majority of the Access Way will overlay existing roads and it will be located among the existing roads in the area (SMA roads, the blocked 4-wheel drive road, and the Mauna Kea Access Road Loop), therefore, the Access Way will be in character with the surroundings. The paving of the Access Way for a distance of roughly 750 feet and addition of a guard rail along steep banks will result in a slight change to the character of the road. The Option 2A retaining

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wall and Option3B embankment facing, should one of those options be selected, would result in  a new visual elements.  The new element would be noticeable to anyone in the immediate  vicinity of those structures, primarily within the SMA area; however, the wall or embankment facing would not be visible from the summit of Kūkahau‘ula, Pu‘u Līlīnoe, or Waiau.

Due to the topography of the area, the existing facilities at Hale Pōhaku are not visible from other locations on the island, and thus, the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility buildings would also not be visible at this location. The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility would also be designed in consultation with OMKM to comply with design standards and reduce potential visual impact. Therefore, the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility would not result in an adverse visual impact.

The Headquarters at Hilo is not expected to have an adverse visual impact as there are no designated or recognized visual resources associated with the University Park in Hilo and because the Headquarters will comply with zoning regulations and be no more than 45 feet in height.

Scenic Vistas and Viewplanes

Locating the TMT Observatory on Maunakea will not substantially affect scenic vistas and viewplanes identified in the Hawai‘i County General Plan or the South Kohala Development Plan. The TMT Observatory will not be visible in the view of Maunakea from Pāhoa-Kea‘au,

Volcano-Kea‘au Roads, and various Puna subdivisions or from locations where Hilo Bay is  visible with Maunakea in the background. Although the TMT Observatory may be visible in the view of Maunakea from portions of the South Kohala district  and the area around Waimea,  it  will not block or substantially obstruct the views and viewplanes of the mountain. Therefore, the Project will not exceed significance criteria 12 as stated in §11-200-12 of the HAR; therefore, the Project’s visual impact will be less than significant per the HAR significance criteria applicable   to the HRS Chapter 343 process.

Visibility of the TMT Observatory

The TMT Observatory’s AO system will utilize laser guide stars (Section 2.5.1). The multiple overlapping laser beams could be faintly visible to the naked eye as a single beam on moonless nights for a distance of up to 9 miles from the observatory. The area where the laser may be visible consists primarily of ranchlands and forest reserve which are not populated. The Federal Aviation Administration requires that the lasers be shuttered when aircraft are present in the area of the sky where the laser beams are pointed. Aircraft will be detected automatically using multiple camera systems, supplemented initially by human spotters, if necessary. Therefore, the laser system will not significantly impact visual resources.

A viewshed analysis was conducted based on topography to assess which areas of the island may have a view of the TMT Observatory.  According to the viewshed analysis, the TMT   Observatory will be visible from roughly 14 percent of the island area, as depicted in Figure 3-8; from nearly all this area existing observatories are currently visible. According to 2000 U.S.

Census data, approximately 15.4 percent of Hawai‘i’s population, or 23,000 people, live within the viewshed of the TMT Observatory (Table 3-8). Others, including visitors and island residents that reside outside the viewshed, will be able to see the TMT Observatory when they travel through and visit locations within the viewshed. The results of this analysis are shown in

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Figure 3-8: Viewshed and Primary View Analysis

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Figure 3-8. As shown in the Figure 3-8, the shaded portions of the island are areas where at least the top of the TMT Observatory may be visible. For the 18 representative viewpoints, a green circle shows that the TMT Observatory will be visible and a red square indicates it will not be visible.

Table 3-8: Visibility of the TMT Observatory

Of the 13 viewpoints where the TMT Observatory may be visible, it will not be within the primary view of four: the Hualālai Resort (1), Waikoloa/Mauna Lani (4), Puukohola Heiau (6) and Honoka‘a (13). At these coastal locations, the primary view is makai. The TMT  Observatory could be visible and in the primary view direction from viewpoints along Highway 250 (7 and 8) and around the town of Waimea (9, 10, 11 and 12). The TMT Observatory could also be visible from the Big Island Country Club (3), from the summit of Pu‘u Waawaa (2), and from the north ridge of the Maunakea summit cinder cone (Kūkahau‘ula) (18), where the panoramic view will be important to the viewer.

Table 3-9 divides the viewshed, and the population within the viewshed,  into five areas:  Waimea, Honoka‘a, Hāwī, Waikoloa and Kawaihae, and Hualālai. Of these, the TMT Observatory will be visible in the primary view direction only from the area around Waimea. Of the island’s population, 5.5 percent, or 8,100 people reside within the area around Waimea and may be able to see the TMT Observatory.

Table 3-9: Visibility of the TMT Observatory within the Primary View Direction

For the 13 representative viewpoints where the TMT Observatory may be visible, a silhouette analysis was conducted to determine whether the view of the facility will be a full or partial silhouette against the sky, or whether it will be seen against the backdrop of Maunakea. Table 3-10 summarizes the silhouette analysis for the TMT Observatory and the potential long-term impact to visual and aesthetic resources.

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Table 3-10: TMT Observatory – Summary of Potential Visual Impacts

¹ The primary view criterion is not applicable because at these viewpoints the panoramic view is important.

TMT Observatory Dome Finish

As stated in Section 2.5.1, the finish for the TMT Observatory dome will be a reflective aluminum-like finish, similar to that of the Subaru observatory. The use of a reflective aluminum-like finish was based on the following considerations (1) visibility of the dome, (2) optimum performance of the observatory, and (3) reduced need of cooling air within the dome during the day. Each of these considerations is discussed below.

Visibility of the TMT Observatory Dome. A reflective aluminum-like finish reflects the colors of the sky and the ground, which helps the dome blend into its setting and reduces the visual impact whether the summit is bare or covered with snow. As indicated in Section 3.14.1, from November through March varying amounts of snow and ice regularly fall near the summit, covering varying portions of the mountain for varying periods of time. For comparison, the  results of photo simulations using three different colors are presented below. The brown color would stand out far  more than a reflective finish on the dome, particularly during periods of   snow on the summit. The white color appeared to blend in with the surroundings when snow is present, however, without snow the white color appears more obtrusive. The reflective aluminum-like finish appears to reduce the visual impact in all conditions.

Optimum Performance of the Observatory. The performance of the TMT in observing in visible and infrared wavelengths is affected by any difference in temperature of the surface of the dome and the surrounding air. Air in contact with the surface of the dome is heated to above or below the temperature of the surrounding air, resulting in turbulence in the air. When this

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turbulent air crosses the path of light reaching the telescope, it results in the distortion of the  image results. Temperature differentials of the dome surface with the surrounding air are usually caused by the radiation of heat in the dome surface to colder air in the upper atmosphere. This effect can be greatly reduced by using surface materials with low emissivity⁴¹. As shown in  Figure 3-9, materials shown at the bottom of the figure have the lowest emissivity, and hence,   the best performance; finishes in the higher portion of the figure (high emissivity) have poorer performance.

Figure 3-9: Finish Emissivity and Absorption

Polished aluminum foil, polished copper, and aluminum sheet are the three best materials for low emissivity, as shown in the figure; the reflective aluminum-like  finish will have similar  properties to the polished aluminum foil. White paint has a high infrared emissivity and thus, performs poorer than a reflective aluminum-like finish. A brown finish would be similar to the  red brick or sand shown in the upper right portion of the figure; it would have a high emissivity, similar to white paint, which performs more poorly than a reflective aluminum-like finish.

⁴¹ The emissivity of a material is the ratio of energy radiated by the material to energy radiated by a black body at the same temperature. It is a measure of a material’s ability to radiate absorbed energy. The lower the number, the less energy the material will radiate to the upper atmosphere (or other colder objects).

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Reduced Need for Cooling Air within the Dome.  Air  within the dome of modern  observatories is cooled during the day to the level of the forecasted nighttime temperature. This improves “seeing” for the telescope by reducing the amount of distortion related to differences in air temperature inside the dome and the surfaces of the telescope and the dome interior.  The   need of extensive cooling of the dome interior air is substantially reduced when the exterior surface has low solar absorption⁴².  Materials on the left side in Figure 3-9 perform best by  staying cool, with poorer performance materials shown to the right of the figure. Polished aluminum foil and white plaster are the two best materials shown on this figure; the reflective aluminum-like finish will have similar properties. White paint would be similar to a reflective aluminum-like finish, but brown paint would be similar to the red brick or sand shown in the  figure further to the right. Because a brown finish would absorb more energy it would require more energy to cool the dome compared to a white or reflective aluminum-like finish. The additional energy required is estimated to be equivalent to the energy required to power between  4 and 40 homes in Hilo, depending on weather conditions outside the TMT Observatory.

Photo Simulations

Views from Lower Elevation Developed Areas

In compliance with CMP Management Action FLU-4 the Project has prepared visual renderings of the project setting.   Photo simulations of the TMT Observatory were created using  photographs of the summit of Maunakea that were taken with a 600 mm/5.6 telephoto lens resulting in a “binocular view.” For comparison purposes a “naked eye view”, without the aid of binoculars or a telephoto lens, photo is also provided. The naked eye view has been sized so that  if the page is held at arm’s length the size and spacing of the existing observatories appears as it would when standing at the location the photo was taken.

An example of the naked eye view of Maunakea from Waimea is shown in Figure 3-10. Figure 3-11 is a binocular view simulation of the TMT Observatory, with a version of the reflective aluminum-like finish on the dome enclosure, from Waimea, where there is no snow on Maunakea. Figure 3-12 and Figure 3-13 show the same binocular view from Waimea, but with the dome having a white and brown finish, respectively.

Figure 3-14, Figure 3-15, and Figure 3-16 are simulations of the TMT Observatory with a reflective aluminum-like finish, and, for comparison, also in white, and brown coating, respectively, when there is snow present on Maunakea. This photograph was taking from another location within Waimea so the perspective is slightly different.

⁴² Solar absorption is a measure of a surface’s ability to absorb heat from the sun. A lower number is preferred as less solar heat is absorbed, which in turn requires less air conditioning to keep the dome interior temperature at the forecast nighttime temperature.

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Figure 3-10: Naked Eye View of Maunakea from Waimea

Figure 3-11: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with no Snow

Photo Credit: CFHT

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Figure 3-12: Simulation of TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with no Snow

Photo Credit: CFHT

Figure 3-13: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with no Snow

Photo Credit: CFHT

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Figure 3-14: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with Snow

Photo Credit: Charles R. West Photography

Figure 3-15: Simulation of TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with Snow

Photo Credit: Charles R. West Photography

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Figure 3-16: Simulation of TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View from Waimea with Snow

Photo Credit: Charles R. West Photography

These simulations from Waimea illustrate that the TMT Observatory will be below the summit  of Maunakea and the existing observatories. From the view presented, the lower portion of the TMT Observatory will be obscured behind a rise of Maunakea and located in front of one of the domes of the existing Keck or Subaru Observatory. Roughly the top 90 feet of the observatory dome will be visible from the Waimea area, as listed for viewpoints 9, 10, and 11 in Table 3-10. These simulations show that the reflective aluminum-like finish appears less obtrusive than the white finish when there is no snow.

Figure 3-17, Figure 3-18, and Figure 3-19 are binocular views from near Honoka‘a with simulations of the TMT Observatory dome finished in the reflective aluminum-like, white, and brown finishes, respectively. In these photos, taken near viewpoint 12 (Figure 3-6), the summit  of Maunakea is covered in snow. As is the case from Waimea, the lower portion of the TMT Observatory will be obscured behind a rise of Maunakea. Roughly the top 160 feet of the observatory dome will be visible from near viewpoint 12, while less than 90 feet will be visible from Honoka‘a proper (Table 3-10). As shown, the aluminum-like exterior finish reflects the colors of the sky and ground, which helps the dome blend into its setting and reduces the visual impact whether the summit is bare or covered in snow.  These simulations show that the reflective aluminum-like finish appears less obtrusive than the brown finish when there is snow.

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Figure 3-17: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View near Honoka‘a

Figure 3-18: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View near Honoka‘a

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Figure 3-19: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View near Honoka‘a

Figure 3-20, Figure 3-21, and Figure 3-22 are binocular views from Waikoloa village with simulations of the TMT Observatory dome finished in the reflective aluminum-like finish, and, for comparison, also in white and brown finishes, respectively. In these photos, the summit of Maunakea is partially covered in snow. As is the case from Waimea, the lowest portion of the TMT Observatory, including the support building and parking area, will be obscured behind a rise of Maunakea. Roughly the top 160 feet of the observatory dome will be visible from the Waikoloa area (Table 3-10). As shown, the aluminum-like exterior finish reflects the colors of the sky and ground, which helps the dome blend into its setting and reduces the visual impact whether the summit is bare or covered in snow. These simulations show that the reflective aluminum-like finish appears less obtrusive than the brown finish when there is snow.

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Figure 3-20: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Aluminum-Like Finish – “Binocular” View from Waikoloa

Photo Credit: Charles R. West Photography

Figure 3-21: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, White Finish – “Binocular” View from Waikoloa

Photo Credit: Charles R. West Photography

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Figure 3-22: Simulation of the TMT Observatory, Brown Finish – “Binocular” View from Waikoloa

Photo Credit: Charles R. West Photography

Views within the Summit Region

Although the TMT Observatory will not be visible from the summit of Maunakea, viewpoint 16, or Lake Waiau, viewpoint 17, it will be visible from other locations within the summit region, primarily the northern plateau and the northern ridge of Kūkahau‘ula where the Subaru, Keck, IRTF, and CFHT observatories are located, viewpoint 18. Figure 3-23 shows the current view from near the Keck Observatory, viewpoint 18, looking to the northwest, looking over the northern plateau and TMT Observatory 13N site. Figure 3-24 is a simulation of the TMT Observatory with an aluminum-like finish from the same view point.

As the simulation in Figure 3-24 shows, the TMT Observatory will add a substantial new visual element in the landscape that will be visible from viewpoints along the northern ridge of Kūkahau‘ula and by people as they travel within the northern portion of the summit region.

Views from the northern ridge of Kūkahau‘ula are now dominated by views of observatories, including Subaru, Keck, IRTF, and CFHT observatories, which are located on this ridge. The majority of visitors to the summit region and cultural practitioners visit the Kūkahau‘ula summit, not the northern ridge of Kūkahau‘ula. In addition, TMT’s lower elevation and minimal size and height mean it will not block the view of Maui from the ridge. Nevertheless, the TMT Observatory will add a substantial new visual element to a currently relatively undeveloped portion of the summit region.

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Figure 3-23: Naked Eye View from Near Keck Observatory Viewing Northwest

Figure 3-24: Simulation of the TMT Observatory with an Aluminum-Like Finish from Near Keck Observatory Viewing Northwest

Overall Long-Term Visual Impact

As discussed above, while the TMT Observatory will be a new visual element among the  existing observatories within the views of Maunakea (for approximately 14 percent of the island

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area, and visible to approximately 15.4 percent of the population, or approximately 23,000   people from their residences), it will not substantially obstruct or block existing views of Maunakea from around the island of Hawai‘i. Existing observatories are visible in most of this area. The new area where the TMT Observatory will be visible and where currently none of the existing observatory can be seen is approximately 1.2 percent of the area of the island. Using the 2000 U.S. Census average household size of 2.75 people for the County of Hawaii, 72 people   live in this new area.

In addition to residents within the TMT viewshed, the TMT Observatory will be visible to other island residents and visitors when they travel within the TMT viewshed (Figure 3-8), including travel along roads and stops at viewpoints. The Project’s visual impact is perceived by some to be significant; however, in the context of the existing observatories and the fact that the TMT Observatory will not block or substantially obstruct the identified views and viewplanes of the mountain, which is the applicable significance criteria in §11-200-12 of the HAR, the Project’s visual impact will be less than significant.

As described in Section 3.16.2, the visual impact of past actions on Maunakea, such as the 11 observatories currently located within the Astronomy Precinct, is considered substantial, significant, and adverse. When the TMT Observatory is combined with the existing conditions, the cumulative visual impact of development on and near the summit of Maunakea will continue to be significant, as discussed in detail in Section 3.16.4.

3.5.4           Mitigation Measures

The location of the TMT Observatory is the primary mitigation for the Project’s potential visual impacts. Because the location proposed for the TMT Observatory is north of and below the summit of Maunakea it will be substantially less visible than if it were to be placed in a more visible location, such as the summit ridge or pu‘u.

The visual impacts of the TMT Observatory, which will house a telescope with a primary mirror 98 feet (30 meters) in diameter, are also due to the size of the dome enclosure. The diameter of the dome is 216 feet. Because the center of the dome will be placed only 36 feet above grade,

the observatory will have a height of approximately 180 feet above grade level.  While this will  be the tallest observatory on Maunakea, it has been designed to minimize the height of the structure, in turn minimizing the visual impacts. The telescope itself has been designed to be  much shorter, with a focal ratio⁴³ of f/1.0, to allow for the smallest dome possible.  In addition,  the enclosure has been designed to fit  very tightly around the telescope, leaving just enough  room for a person, only about 20 inches, between the telescope and the dome (Figure 3-25). For comparison purposes, the Keck Observatory consists of two telescopes each with mirrors 33 feet in diameter with a focal ratio of f/1.75; the diameter of each Keck dome is 121 feet; the height of the Keck dome and other observatories on Maunakea is listed in Table 3-6. If the TMT Observatory were to use the same ratio of mirror-to-dome size, it would result in a dome with a diameter of 364 feet, almost twice the current measurement (Figure 3-26).

⁴³ Focal ratio (f/) is defined as the ratio of the focal length of the mirror to its diameter.

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Figure 3-25: Overview of TMT and Dome Design

Figure 3-26: Comparison of Observatory Dome Sizes to Telescope Focal Ratios

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Finally, the color, or coating, of the dome enclosure has substantial visual implications. The coating of the dome enclosure will be an aluminum-like coating, similar to that used on the Gemini Subaru Observatory. In general, an aluminum-like coating reflects the morning sunrise and evening sunset light and stands out during this period, however, during most of the day the coating reflects the sky, and reduces the visibility of the observatory.

The support building attached to the observatory dome has been reduced in size since the Draft EIS. This reduces its visibility, the designed continues to incorporate items to reduce its visibility from Kūkahau‘ula, the summit cinder cone complex that is a TCP State Historic Property. The building will be lava-colored and the parking areas will not be visible from Kūkahau‘ula, except the visitor parking area.

The Access Way incorporates design components to mitigate its visual impact. These measures include coloring the pavement a reddish color pavement to better blend with the surroundings, using a wire type guardrail to reduce its visibility, and should Access Way Options 2A or 3B be selected, the retaining wall or embankment facing will be treated so as to blend into the natural environment to the extent feasible.

In summary, the location and design of the TMT Observatory and Access Way incorporate measures that mitigate the potential visual impacts; no further visual mitigation measures are proposed.

3.5.5           Level of Impact after Mitigation

The mitigation for the impacts to visual and aesthetic resources is incorporated into the Project’s design. Therefore, the level of the visual impact after mitigation is the same as described in Section 3.5.3. The direct long-term visual impact of the TMT Observatory will be less than significant.

3.5.6           References

CFHT. 2008. CFHT Observatory Manual website: http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/Instruments/ObservatoryManual/CFHT_ObservatoryManual

_(Sec_3).html and photograph description at http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/Science/Astros/Imageofweek/ciw070800.html. Accessed December 12, 2008.

County of Hawai‘i. 2005. Hawai‘i County General Plan. County of Hawai‘i. 2008. South Kohala Development Plan. Gemini Northern Observatory. 2008. Website:

http://www.gemini.edu/media/factsheets/enclosurefacts.html. Accessed December 17, 2008.

IRTF. 2008. Website: http://iqup.ifa.hawaii.edu/hvac/pages/fy93_nasa_pm9736_a6big.html.

Accessed December 10, 2008.

Section 3.5 – Visual and Aesthetic Resources                                              Final EIS: TMT Observatory     Page 3-103

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Universe Division. 2005. Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project, Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Island of Hawai‘i, Volume 1.

Subaru Observatory. 2008. Website: http://www.naoj.org/Introduction/telescope.html. Accessed December 6, 2008.

United States Census Bureau. 2000. Census 2000 Data website: Accessed December 10, 2008.

http://factfinder.census.gov.

United States Geologic Survey. 2008. National Elevation Dataset website: www.ned.usgs.gov/.

Accessed November 25, 2008.

University of Hawai‘i (UH). 2009. Coping with Vog from Pu‘u O‘o website: http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/volcanoes/vog.php. Accessed February 25, 2009.

UH, 2009a. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January, 2009. Approved by BLNR on April 9, 2009.

UH, 2006. Final Environmental Assessment for University of Hawai‘i 24-inch Telescope Observatory Renovation. Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Hāmākua, Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i. August 2006.

UH, 2000. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan. Available on the web http://www.hawaii.edu/maunakea/. Prepared by Group 70 International, Inc., adopted by the UH Board of Regents on June 16, 2000.

UH, 1983a. Mauna Kea Science Reserve: Complex Development Plan. Prepared by Group 70 International, Inc. for Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i. February 1983 (amended May 1987).

UH, 1983b. Mauna Kea Science Reserve: Complex Development Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement. Prepared by Group 70 International, Inc. for Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i. January 1983.

UH, 1975. Final EIS for Existing Operations of the UH Observatory and the Construction and Operation of the new IRTF and UKIRT Observatories.

University of Hawai‘i, Institute for Astronomy. 2008. Website: www.ifa.hawaii.edu.mko/coordinates. Accessed December 2, 2008.

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3.6       Geology, Soils, and Slope Stability

This section discusses the geology, soils, and slope stability in the region and specific Project areas, the potential impact of the Project on those characteristics, and mitigation measures the Project will employ to mitigate those potential impacts.

3.6.1           Environmental Setting

Maunakea is one of five volcanoes comprising the Island of Hawai‘i (Figure 3-27). This  dormant⁴⁴ shield volcano is the highest of the five, and the highest mountain in the interior   Pacific basin. Because of its elevation, Maunakea’s summit was repeatedly glaciated during the past few hundred thousand years, and preserves the best glacial record of any oceanic volcano on Earth.  Maunakea has erupted 12 times within the last 10,000 years, and though it has been at   least 4,600 years since its last eruption it  is expected that the volcano will erupt again sometime  in the future; such an eruption would likely occur on the flanks of the volcano, below the    summit.

Figure 3-27: Volcanoes of the Island of Hawai‘i

⁴⁴ “Dormant” volcanoes are distinguished from (a) “active” ones by the fact that active volcanoes have ongoing eruptions, such as Kīlauea; and (b) “extinct” ones by fact that the intervals between a dormant volcano’s prehistoric eruptions (recurrence interval) is greater than the time since the last eruption to present.

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Maunakea Summit Region

Detailed information regarding geologic resources in Project areas may be found in the Geological Technical Report summarizing studies conducted specifically for the Project, in Appendix L.

National Natural Landmark

The U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, National Natural Landmarks Program designated a portion of Maunakea as a National Natural Landmark (NNL) in November 1972. A NNL is a significant natural area that has been designated by the Secretary of the U.S.  Department of the Interior.  To be nationally significant, a site must be one of the best examples  of a type of biotic community or geologic feature in its biophysiographic providence. The  primary criteria for designation are that the area is of illustrative value and condition of the specific feature; secondary criteria include rarity, diversity, and value for science and education.  A brief prepared by the program describes the Mauna Kea NNL as follows:

Description: Mauna Kea, rising to an elevation of 13,784 feet above sea level, is  the highest insular volcano in the world. Lake Waiau is located below the summit at an elevation of 13,020 feet above sea level making it the highest lake in the United States. A remarkable cluster of cinder and spatter cones fans outward and downslope from the summit. During the Pleistocene Epoch an ice cap covered Mauna Kea’s summit above the 11,200-foot  level.  Evidence of glaciation abounds on the steep slopes in the form of glacial striae, boulders, polish and grooves. The boundary of the 83,900-acre landmark site is the striae as the boundary of the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve located 25 miles west-northwest of

the city of Hilo.

Significance: Few sites posses better credentials to justify their national significance than does Mauna Kea. First, it is the exposed portion of the highest insular mountain in the United States, standing more than 30,000 feet above its submerged base at the bottom of the Pacific. Secondly, on its summit slopes is found the highest lake in the United States. And, all thirdly, though located in the tropics, indisputable evidence of glaciation is present above the 11,000-foot level. And, possibly transcending all of these qualifications is the fact that Mauna Kea is the most majestic expression of shield volcanism in the Hawaiian Archipelago, if not the world.

Since the Mauna Kea NNL was established in 1972, the boundary of the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve has changed slightly so that the boundaries no longer exactly coincide, as illustrated in Figure 3-28. As described in the brief, Maunakea was designated a NNL based primarily on its topography, morphology, and geology. These subjects are discussed in more detail in the

following sections.

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Figure 3-28: Mauna Kea National Natural Landmark

Geology

Area E was designated in the 2000 Master Plan as a location for future facilities development, and includes the limits of sites being

considered for the location of the TMT Observatory. It is entirely underlain by a single lava flow, and consists of uniformly dense, fine-grained lavas. The flow was emplaced as viscous pāhoehoe, although some ‘a‘a fragmental material may have originally overlain the surface. The eruption that produced this overall flow likely produced multiple flow layers that overlaid one another as the eruption progressed; multiple complex layers may be found at depth during excavation.

Surface features indicate that most of this flow was emplaced beneath glacial ice or snow. In contrast, the source vent for this

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flow shows no evidence of interaction with water, meaning fire fountains at the source must have melted through overlying ice during the eruption so that lava fountaining took place and made contact with the air, producing numerous air-cooled volcanic bombs. The flows from this vent traveled down slope to the northwest, beneath a thin glacier; the flows preserve many features

that document sub-glacial origin. Lava flowage beneath the ice was concentrated in irregular lava channels typically 3-8 feet deep and beneath ridges that are oriented in fan shapes roughly radial to the principal axis of the flow. A single chemical analysis of this lava flow shows the flow to be of typical “hawaiite” composition (a type of alkali-rich basalt).

The glacial features found on Maunakea are unique to glaciated terrains, and are found at no other oceanic volcano in the Pacific. However, the features in Area E are not unique on Maunakea, and better examples are widely distributed in other areas of the summit above the elevation of about 12,000 feet. The degree of glacial polishing is related to the thickness of the overlying ice that was present; because the glacial ice cap that overlaid Area E was less thick

than the glacier overlying the lower elevations southeast of the summit, glacial polishing and striations are less developed on the flow in Area E and the Access Way area.

Most molten lava was supplied by flowage beneath a solidified layer of frozen lava, but where   the layer was breached, especially at flow margins south and east of Area E, bulbous lava protrusions formed rounded structures, termed mega-pillows. These unique structures consist of especially fine-grained, flinty lava with interstitial glass on marginal surfaces. These flinty rocks are similar in texture to the materials quarried by Hawaiian toolmakers at sites near Pu’u Koko‘olau on Maunakea’s south flank; however, they were likely obscured by snow during the cooler weather of the past, and would not have been exposed for possible use during the period   of active quarrying at lower elevations.

Following the emplacement and cooling of the flow, ice continued to cover the Maunakea  summit, and down slope movement of the glaciers that formed modified lava flow surfaces through the erosive power of flowing melt water and associated rock debris. Any fragmental material originally at the surface was eroded away by torrents of sub glacial melt water, leaving typically irregular surfaces that reveal the structures of the underlying dense lava. In areas where moving ice directly overlaid lava, the hard surfaces were scoured by rock debris, which polished high-standing areas and left glacial striations.  During the eruption, some of the lava channels  may have formed small pyroducts, or lava tubes, but if once present, the thin coverings that enclosed them have generally been removed by glacial erosion.

The last glaciers melted in the area 10,000-13,000 years ago, boulders once being transported in the ice were left standing on high places as the ice melted.  These boulders, called glacial erratics, give testament to the carrying power of the ice that once flowed above Area E. Such glacial erratics and other debris form extensive deposits of glacial till about a mile down slope, but the glaciers were never extensive enough to form such spectacular glacial moraines as are preserved on the  south flank of Maunakea.

It is estimated that the aggregate thickness of all lava flow layers from the time of the eruption that placed the

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lava currently present at the surface in the vicinity of the TMT Observatory site is at least  75   feet. Because lava flows tend to travel along pre-existing depressions, it is likely that most of the flow is thicker than this, especially in the center, and more likely is over 100 feet thick. The pre- existing ground surface in this area evidently sloped to the northwest, so that the flow surface slopes in this direction, as well as to the north. Judging from older rocks exposed down slope  from Area E, it is possible that this flow overlies a rubbly surface consisting of loose lava fragments and windblown cinders from summit cones, although such material may have been eroded away by glacial activity before flow emplacement.

Soils and Slope Stability

No soils in the conventional sense are present in Area E, as the only fragmental material present has not had sufficient time for weathering to become soil in the arid, alpine environment. This fragmental material is present in most low-lying areas though, and could be classified as a non- weathered soil. This material consists of unconsolidated debris derived from glacial erosion and mechanical weathering of the adjacent lavas and nowhere is more than a foot or two in thickness. Because these materials have no internal strength, they must be removed before overlain by   heavy structures.

The lava flow at the surface and extending to an estimated depth of 75 feet in Area E is  composed of dense, fine-grained lava of exceptional strength, and slope stability will not be a problem for well-anchored structures. There are typically few gas bubbles in this lava, except in the uppermost sections of flows. During the flow emplacement, most lava was supplied by subsurface lava tubes, but these structures appear to have mostly been filled up during late

eruption stages. Some voids might be encountered at depth within the lavas during excavation, but are likely small and not extensive. The estimated combined thickness of these flows should allow basement foundations to rest on solid lava and not on the more fragmented materials that might lie at greater depths.

Geologic Hazards

The potential for renewed volcanic activity in this region is extremely remote. Maunakea last erupted about 4,600 years ago, and the volcano is considered to be dormant. In 1997, Wolfe and others mapped a dozen separate post-glacial (post- 10,000 year old) eruptive vents on  Maunakea’s middle flanks, but none younger than 40,000 years were found in the summit area. These findings support the theory that future eruptions will likely occur well below the summit and will not pose any direct threat to astronomical facilities.

The most significant geologic hazard is seismic activity. Hawai‘i Island is one of the most seismically active areas on Earth, and about two dozen earthquakes with magnitude 6 or greater have been documented on Hawai‘i since the devastating earthquakes of 1868; those that caused damage are listed in Table 3-11. The approximate epicenter of those earthquakes and the predicted Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale seismic intensities are illustrated on Figure 3-29.

The earthquake in 2006 caused minor damage to the Keck, Subaru, UH 2.2m, and CFHT observatories. Some auxiliary equipment was damaged, but the telescopes’ mirrors and overall facility structural integrity were not affected.

Earthquakes will continue to impact the Maunakea summit area in the future, and any future construction must include design considerations for significant seismic forces. The summit of

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Maunakea is susceptible to seismic intensities of up to VII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.

Table 3-11: Summary of Damage Causing Earthquakes

Approximate epicenter location illustrated on Figure 3-29.

Figure 3-29: Seismic Intensities (Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale) and Estimated Epicenters of Damage Causing Earthquake (1868 to present) on the Island of Hawai‘i

Hale Pōhaku

Detailed information regarding geologic resources in Project areas may be found in the  Geological Technical Report, in Appendix L, summarizing studies conducted specifically for the Project in Appendix L. This area is comprised of a loose mixture of sand, gravel, and blocks,

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and deeper volcanic tephra, that has been extensively impacted by frost action and overlain by soil alteration zones where not disturbed. Because this material is unconsolidated, it is subject to erosion and gullying by flowing surface water during heavy rainfall.

The potential TMT Mid-Level Facility site in the southern/down-slope portion of Hale Pōhaku  has been extensively modified by construction around buildings, and is impacted by minor gullying, especially in the upper portions where water runoff is concentrated from parking areas and roof drainage. The undisturbed surfaces are covered with loose volcanic blocks overlying  fine grained sand of volcanic origin; clumps of vegetation have trapped high mounds of wind- blown sand. Slopes are as steep as 8 degrees southward in the upper area, but less than 2 degrees in the south/lower portion of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility area.

The HELCO transformer substation is located in a natural saddle, or dip, between Pu‘u Kalepeamoa to the south and a cinder cone and crater associated with Pu‘u Kilohana to the north. The HELCO enclosure is mostly sited on a thick layer of imported gravel fill, and has had no impact on surrounding geologic structures. The surface underlying this fill consists of unconsolidated sand and gravel that has been unaffected by surface water runoff. The adjoining cinder cone slopes are covered with debris from volcanic eruptions, mostly broken volcanic bombs.

Similar to the summit area, earthquakes have and will continue to impact Hale Pōhaku. The area

is susceptible to seismic intensities of up to VII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.

Headquarters

The soil type along University Park is largely pāhoehoe lava flow, a classification characterized by a relatively smooth surface with little to no soil covering it.  Also found in the area is  Keaukaha Extremely Rocky Muck, a classification characterized by well-drained, thin organic soils overlaying pāhoehoe lava bedrock. The University Park area slopes from west to east, with site slopes ranging from 6 to 15 percent; along Komohana Street slopes are between 10 and 15 percent. There are no unique geologic features present on the site. Hilo is susceptible to seismic intensities of up to VIII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.

3.6.2           Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact

In accordance with the Chapter 343 significance criteria, the Project would result in a significant impact if it affects or is likely to suffer damage by being located in an environmentally sensitive area such as a flood plain, tsunami zone, beach, erosion-prone area, geologically hazardous land, estuary, fresh water, or coastal waters. Therefore, a significant impact would occur if the Project affected or suffered damage by being located in an environmentally sensitive area.

3.6.3           Potential Environmental Impacts

The Project impacts will occur within the context of the current conditions at Project sites. That context includes the presence of observatories and roads in the summit region that have had  direct impacts to roughly 63 acres of the cinder cones. As detailed in Section 3.16.2, the past actions on Maunakea have resulted in substantial, significant, and adverse impacts to geologic resources, primarily due to the alteration of the cinder cone morphology.

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The TMT Observatory and the Access Way will unavoidably remove any surface geologic structures present, such as lava flow morphology and glacial features in the summit region. However, such geologic features are not unique on Maunakea and are better developed at many other areas, especially on the southern summit area adjacent to the Mauna Kea Access Road in  the MKSR Natural/Cultural Preserve Area and the Ice Age NAR.   Nevertheless, the destruction of any surface geologic features denigrates the Mauna Kea NNL; however, the Project will destroy less than 0.01 percent, roughly 6.2 acres (with slight variations depending on which Access Way Option is selected), of the surface geology within the 83,900 acre Mauna Kea NNL. At most, this destruction of surface geologic features would only include roughly 0.2 acres of a cinder cone.

The Access Way near the SMA core will be adjacent to or within steep terrain. Access Way design includes grading and Access Way Options 2A and 3B include a retaining wall and slop facing, respectively in the case of Option 2, and grading plus the installation of a retaining wall, in the case of Option 3. The designs are in compliance with applicable standards while keeping grading and retaining structures to a minimum in this culturally and biologically sensitive area. Compliance with applicable standards will mitigate slope stability concerns.

The area being considered for the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility is entirely underlain by unexceptional volcanic materials that characterize much of the lower slopes of Maunakea, and there are no geologically unique features in the area.

Similarly, the area being considered for the Headquarters is not geologically exceptional.

Because Hawai‘i Island is in a seismically active area, the Project will comply with applicable regulations and standards, with the design for all structures meeting all applicable seismic safety codes to ensure life safety of personnel and visitors.

Therefore, the Project’s impact to geologic resources, soils, and slope stability will be less than significant.

3.6.4           Mitigation Measures

Through compliance with existing regulations and requirements, Project impacts on geologic resources, soils, and slope stability will be less than significant and no additional mitigation is required. The Project’s design features to comply with applicable rules and regulations will include:

• Grading in compliance with applicable standards; and
  • The Project will comply with applicable seismic safety regulations and standards in the design of structures to meet applicable codes to ensure life safety of personnel and visitors.

In addition to these compliance measures, the Project will implement the following mitigation measures:

• There are noteworthy examples of glacial features near the Access Way, and such features are presently unappreciated. Interpretive signs will be placed along the Access Way identifying these noteworthy examples of glacial features to enhance public interpretation/education efforts. The number and placement of signs will be determined

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through consultation and coordination with OMKM. Installation of interpretive signs is consistent with CMP Management Action EO-4, which calls for improvements to interpretive, safety, and regulatory signs throughout the UH Management Areas.

• The Project will work with OMKM and ‘Imiloa to develop exhibits that reflect the nationally-recognized natural resources of the MKSR, which is within the Mauna Kea NNL. These exhibits will be utilized by the VIS and ‘Imiloa, as appropriate.
• The design of the Observatory will incorporate techniques to minimize the seismic risk of potential damage to the telescope and associated equipment. With these measures, the likelihood of damage will be lessened.

3.6.5           Level of Impact after Mitigation

The mitigation measures proposed will further reduce the level of impact to geologic resources, which is considered less than significant without any mitigation, and ensure compliance with seismic safety standards.

3.6.6           References

Cleghorn, Paul. 1982. The Mauna Kea adze quarry – technological analysis and experimental tests: Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Hawai‘i Department of Anthropology.

Frey, F.A., Wise, W.S., Garcia, M.O, West, H., Kwon, S.T., and Kennedy, A. 1990. Evolution of Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawai‘i – petrologic and geochemical constraints on postshield volcanism: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 95, p. 1271-1300.

Gemini Observatory. 2007. Mauna Kea Observatories Earthquake Workshop. Kailua-Kona.

Website: http://www.gemini.edu/node/227. Accessed December 10, 2008.

Lockwood, J. P. 2000. Mauna Kea Science Reserve Geologic Resources Management Plan – Appendix H. Prepared for Group 70. .

Matsuoka, Norikazu. 2001. Solifluction rates, processes and landforms: a global review: Earth Science Reviews, v. 55, pp.107-134.

Mills, P. R., Lundblad, S. P., Suitzer, J.G, McCoy, P. C., and Naleimaile, S. P. 2008. Science and sensitivity – a geochemical characterization of the Mauna Kea adze quarry complex, Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i. American Antiquity, v. 73, n. 4, pp. 748-759.

Mullineux, D. R., Peterson, D. W., and Crandell, D. R. 1987. Volcanic Hazards in the Hawaiian Islands, p. 1187-1220. U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1350.

Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM), 2009a. Natural Resources Management Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea

Comprehensive Management Plan. September 2009. Prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010.

Porter, S.C. 1979a. Quaternary stratigraphy and chronology of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i – a 380,000 year record of mid-Pacific volcanism and ice-cap glaciation. Geological Society of America Bulletin, Pt. 2, v. 90, p. 908-1093.

Section 3.6 – Geology, Soils, and Slope Stability                                         Final EIS: TMT Observatory     Page 3-113

Porter, S.C. 1979b. Geologic map of Mauna Kea volcano, Hawai‘i. Geological Society of America, Map and Chart Series MC-30, Scale 1:57,000.

Porter, S. C. 1979c. Hawaiian glacial ages. Quaternary Research, v. 12, pp. 161-167.

Porter, S.C. 1987. Pleistocene subglacial eruptions on Mauna Kea. Decker, R. W., Wright, T.L., and Stauffer, P.H. (Eds.). Volcanism in Hawai‘i. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1350, p. 587-598.

Porter, S. C., Stuiver, Minze, and Yang, I. C. 1977. Chronology of Hawaiian glaciations.

Science, v. 195, pp 61-63.

Robertson, I.N., Nicholson, P.G. and Brandes, H.G. 2006. Reconnaissance following the October 15th, 2006 Earthquakes on the Island of Hawai’i, Research Report UHM/CEE/06-07, University of Hawai‘i College of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; 65 pp.

University of Hawai‘i (UH), 2009a. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January, 2009. Approved by BLNR on April 9, 2009.

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Natural Landmarks Program.

Natural Landmark Brief for Mauna Kea, May 1994.

Wentworth, C.K. and Powers, W.E. 1941. Multiple glaciation of Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i.

Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 52, p. 1193-1218.

Werner, B.T. and Hallet, B. 1993. Numerical simulation of self-organized stone stripes. Nature, v. 361, p. 142-145.

Wolfe, E.W., Wise, W.S., and Dalrymple, G.B. 1997. The geology and petrology of Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawai‘i B a study of postshield volcanism. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1557, 129 pp.

Wyss, M., and Koyanagi, R. Y. 1992. Isoseismal maps, macroseismic epicenters, and estimated magnitudes of historical earthquakes in the Hawaiian Islands. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2006, 93 p.

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3.7       Water Resources and Wastewater

This section discusses the water resources and wastewater management practices in the region  and in the Project area and the potential impacts of the Project on those resources, and mitigation measures the Project will employ to mitigate those potential impacts.

3.7.1           Environmental Setting

Maunakea Summit Region

Surface Water

There are no regularly flowing or perennial streams in the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. The Wailuku River is the only river whose numerous gulches extend along the upper flanks of Maunakea, and stream flow is considered to be perennial where the gulches come together, downslope near the elevation of 10,000 feet. The only surface water regularly present in the summit region is Lake Waiau within the adjacent Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve

(NAR). Figure 2-3 illustrates the location of the lake.

Lake Waiau is located at the bottom of Pu‘u Waiau and is one of Hawai‘i’s few confined surface water bodies and one of the highest alpine lakes in the Unites States. The lake freezes almost entirely during colder times of the year and has never been known to dry up. Lake Waiau is believed to have formed approximately 15,000 years ago following the last glacial retreat, and is revered by many Native Hawaiians as a pool created for the snow Goddess Poli‘ahu by her  father, Kāne.  The lake is heart-shaped, 300 feet  in diameter, reaches approximately 7.5 feet depth at full capacity, and sits at an elevation of 13,020 feet on the southern flank of Maunakea. Topography limits the lake’s watershed to about 35 acres.  The lake’s water is derived from   snow melt and precipitation within the watershed, not relic layers of ice or permafrost within the ground. The presence of Lake Waiau is attributable to an impermeable layer within Pu‘u Waiau that creates a perched⁴⁵ aquifer, which is a limited aquifer that occurs above the regional aquifer. In the absence of this impermeable layer, the rainwater and snowmelt would continue its downward migration to the regional aquifer, which is much deeper.

Lake Waiau lies roughly 1.5 miles south of the TMT Observatory site, which will be on the opposite flank of Maunakea from the lake. The Project’s Batch Plant Staging Area, roughly 3,000 feet upslope of Lake Waiau, will not be located within the Lake Waiau watershed.

Groundwater Aquifers

The regional aquifer beneath the summit is what is referred to in Hawai‘i as “high-level,” which means that the aquifer is entirely fresh water, not fresh water floating on salt water, and geologic structures, such as a volcanic sills and dikes, isolate the water. Although groundwater is the primary source of drinking water in Hawai‘i, there are no wells extracting groundwater near the summit, since it is considered uneconomical to drill a well deep enough to reach the groundwater

⁴⁵ A perched aquifer is an aquifer that occurs above the regional water table, in the unsaturated zone. This occurs when there is an impermeable layer of rock or sediment (known as an aquiclude) or relatively impermeable layer (known as an aquitard) above the main aquifer but below the surface of the land.

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and pump it to the surface. The nearest well is located approximately 12 miles away in Waiki‘i Ranch along Saddle Road; the ground elevation at the well is 4,260 feet above mean sea level (MSL) and the static water level in the well was measured at 1,280 feet above MSL in 1988.

The Astronomy Precinct, and, therefore, the TMT Observatory site and Batch Plant Staging Area site, is located entirely above the Waimea Aquifer (Figure 3-30), which has a sustainable yield of 24roughly 13 million gallons a day.

Figure 3-30: Groundwater Aquifers on the Island of Hawai‘i

Potable Water

MKSS contracts with a trucking company to deliver potable water from Hilo to the summit observatories in 5,000-gallon-capacity tank trailers that are owned by MKSS. Each observatory stores its own water and is responsible for the maintenance of its water tanks; observatories also use 5-gallon water jugs for drinking water. Water is trucked to the summit about twice a week  for an annual average of approximately 502,500 gallons over the past three years, which indicates a combined daily use of roughly 1,400 gallons.

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Wastewater Collection, Treatment, and Disposal

Domestic wastewater and refuse liquids, including mirror washing wastewater, are the primary sources of wastewater generated by activities in the MKSR. Keck, CFHT, Gemini, Subaru, and the UH 2.2-meter observatories have facilities to conduct mirror washing and/or recoating activities. The other observatories bring their mirrors to one of those observatories for washing and recoating. All mirror washing effluent is collected and trucked off the mountain for off-site treatment and disposal.

Each observatory operates its own wastewater system to collect and treat domestic wastewater, pursuant to the permits issued by the Hawai’i State Department of Health (HDOH).

Existing restroom facilities at the summit available for visitor use include four portable toilets and the restrooms located in the Keck Observatory. The portable toilets are located at two different parking areas and are moved between the sites as needed. Portable toilets are serviced weekly and pumping is done on-site.

Drainage

Drainage at the summit occurs through percolation of rainfall through the cinder and broken rock substrates. Runoff from paved surfaces is directed to lined channels that conduct the water to collection basins or dry wells, where it then percolates. This system assists in the prevention of surface erosion.

Hale Pōhaku Facilities

Surface Water

There are no regularly flowing or perennial streams in the vicinity of Hale Pōhaku. Only during

times of heavy rainfall will a few of the normally dry channels nearby have flowing water.

Groundwater Aquifers, Seeps, and Springs

As evidenced by modest spring and seeps, shallow groundwater does exist in the mountain’s flanks below the summit area. The most prominent of these springs and seeps are the series of springs found near Pōhakuloa and Waikahalulu Gulches. The gulches are on Maunakea’s south flank at a distance of approximately 3.25 and 1.25 miles west of Hale Pōhaku, respectively.

Scientific dating tests of the spring’s water indicate that it is recent, meaning that the water is not from the melting of ancient subsurface ice or permafrost, and analyses of the water shows it to be identical to rainfall at the summit.  This indicates that at least some of the rainfall and snow melt  at the summit percolates downward to a perching layer to ultimately discharge at the ground surface as a spring or seep.

Hale Pōhaku is located above the Onomea Aquifer system (Figure 3-30). There are no wells in the vicinity of Hale Pōhaku, because, similar to the summit area, the groundwater is at such a great depth that it is not considered economical to use it.

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Potable Water

MKSS contracts with a trucking company to deliver potable water from Hilo to Hale Pōhaku in 5,000-gallon-capacity tank trailers that are owned by MKSS. Data gathered by MKSS indicates that the Hale Pōhaku facilities currently require approximately 30,000 gallons of water per week or roughly 4,300 gallons per day.

Wastewater Collection, Treatment, and Disposal

Currently, Hale Pōhaku has three small capacity cesspools⁴⁶ and six septic⁴⁷ systems. At Hale Pōhaku’s main common building, dormitories B and C, and the VIS the wastewater systems have been upgraded to septic tanks that use the old cesspools instead of leach fields to discharge septic tank effluent. Dormitory D was constructed with a septic system and no modifications have been made to date.  A septic tank with a leach field is present at the newer construction camp site   below VIS.  The septic tanks are regularly maintained by pumping out the sludge and other    solids contained in them approximately 12 times per year. The wastewater systems at the older construction camp, dormitory A, and utility buildings between the cafeteria and the VIS use the

original small-capacity cesspools for wastewater disposal.

Hale Pōhaku facilities.

Drainage

Figure 2-9 provides an overview of

Pōhakuloa and Waikahalulu Gulches, over a mile away, are the most developed drainage  channels along the upper slopes of the mountain. These channels likely formed following large- scale scouring and movement of materials down the present day gulch alignment from a process initiated by melting glaciers. There is no developed drainage system at Hale Pōhaku. The low annual rainfall and permeability of the subsurface at Hale Pōhaku make a developed drainage system unnecessary. Rainfall from the common building roof and all paved areas is allowed to runoff into drywells; rainfall from all other building roofs is allowed to runoff to an unpaved area and percolate into the subsurface.

Headquarters

The majority of the University Park is located outside any flood boundary, but a portion of the northern area of the property is located within Flood Zone A, an area inside the 100-year floodplain. The nearest surface body of water is Waiākea Stream; no part of Waiākea Stream in the vicinity of the UH Hilo campus is perennial. University Park is located above the Hilo  Aquifer System (Figure 3-30). Storm drain drywells and landscaping/grading are used by other facilities and roads in University Park to control storm water and recharge the aquifer. Domestic water is provided by the UH Hilo system to the existing University Park; the mauka area of the park is not yet connected to the system.  The existing University Park is hooked up to the   regional wastewater system; the mauka area of the park is not yet sewered.

⁴⁶ A cesspool is either a sealed tank (modern definition) used to temporarily store domestic wastewater or a dry well (old definition) used to store or dispose of domestic wastewater. In Hawai‘i cesspools typically refer to dry wells; dry wells allow liquids to drain into the underlying soil and domestic wastewater solids typically are broken down by bacteria in the dry well.

⁴⁷ A septic system generally consists of a septic tank connected to either a dry well or a leach field. Domestic wastewater solids settle in the tank and are anaerobically digested. The wastewater liquid flows out of the septic tank relatively clear and is discharged to the soil through the leach field or dry well.

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3.7.2           Thresholds Used to Determine Level of Impact

In accordance with the Chapter 343 significance criteria, the Project would result in a significant impact to water resources and wastewater if it involves a substantial degradation of environmental quality and/or detrimentally affects water quality.

Therefore, a significant water quality impact would occur if the Project affected water resources so that their quality was degraded to the point that they were no longer fit for their designed use and/or the chemical composition exceeded applicable regulatory water quality standards.

3.7.3           Potential Environmental Impact

The Project will result in new impervious surfaces, additional consumption of fresh (potable) water, and additional wastewater discharges. The potential impacts of the Project are evaluated within the framework of existing conditions in the Project area and compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and requirements for the project type and location. This includes complying with the requirements of the HDOH, the County of Hawai‘i, and the CMP.

Impervious Surfaces

Paved areas and buildings are impervious surfaces that prevent rainwater from directly percolating into the subsurface. They may also increase the volume of stormwater runoff. The Project will create new impervious surfaces at the TMT Observatory, portions of the Access  Way, and the Headquarters, and may create new impervious surfaces at the potential TMT Mid- Level Facility area. The new impervious area at the TMT Observatory will be roughly 1.4 1.3 acres, which accounts for the dome and support buildings. The parking areas will not be paved and will remain pervious allowing rain to percolate naturally. A maximum 500-foot roughly 750 foot long portion of the Access Way will be paved, generating up to 0.3-acre of new impervious surface (area of impervious surface has not increased with greater length of paving because   width of roads has been reduced to minimize impacts). The amount of new impervious area at

the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility and Headquarters will depend on the final design of those facilities.

The impact due to new impervious surfaces will be limited due to the permeability of the surrounding ground surface and the area of natural land downslope of the TMT Observatory, Access Way, and potential TMT Mid-Level Facility. The impact at the Headquarters will be limited due to the high permeability of the ground surface and the presence of drainage systems in the area. Also, in compliance with existing regulations and requirements, TMT facilities will be designed to maximize groundwater recharge to the extent possible. Site grading and landscaping will be designed to direct storm water to pervious areas so that it may percolate into the ground.  Storm drain drywells may also be utilized at the Headquarters facility, but  will not be necessary at the TMT Observatory, Access Way, or potential TMT Mid-Level Facility where rainfall is low and permeability is high. New drywells will be designed by a professional engineer, permitted per HDOH requirements, and maintained properly. If the Headquarters is built within Flood Zone A, the Project will not adversely impact the floodplain or its functions, and will comply with rules and regulations of the National Flood Insurance Program. As the Mauka Lands Master Plan Final EIS (UH, 2005) indicates, “When the lots affected by the Zone

Section 3.7 – Water Resources and Wastewater                                           Final EIS: TMT Observatory     Page 3-119

A floodplain are developed, a detailed study should be performed to determine the 100-year floodplain.”

In the case of the Observatory, Access Way, and potential Mid-Level Facility these measures would result in all precipitation ultimately recharge underlying aquifers because runoff would be directed to nearby areas where it would percolate into the ground rather than enter streams that discharge to the ocean. Therefore, the potential impact associated with impervious surfaces will be less than significant.

Potable Water

Freshwater is a limited resource on Hawai‘i Island. The sustainable use of freshwater from all island aquifers has been estimated by the Commission on Water Resource Management  (CWRM) at 2,410 million gallons a day. Currently the approximate daily groundwater pumpage is about 32 million gallons. The Project will slightly increase the amount of freshwater used island-wide due to water use by employees at the various Project facilities. Assuming a  maximum daily use of 20 gallons a day per person at the work place, the following daily uses of potable water are estimated: 1,000 480 gallons at the TMT Observatory, possibly 200 gallons at the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility, and 1,200 1,600 gallons at the Headquarters. This represents less than 0.01 percent of the current island-wide daily potable water pumpage, and 0.0001 percent, of the estimated sustainable use of freshwater from the island’s aquifers.  Also,  in compliance with the existing requirements, water efficient fixtures will be installed and water efficient practices implemented to reduce the demand on freshwater resources. Therefore, this impact will be less than significant.

A component of the Project’s Waste Minimization Plan (WMP) will be an assessment of potential water saving measures at all Project facilities; this plan is discussed in detail in Section

3.8.3. This will both reduce water use and reduce the volume of wastewater generated, particularly at the TMT Observatory where all wastewater will be collected and transported off the mountain for treatment.

Wastewater and Spillage

The discharge of domestic wastewater via a septic system has the potential to degrade surface  and groundwater resources. In compliance with CMP Management Action FLU-7, TMT will instead install a zero-discharge waste system at the Observatory. Therefore, there will be no discharge of any wastewater, including domestic wastewater and mirror washing wastewater, at the summit. All wastewater will be collected and transported off the mountain for treatment and disposal.

The use of the existing Hale Pōhaku facilities by TMT personnel will increase the discharge of domestic wastewater via septic systems at Hale Pōhaku. It is expected that the existing Hale Pōhaku facilities will be able to accommodate the slight increase in volume generated by TMT use. A new wastewater system may be installed as part of the potential TMT Mid-Level Facility development in the lower portion of Hale Pōhaku. No adverse impact is expected because that system will be designed and permitted per applicable rules and regulations administered by the HDOH.

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The Headquarters will be connected to the regional wastewater collection system and wastewater will be treated at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The existing University Park  infrastructure has been designed for a development such as the Headquarters facility so no  adverse impact is expected. The existing University Park area sewer system was not sized to accommodate development of the mauka area of the park, therefore, a separate off-site sewer along Lanikaula Street has been proposed to transport the wastewater flows from the mauka area to a point in the County’s sewer system with the capacity to convey the wastewater to the County’s wastewater treatment plant.  The hook up to the University Park wastewater system   will be designed and reviewed as required by applicable rules.

The release of fuel or chemicals, including mirror washing wastewater, from an accidental spill could degrade surface and groundwater resources. Like existing observatories, all mirror washing wastewater generated at the TMT Observatory will be collected and trucked off the mountain for off-site treatment and disposal. Although transportation of the mirror washing wastewater off the mountain will alleviate concerns regarding the degradation of water resources, it will increase the chance that an accident could occur as the wastewater was

transported from the TMT Observatory to the treatment and disposal facility. Similar wastewater generated at the existing observatories has been transported off the mountain for treatment since 2002 without incident. The wastewater will only be transported off the mountain from the TMT Observatory when 2,000 gallons had accumulated. It is estimated that such removal will occur approximately once a month, and the likelihood of an accident is slight.

Also, in compliance with existing regulations and requirements, a Spill Prevention and Response Plan (SPRP) will be developed and implemented; this plan is described in detail in Section 3.8.2. Facility engineering measures will also be taken to provide proper chemical and fuel storage enclosures. Both the SPRP and the engineering measures will protect against the release of chemicals or fuel to the environment. Engineering measures will include draining all potentially chemically-impacted wastewater, such as mirror washing wastewater, in double-walled pipes and capturing it in a 5,000-gallon double-walled underground storage tank in the exterior equipment area (Figure 2-7). Fuel storage and piping will also be double-walled and be equipped with leak monitors.  The SPRP will require inspections to ensure that systems are working properly, no  leaks are occurring, and any necessary maintenance measures are taken.   Therefore, this impact   is considered less than significant.

3.7.4           Mitigation Measures

Through compliance with existing regulations and requirements, Project impacts on water resources will be less than significant and no additional mitigation is required. The Project’s design features and policies to comply with applicable rules and regulations will include:

• The use of stormwater dry wells and grading to maximize groundwater recharge;
  • The installation of water efficient fixtures and the implementation of a water saving practices to reduce the demand for freshwater resources;
  • In compliance with CMP Management Action FLU-7, a zero-discharge waste system will be installed at the TMT Observatory so there will be no discharge of any wastewater at

the summit;

Section 3.7 – Water Resources and Wastewater                                           Final EIS: TMT Observatory     Page 3-121

• Facility engineering measures to provide proper chemical and fuel storage enclosures to protect against the release of chemicals or fuel to the environment, including double- walled piping and tanks for fuel and mirror washing wastewater; and
• The development and implementation of a SPRP that will outline measures to appropriately use and store chemicals and require inspections to ensure that systems are working properly and any necessary maintenance measures are taken.

In addition to these compliance measures, the Project will include in its Waste Minimization Plan (WMP), which is described in Section 3.8.3, an annual audit of water use by the Project with an evaluation of measures that could be implemented to reduce Project water use. The annual audit will be submitted to OMKM.

3.7.5           Level of Impact after Mitigation

Mandatory compliance with existing regulations and requirements will ensure that the Project will not result in a significant impact on water resources or water quality. The mitigation  measure will further reduce the level of impact to water resources, which is considered less than significant without any mitigation.

3.7.6           References

Arvidson, R. E. 2002. Draft environmental assessment for the Outrigger Telescopes Project published by NASA in December 2000; Response to comments concerning the hydrology of Mauna Kea. Outrigger. St. Louis, MO, McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University.

Commission on Water Resources Management. 2009. Ground Water Well Index / Summary. Commission on Water Resources Management. 2009. Island of Hawai‘i Hydrologic Units

Sustainable Yield/Aquifer code. Website:

http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/cwrm/mapsillustrations/gwhu_hawaii.pdf. Accessed December 6, 2008.

Ehlmann, B., R. E. Arvidson, et al. 2005. Hydrologic and isotopic modeling of alpine Lake Waiau, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i. Pacific Science 59(1): 1-15.

Laws, E. A. and A. H. Woodcock. 1981. Hypereutrophication of an Hawaiian alpine lake.

Pacific Science 35(3): 257-261.

Lippiatt, S. 2005. The isolation and identification of diatoms from Lake Waiau sediments.

Journal of Young Investigators 13(4): 6 p.

Macdonald, G. A., A. T. Abbott, et al. 1983. Volcanoes in the sea: the geology of Hawai‘i.

Honolulu, University of Hawai‘i Press.

Massey, J. E. 1979. The diatoms of contemporary and ancient sediments from Lake Waiau, Hawai‘i, and their geochemical environment. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 27(1): 77-83.

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MCM Planning for National Astronomical Observatory JNLT Project Office. January 1991.

Project Description for Japan National Large Telescope (JNLT).

McNarie, A. D. 2004. Mercury on the mountain. Hawai‘i Island Journal Volume, DOI: 9-7 Melvin, D. 1988. Poli‘ahu: snow goddess of Mauna Kea. Spirit of Aloha 13(6): 51.

NASA. 2005. Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project, Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Island of Hawai‘i. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Universe Division, Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C.

Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM), 2009a. Natural Resources Management Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea; A Sub-Plan of the Mauna Kea

Comprehensive Management Plan. September 2009. Prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc., approved by BLNR on March 25, 2010

Porter, S. C. 2005. Pleistocene snowlines and glaciation of the Hawaiian Islands. Quaternary International 138-139: 118-128.

University of Hawai‘i (UH), 2009a. Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan. January, 2009. Approved by BLNR on April 9, 2009.

UH, 2005. Mauka Lands Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement TMK 2-4-01: 122.

Prepared by PBR Hawai‘i for UH. February 2005.

Woodcock, A. H. 1974. Permafrost and climatology of a Hawai‘i volcano crater. Artic and Alpine Research 6(1): 49-62.

Woodcock, A. H. 1980. Hawaiian alpine lake level, rainfall trends, and spring flow. Pacific Science 34(2): 195-209.

Woodcock, A. H., R. Meyer, et al. 1966. Deep layer of sediments in alpine lake in the tropical mid-Pacific. Science 154: 647-648.

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3.8       Solid and Hazardous Waste and Material Management

This section discusses the solid and hazardous waste and materials management practices at Maunakea, including the Project area and potential impacts of the Project on those practices. Measures that will be implemented by the Project to reduce the possible impacts of solid and hazardous waste on the environment are also presented.

3.8.1           Environmental Setting

There are two landfills on the Hawai‘i Island, the South Hilo Landfill in Hilo, East Hawai‘i and the Pu‘uanahulu Landfill in North Kona, West Hawai‘i. The South Hilo Landfill has an

estimated remaining capacity of 400,000 cubic yards and is expected to close operations in about four years. As of 2002, the Pu‘uanahulu landfill had more than 12,000,000 cubic yards of permitted air space, which will be able to accommodate the current waste stream from West Hawai‘i for about 40 years.

Maunakea Summit Region

Solid Waste

Solid waste, as defined under Section 1004(27) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), refers to any discarded solid, semisolid, liquid, or contained gaseous materials.

Solid waste and trash at the existing observatories is primarily generated from three sources: construction activity, visitors, and ongoing observatory operational and maintenance activities. The summit area is maintained and kept free of trash, debris, and other wastes through regular maintenance and the proper removal and disposal of all solid waste from the mountain. All trash containers are required to be covered and secured to prevent providing a food source for invasive fauna and to reduce the possibility of escaping debris, which can occur during periods of high winds that occur frequently.

The solid waste generated by each of the existing 11 observatories and one radio antenna was estimated to range from about 4 cubic feet per week generated by the Joint Astronomy Center (JAC) to up 160 cubic feet per week at the Keck Observatory. Each facility puts its trash in standard containers for transport and disposal off the mountain.

Hazardous Material and Waste

Limited quantities of hazardous materials are used at the summit observatories for a variety of maintenance and cleaning operations. Each observatory has a written procedure for safely, handling, and disposing of hazardous materials and emergency procedures for attending to spills. Table 3-12 identifies the hazardous materials used and stored within UH Management Areas, as well as the quantities of those materials normally stored or used. The best available information suggests that while mercury spills have occurred, spilled amounts occurred inside during mirror handling activities and were small. To date, there have been no mercury spills in the outside environment at the Maunakea summit. Also, since the 2000 Master Plan’s new rules were put in place, there have been no spills inside any of the existing observatories. Certain observatories  also have fuel tanks for emergency generator diesel fuel which is stored on site. The size of the

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tanks varies with the size of the facility and associated generator. Potential secondary sources of contamination from generator equipment include waste oil and coolant (e.g., ethylene glycol). In the past, there have been instances in which cinder was contaminated and then excavated to contain the potential effects of the spill.

All telescope mirror washing activities are done in accordance with the current wastewater management protocols. The waste is contained and transported off the mountain for treatment and disposal. The mirror washing activities do not generate hazardous waste.

Hazardous waste, as defined by the EPA (Title 40 of the CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter I-Solid Wastes, Part 261-299), refers to substances that have “imminent and substantial danger to public health and welfare or the environment.” The regulations pertaining to hazardous waste provide criteria to define a waste as a “characteristic” hazardous waste and provide a listing of “listed”

hazardous wastes. Only small quantities of hazardous waste are generated by the observatories and are periodically transported to permitted treatment and disposal facilities. The volume of hazardous waste generated does not require any of the observatories to register as other than conditionally exempt or small quantity generators of hazardous waste.

Hale Pōhaku

Solid Waste

Solid waste at Hale Pōhaku primarily consists of food, paper products, and other packaging materials generated by the cooking and housekeeping staff as a result of the activities of Hale Pōhaku guests and visitors to the VIS; it is also generated by construction and maintenance activities.  On average, about 250 cubic feet of waste is produced weekly.  All trash containers  are required to be covered and secured to prevent providing a food source for invasive fauna and to reduce the possibility of escaping debris. Trash from Hale Pōhaku is taken off the mountain daily by the MKSS housekeeping staff and brought to the main Hilo office, where it is removed by the subcontractors.

Hazardous Materials and Waste

Hazardous materials are used at Hale Pōhaku for a variety of maintenance and cleaning

operations, and primarily consist of fuel that is used by dormitory operations and transportation

and road maintenance equipment. Table 3-12 identifies the hazardous materials used and stored

within UH Management Areas, as well as the quantities of those materials normally stored or used.

Hale Pōhaku has three underground storage tanks (USTs): an 11,500 gallon tank for diesel fuel and a 2,000 gallon tank and 4,000 gallon tank for gasoline. The USTs are located in front of the maintenance utilities shop and are believed to be approximately 25 years old. In 1997 the USTs were retrofitted with a 24-hour a day leak sensor monitoring system that is checked daily. No releases have been reported from any of these USTs.

The limited amounts of hazardous wastes generated on UH Management Areas are placed in containers and removed from the mountain by licensed transport, treatment and disposal contractors to an offsite disposal facility. No hazardous wastes are disposed of within UH Management Areas.

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Table 3-12: Hazardous Materials Used and Stored at Observatories and Hale Pōhaku