A legal challenge of the Thirty Meter Telescope is headed to the state Supreme Court. ADVERTISING A legal challenge of the Thirty Meter Telescope is headed to the state Supreme Court. The Mauna Kea Hui announced Friday the court agreed
A legal challenge of the Thirty Meter Telescope is headed to the state Supreme Court.
The Mauna Kea Hui announced Friday the court agreed to hear its case challenging the $1.4 billion project’s conservation district use permit.
An appeal of the permit initially was filed in the state Intermediate Court of Appeals, and the appellants celebrated the decision Friday to move it to the state’s high court.
“The transfer signals that the Hawaii Supreme Court, in unanimity, believes that the so-called TMT Conservation District Use Permit deserves the utmost legal scrutiny and priority,” Clarence Ching said in a press release.
Ching is joined in the appeal by Kealoha Pisciotta of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, Deborah J. Ward, E. Kalani Flores, Pua Case, Paul Neves and KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance.
The group has been fighting the permit since it first was proposed before the state Board of Land and Natural Resources in 2010. An earlier appeal was made in 3rd Circuit Court.
The appellants argue the large telescope project doesn’t meet the eight criteria for building within a Conservation District, and that its construction will add to existing adverse impacts to cultural and natural resources.
They are represented by attorney Richard Naiwieha Wurdeman.
The hui noted the state Supreme Court also is hearing an appeal of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope project on Haleakala.
“This is good news and recognized the importance of our case for all of Hawaii,” Pisciotta said in the statement.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
