Would locating the TMT on Mauna Kea have adverse affects on the mountain environment?
All possible measures will be considered to minimize the impact of building and operating the observatory on the environment and habitats of Maunakea. The summit of Mauna Kea contains habitat for the Wēkiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola), a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and certain species of lichens and ferns. At Hale Pōhaku, where improvements to facilities would be made and a construction baseyard would be located, the palila (Loxiodes bailleui), an endangered bird listed under the ESA; māmane (Sophora chrysophylla), a native tree that is the primary food source of the palila; and Hawai‘i catchfly (Silene hawaiiensis), a threatened shrub listed under the ESA, may be present. Among other things, potential impacts on biological resources are evaluated in the Draft EIS. Impacts of both the TMT Observatory and associated ancillary facilities have been considered, including construction staging areas, access roads, and other areas within the zone of construction.
