NSF Notice of Intent regarding an Extremely Large Telescope (Northern Hemisphere)

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Initiate Section 106 Consultation for a Potential National Science Foundation Investment in the Construction and Operation of an Extremely Large Telescope Located in the Northern Hemisphere and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Comment Period. As described in the notice, the only proposed Northern Hemisphere Extremely Large Telescope is the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), which has a preferred site on Maunakea, Hawai'i Island, Hawaii, and an alternative site on the island of La Palma, Canary Islands.  

You are invited to share your comments and perspectives on the scope of the environmental review for this potential future funding decision at four public scoping meetings from August 9 through August 12, 2022; NSF will accept written comments through September 17, 2022. Please visit beta.nsf.gov/tmt for information about the scoping meetings and how you can submit written comments.

NSF understands that the possible construction of the telescope on Maunakea is a sensitive issue that requires meaningful engagement with interested members of the public as well as an understanding of the various perspectives on this important issue. Because many people who have a connection to Maunakea have strong viewpoints about whether TMT should be built there, NSF will go beyond the legal requirements in conducting its environmental review and provide more opportunities for meaningful public engagement at critical junctures during NSF’s processes. These additional opportunities are included in NSF’s Draft Community Engagement Plan (Draft CEP), which was developed to promote effective and meaningful public engagement during NSF’s environmental review.  We invite you to review this Draft CEP and provide any comments you may have by the end of the day on September 17, 2022.

To provide your comments on the environmental review or the Draft CEP, please visit beta.nsf.gov/tmt. For inquiries regarding the environmental review process, please email EIS.106.TMT@nsf.gov.