3 Affected Environment

3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT This Chapter describes the environmental setting for the proposed Outrigger Telescopes Project and presents a brief summary of those elements of the environment that could potentially be affected by the Proposed Action. 3.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT floor of the Pacific Ocean, the highest OF THE PROPOSED ACTION mountain on Earth. The name Mauna Kea is often translated in English as White Section 3.1 provides a description of the Mountain. In Native Hawaiian traditions, existing or present-day environment of however, “Kea” is also the abbreviated form Mauna Kea, primarily the summit area of WƗkea, the great sky god who, together located within the approximately with Papa, the Earth mother, and other gods 212-hectare (ha) (525-acre (ac)) Astronomy and forces created the Hawaiian Islands. Precinct. The summit area is that portion of The summit is considered the meeting point the Astronomy Precinct within which most of WƗkea and Papa. In this cultural context, of the existing astronomical observatories the island of Hawai‘i was the first-born are located. The Astronomy Precinct itself offspring of this union, the eldest of the comprises a small portion (4.6 percent) of islands. WƗkea and Papa also became the approximately 4,568 ha (11,288 ac) of parents of the first Native Hawaiian man, the Mauna Kea Science Reserve (MKSR). HƗloa, the first ancestor of the Hawaiian people. 3.1.1 Land Use and Existing Activities In November 1972, Mauna Kea was 3.1.1.1 Mauna Kea Science Reserve officially listed on the National Registry of (MKSR) Natural Landmarks as part of Land Use. The cultural landscape of Mauna the National Natural Landmarks Program. Kea remains important to the Hawaiian Established in 1962, the program aims to people. Spiritual beliefs and cultural encourage and support voluntary practices of many Native Hawaiians in the preservation of sites that illustrate the present-day are associated with lands that geological and ecological history of the make up the MKSR. In addition to the United States, and to strengthen the public's cultural significance of Mauna Kea, the high appreciation of American's natural heritage. altitude, atmospheric dryness, and minimal Mauna Kea is a National Natural Landmark seasonal variation provide for ideal because it is the highest insular mountain in astronomical observations. As a result, the the United States, containing the highest MKSR is regarded as one of the best sites in lake (Lake Waiau) in the country and the world for optical/infrared and evidence of glaciation above the 3,353-m millimeter-wave telescopes. (11,000-ft) level. Mauna Kea is also recognized as the "most majestic expression The MKSR (see Figure 2-2) encompasses an of shield volcanism in the Hawaiian area of about 4,568-ha (11,288-ac) of State Archipelago, if not the world (NPS 2004)." land situated above the 3,660-m (12,000-ft) elevation of Mauna Kea, but excludes the Standing 4,205 m (13,796 ft) above sea parcels that make up the Mauna Kea Ice Age level, Mauna Kea is the highest peak in the Natural Area Reserve. Hawaiian Islands and, from its base on the 3-1 The MKSR is leased by the University of conservation of natural or Hawai‘i (UH) from the State of Hawai‘i and scenic resources; areas of is managed by UH. The lease states that the value for recreational MKSR is to be used “as a scientific purposes; other related complex, including without limitation activities; and other permitted thereof an observatory, and as a scientific uses not detrimental to a reserve being more specifically a buffer multiple use conservation zone to prevent the intrusion of activities concept (HRS § 205-2(e)).” inimical to said scientific complex” (State of Hawai‘i 1968). The area where the The Department of Land and Natural observatories are located is known as the Resources (DLNR) administers public land Astronomy Precinct. The Astronomy within the Conservation District pursuant to Precinct is centered near the middle of the HRS Chapter 183C. That chapter makes the summit plateau while the remainder of the following statement of public policy: MKSR serves as a buffer area (see Figure “[t]he legislature finds that 2-3). lands within the state land The State Land Use Commission has use conservation district established the boundaries of four State contain important natural Land Use Districts throughout the State: resources essential to the these are Urban, Rural, Agriculture and preservation of the State’s Conservation. The MKSR is located in the fragile natural ecosystems Conservation District. The Conservation and the sustainability of the District is the most restrictive of the four State’s water supply. It is land use classifications authorized under therefore, the intent of the Hawai‘i’s Land Use Law, Hawai‘i Revised legislature to conserve, Statutes (HRS) Chapter 205. Conservation protect, and preserve the Districts are defined to include: important natural resources of the State through “areas necessary for protecting appropriate management and watersheds and water sources; use to promote their long- preserving scenic and historic term sustainability and the areas; providing park lands, public health, safety and wilderness, and beach welfare (HRS § 183C-1).” reserves; conserving indigenous or endemic plants, The Conservation District lands are fish and wildlife, including categorized into four subzones (general, those which are threatened or resource, limited, and protective) based on endangered; preventing floods the resource characteristics. The MKSR is and soil erosion; forestry; open contained entirely within the Resource space and areas whose existing subzone (UH 1999). Resource subzones openness, natural condition or include lands necessary to ensure the present state of use, if retained, sustained use of natural resources and would enhance the present or include lands suitable for parks, outdoor potential value of abutting or recreational uses, and the like (Hawai‘i surrounding communities, or Admin. Rules (HAR) § 13-5-13). would maintain or enhance the 3-2 Astronomy facilities are a permitted use in outside the Astronomy Precinct at an this subzone (HAR § 13-5-24). Astronomy elevation of 3,719 m (12,200 ft). All of the facilities in the resource subzone require a observatories are used for basic board permit and an approved management astronomical research. Table 3-1 lists the plan (HAR § 13-5-24). current Mauna Kea Observatory telescopes. Figure 2-4 shows their location in the Existing Activities. Current activities that MKSR (with exception of the VLBA, which occur in the MKSR and surrounding areas is located at too low an elevation to be include cultural and religious activities, shown on this figure). astronomical and other scientific research, and a variety of recreational activities. All Other Scientific Research. Mauna Kea has a activities are described in detail as follows. number of natural resources of interest to scientists in various disciplines. Geologists Cultural and Religious Practices. Many study the unique volcanic and glacial history Native Hawaiians view Mauna Kea as a of the mountain and health professionals natural temple. The landscape embodies study the effects of the altitude on the their cultural views and links them to nature human body. Meteorologists study the and the spiritual world. The ascent up the weather and atmosphere, and biologists mountain takes one through various zones or study the native ecosystems found on Mauna levels of increasing sacredness and Kea. proximity to the spiritual beings of great power and importance (akua). Recreational Activities. Recreational activities in the MKSR and surrounding Current cultural and religious practices are areas include sightseeing, skiing and snow associated with the existing resources on the play, hiking, and hunting. The factors that mountain, and involve the trails, individual make Mauna Kea such a uniquely appealing topographic features, burial locations and place to recreational users can also be the cultural landscapes. Other contemporary cause for health and safety concerns. practices include prayer and ritual Visitors must be prepared for the effects of observances including construction of new high altitude on their bodies and the altars. See Sections 3.1.2 and 4.1.1 for more possibility of a sudden and severe change in information about cultural and religious weather. Altitude sickness is primarily practices. caused by a lack of oxygen or hypoxia. At Astronomical Research. The MKSR is one the summit of Mauna Kea, the oxygen of the best locations in the world for ground- content of the reduced atmosphere is a mere based astronomical observations. High on a 60 percent of that at sea level. The major Pacific island, the mountain is generally cause of altitude illnesses is going too high cloud-free, providing excellent clear too fast. A preventive measure to altitude nighttime viewing. illness is acclimatization. Before proceeding up the mountain, UH recommends that At the present time, 12 observatories operate visitors spend approximately one hour at the within the Astronomy Precinct. These Visitor Information Station (VIS) at Hale include eight major optical/infrared Pǀhaku to view exhibits and acclimatize to telescopes, a 0.6-m (24-inch (in)) telescope; prevent altitude sickness. two single-dish millimeter/submillimeter- wavelength telescopes; and a submillimeter array. In addition, the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) Antenna Facility is located 3-3 TABLE 3-1. THE CURRENT MAUNA KEA OBSERVATORIES Year of Telescope Size Primary Use Sponsors Operation Optical and Infrared Telescopes UH 0.6-m Telescope 0.6 m (24 in) Optical UH 1968 UH 2.2-m Telescope 2.2 m (7.2 ft) Optical/Infrared UH 1970 NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) 3.0 m (10 ft) Infrared NASA 1979 Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope Canada/France/ (CFHT) 3.6 m (12 ft) Optical/Infrared UH 1979 United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) 3.8 m (12.5 ft) Infrared United Kingdom 1979 California Institute of Technology (Caltech)/ University of California/California W.M.

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