HILO — TMT International Observatory signed a hosting agreement Thursday that would allow construction of its giant telescope on the Spanish island of La Palma. ADVERTISING HILO — TMT International Observatory signed a hosting agreement Thursday that would allow construction
HILO — TMT International Observatory signed a hosting agreement Thursday that would allow construction of its giant telescope on the Spanish island of La Palma.
The site is part of the Canary Islands and is the developer’s backup plan should it not be able to resume construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea by April 2018.
TIO representatives called the 75-year deal with Spain’s Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias a “major milestone” in an announcement.
“This is an important step for TMT,” Executive Director Ed Stone said in the statement. “… We now have a signed agreement and are moving ahead with the appropriate government approvals so that everything will be in place if needed.”
The agreement would appear to give the alternate location an edge at least when it comes to clearing government reviews.
But TMT supporter Thayne Currie, an astronomer who works on Mauna Kea, said the announcement didn’t cause him anymore concern.
“I don’t think there’s anything really surprising about the agreement,” he said, adding Mauna Kea remains the better place to do astronomy.
The agreement covers operations, eventual demolition and access to infrastructure and headquarters facilities. In return, Spain receives 10 percent of observing time.
That’s more than the 7.5 percent offered to the University of Hawaii, which has a master lease for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. TIO’s proposed sublease with UH also includes lease payments that started at $300,000 and would eventually reach $1.08 million annually.
TIO’s press release did not mention if lease payments are part of the deal on La Palma.
While La Palma is much smaller than Mauna Kea at nearly 8,000 feet, TIO said that it offers an “excellent site” for its science goals.
“The true spirit of collaboration between TIO and Spain has been really uplifting,” TIO board member Tom Soifer said in the statement. “We thank the IAC and Spain for their tremendous support and for the warm welcome to (Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos).”
TIO reached a land use permit and sublease in Hawaii before both were tossed in two court decisions because of the state’s procedural errors. Prior to the rulings, protests from Native Hawaiians who say they were protecting a sacred mountain blocked construction in 2014 and 2015.
The state filed an appeal on the sublease ruling, which requires another contested case hearing, last February.
A redo of the contested case hearing for the land use permit finished oral testimony March 2. A decision could still take months.
UH spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said it’s the university’s “strong belief” that Mauna Kea remains TIO’s first choice.
“TIO has followed the letter and spirit of the legal process while actively engaged and contributing to the Hawaii Island community for more than a decade,” he said. “The university values its partnership with TIO and its investment in our world-class astronomy program.”
TIO’s sublease payments to UH are on hold following the most recent court ruling in December.
The sublease would expire in 2033 since that’s when UH’s master lease also ends. The university plans to seek a new agreement with the state.
TIO was making payments twice a year prior to the circuit court ruling on the sublease. A $150,000 payment was due Jan. 31.
TIO still is making $1 million annual contributions to its Hawaii Island educational fund and support for the Akamai Internship Program, a spokesman said.
Soifer said in an email that TIO is working with municipalities on La Palma to create a community benefits package there.
TMT would sit at 13,100 feet above sea level if built on Mauna Kea.
Supporters of the 180-foot-tall observatory say it will keep Hawaii at the forefront of astronomy, while opponents say the construction will desecrate a sacred mountain or harm the environment.
Mauna Kea and La Palma are home to other telescopes.
The project was last estimated to cost $1.4 billion.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
