Although most of the information on this wiki is aimed at professional observers, the following material may interest a broader audience.
Caltech has decommissioned the CSO and restored the site. The telescope ceased scientific operations in late 2015, after which all astronomical instruments were removed from the facility. Decommissioning of the CSO was carried out according to the Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) issued by the State of Hawaiʻi's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in January 2022. CSO is the first observatory to be removed under the 2010 Decommissioning Plan for Maunakea Observatories.
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The CSO dome and other buildings have been deconstructed and removed from Maunakea. Removal of foundations and underground structures is complete. Active site restoration is complete. This page chronicles some notable steps in the process, with photos:
The Leighton Telescope of the CSO has been disassembled and removed from Maunakea. It was transported to the Kawaihae Harbor and will be shipped to Chile for reuse. This page chronicles some notable steps in the process, with photos:
A partial list of consultants, contractors, and subcontractors decommissioning the CSO on behalf of Caltech.
Decomissioning Consultants and Contractors
Provided below are the decommissioning reports listed in the Final Environmental Assessmentʻs Appendix I (Best Management Practices Plan) Section 5.2 (Reporting Plan) (pdf).
Received from Hawaii Department of Health on May 4, 2022:
Approved by BLNR January 14, 2022; issued by DLNR, January 18, 2022; returned by Caltech January 24, 2022.
Published December 8, 2021:
The Draft EA was open for public comment September 8, 2021 - November 4, 2021:
The public comment period has closed.
Comments should be submitted to
Planning Solutions, Inc.
Attn: Mākena White, AICP
711 Kapiʻolani Boulevard, Suite 950
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
cso-decom@caltech.edu
There were three public workshops, conducted via zoom, presenting the Draft EA with Q&A. Recordings of each meeting can be found below: