University of Minnesota Astronomy Department's Mount Graham Position Paper, Dec. 2001

By Dr. Leonard Kuhi, Chair, Dept. of the Astronomy

MT. GRAHAM TELESCOPE PROJECT

Overview

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) is a major international project to build a large telescope with two 8.4-meter mirrors that will act as a single instrument on Mt. Graham, Arizona. The project is directed by a consortium which the University of Minnesota is now (December 2001) in the process of joining. The university will have a 5 percent interest in the $100 million facility, allowing its astronomers 5 percent of the allotted viewing time as well as access to other telescopes operated by the University of Arizona. Other partners include Arizona (University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University), 25 percent; several Italian observatories and universities, 25 percent; several German institutions, 25 percent; and Ohio State University 12.5 percent. Minnesota is buying its share from a private foundation called the Research Corporation, which holds a 12.5 percent interest. Ohio State and the University of Notre Dame are already in the group, and the University of Virginia is expected to join.

The Mt. Graham International Observatory (MGIO) is located on Mt. Graham in the Pinaleno Mountains near Safford, Arizona. The observatory site is operated by the University of Arizona. Mt. Graham is part of the Coronado National Forest. The construction of the observatory was approved by Congress in November 1988. Two telescopes are now in operation: the Vatican Observatory/Arizona 1.8m Lennon optical telescope (VATT) and the 10m diameter Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope (SMT), a joint project of Arizona and the Max-Planck-Institut fur Radioastronomie, Germany. The building for the LBT is 16 stories tall and has already been built. The telescope structure is being built in Italy, major instrumentation in Germany and by Ohio State University, and the mirrors by the Mirror Laboratory of the University of Arizona. The LBT is expected to become operational in early 2004.

The Activists

A small group of activists (The Mt. Graham Coalition) based in Arizona is opposed to the project. They have taken the University of Arizona to court 37 times and lost every time. Legislation voided one additional suit. For many years, the group claimed the project endangered the red squirrel. The squirrel has since been declared endangered, and activities at the site have been restricted in accordance. The squirrel subsequently (after 1993) tripled in numbers, but has been declining recently due to bark beetle infestation that is killing the trees. The group claims the project desecrates land sacred to Native Indians. On Oct. 12, 2001, masked intruders attacked the University of Arizona mirror facility. They assaulted a graduate student but were unable to gain access to the mirror lab. Most were arrested. About a dozen people showed up for an organizational meeting of activists in Minneapolis on Nov. 29.

MGIO and Indian Communities

The tribe living closest to Mt. Graham is the San Carlos Apaches. In 1993 the San Carlos Tribal Council voted to remain neutral regarding the observatory. Individual Apaches remain opposed to the project. They want access to the mountain to collect herbs and water for religious ceremonies and feel that sacred ground is desecrated by buildings and that the public process of soliciting comment on the project was abused. Other Apaches, including some elders and medicine men, have said the observatory is all right as long as the mountain is treated with respect. Some Apaches have worked at the site. The White Mountain Apaches, who are further away to the north of Mt. Graham, are more opposed to the observatory. MGIO has a standing offer to work with those wishing access to the area adjacent to the observatory. The public process to gather citizen comment was found by Federal District Court and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to be in compliance with applicable laws. The public comment period occurred early in the process; American Indian comment was solicited. The Zuni and Hopi responded, and their recommendations were followed. The San Carlos Apaches did not respond. The facility is not on an Indian reservation. The observatory and its connecting road cover 8.6 acres. The national forest on Mt. Graham is 200,000 acres, of which 1200 acres are above 10,000 feet. For more, go to: medusa.as.arizona.edu/graham.

University of Minnesota position:

The University of Minnesota is now (December 2001) finalizing the agreement that will let it join the observatory consortium. We are entering the project because access to the LBT and the Arizona telescopes will be a tremendous boon to research by our astronomy faculty. The agreement will go to the Board of Regents in the next few months.

U of M contact: Leonard Kuhi, Chair, department of Astronomy, (612) 624-7053: kuhi@astro.umn.edu