Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope want construction equipment and vehicles removed from Mauna Kea now that the Hawaii Supreme Court has invalidated the project's permit.
But the state attorney general's office says the equipment can remain because the project has a sublease with the University of Hawaii for a portion of the mountain.
The court ruled Wednesday that the state land board approved the permit before a contested case hearing was held, in violation of due process rights. The court is sending the matter back for a new contested case hearing.
Project spokesman Scott Ishikawa says officials on Thursday are still assessing what to do next.
Kealoha Pisciotta, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the permit, says opponents are prepared to proceed with a new hearing.
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