The public is invited to participate in meetings concerning a National Park Service special use permit for the proposed Advanced Technology Solar Telescope on Haleakala on Maui.

The National Solar Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, proposed the telescope to increase understanding of solar activity and how it affects space weather.

The only access road to the telescope site is through Haleakala National Park.

The permit would ensure that impacts to park resources and the “;visitor experience”; by vehicles using the road for construction and operation of the telescope would be reduced through mitigation.

Haleakala National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum said the meetings “;will provide a forum for native Hawaiians and others to voice their concerns regarding the impacts on cultural, historic and archaeological resources and offer ideas for avoiding, minimizing and/or mitigating these impacts.”;

“;The role of the National Park Service at these meetings is to listen,”; Creachbaum said.