A draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Advanced Technology Solar Telescope says there will be significant effects on Haleakala's cultural resources if the $180 million project is built.

The new report also states the impact can be mitigated by measures that include hiring a Hawaiian cultural specialist to consult during planning and construction, and inviting other involvement by the Native Hawaiian community. But harsh criticism heaped on the project over the past year makes it unlikely those measures will be enough to satisfy the hundreds of Native Hawaiians, environmentalists and others opposed to the telescope.

They argue the Haleakala summit is a natural and cultural treasure that should be protected from further development, especially construction of a 14-story-high observatory that would be the tallest building on the island.