Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/04/05/2011-7785/wireless-telecommunications-bureau-invites-comment-on-draft-environmental-notice-requirements-and
Timestamp: 2018-08-18 11:05:54
Document Index: 308275992

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 24', '§\u20091', 'arts 1', '§\u200917', 'art 17', '§\u200917', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', 'art 17', 'art 1', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', 'art 1', '§\u20091', 'art 1', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', 'art 22', 'art 24', 'art 27', 'art 80', 'art 87', 'art 90']

Federal Register :: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Invites Comment on Draft Environmental Notice Requirements and Interim Procedures Affecting the Antenna Structure Registration Program
A Proposed Rule by the Federal Communications Commission on 04/05/2011
18679-18684 (6 pages)
DA 11-558
47 CRF Part 24
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-7785 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2011-7785
All filings should refer to WT Docket Nos. 08-61 and 03-187. Comments may be filed using: (1) The Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
Parties should send a copy of each filing to the Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, or by e-mail to mania.baghdadi@fcc.gov. Parties shall also serve one copy with the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com.
Filings and comments will be available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, Start Printed Page 18680445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone: (202) 488-5300, fax: (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail http://www.bcpiweb.com.
Availability of Documents: Comments and ex parte submissions will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. These documents will also be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat.
Mania K. Baghdadi, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-2133 or by e-mail: mania.baghdadi@fcc.gov.
This is a summary of the Commission's Public Notice in WT Docket Nos. 08-61 and 03-187; DA 11-558, released on March 25, 2011. In this document, the Bureau invites comment, pursuant to the rules of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), on draft rules and interim procedures designed to ensure that the environmental effects of proposed communications towers, including their effects on migratory birds, are fully considered prior to construction. These draft rules and procedures are intended to further the Commission's implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) while preserving the ability of communications providers rapidly to offer innovative and valuable services to the public.
Under CEQ's rules, before adopting procedures implementing NEPA an agency must publish its draft procedures in the Federal Register for comment, and CEQ must determine that the procedures conform with NEPA and CEQ's regulations. The Bureau issues this document in order to seek public comment in compliance with those requirements.
The draft rules and procedures respond to the decision of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in American Bird Conservancy v. FCC. In American Bird Conservancy, the court held that the Commission's current antenna structure registration (ASR) procedures impermissibly fail to offer members of the public a meaningful opportunity to request an Environmental Assessment (EA) for proposed towers that the Commission considers categorically excluded from review under NEPA. The notification process included within the draft rules would address that holding of the court. The draft procedures also include provisions consistent with a Memorandum of Understanding among representatives of communications providers, tower companies, and conservation groups.
Under the draft rules and procedures attached to this document:
Ex Parte Presentations. This proceeding shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. Other requirements pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in § 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.
Communications common carriers and Radio
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR parts 1, 17, 22, 24, 25, 27, 80, 87, and 90 as follows:
(e) Environmental Concerns.
(1) Environmental processing shall be completed pursuant to the process set forth in § 17.4(c) of this chapter for any facilities that use one or more new or existing antenna structures for which a new or amended registration is required by part 17 of this chapter. Environmental review by the Commission must be completed prior to construction.
(2) For applications that propose any facilities that are not subject to the process set forth in § 17.4(c) of this chapter, the applicant is required to indicate at the time its application is filed whether or not a Commission grant of the application for those facilities may have a significant environmental effect as defined by § 1.1307. If the applicant answers affirmatively, an Environmental Assessment, required by § 1.1311, must be filed with the application and environmental review by the Commission must be completed prior to construction.
6. Section 1.1307 is amended by adding a note to paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Pending a final determination as to what, if any, permanent measures should be adopted specifically for the protection of migratory birds, the Bureau shall require an Environmental Assessment for an otherwise categorically excluded action involving a new or existing antenna structure, for which an antenna structure registration application (FCC Form 854) is required under part 17 of this chapter, if the proposed antenna structure will be more than 450 feet in height above ground level (AGL) and involves either: (1) Construction of a new antenna structure; (2) modification or replacement of an existing antenna structure involving a substantial increase in size as defined in Section I(C)(1)-(3) of Appendix B to Part 1 of this chapter; or (3) addition of lighting or adoption of a less preferred FAA Lighting Style as defined in § 17.4(c)(1)(C) of this chapter. The Bureau shall consider whether to require an EA for other antenna structures subject to § 17.4(c) of this chapter in accordance with § 17.4(c)(8) of this chapter. An Environmental Assessment required pursuant to this note will be subject to the same procedures that apply to any Environmental Assessment required for a proposed tower or modification of an existing tower for which an antenna structure registration application (FCC Form 854) is required, as set forth in § 17.4(c) of this chapter.
Authority: Secs. 4, 303, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, Interpret or apply secs. 301, 309, 48 Stat. 1081, 1085, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 301, 309.
8. Section 17.4 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(ii) For a reduction in height of an antenna structure or an increase in Start Printed Page 18682height that does not constitute a substantial increase in size as defined in Section I(C)(1)-(3) of Appendix B to part 1 of this chapter, provided that there is no construction or excavation more than 30 feet beyond the existing antenna structure property;
(iii) For removal of lighting from an antenna structure or adoption of a more preferred FAA Lighting Style. For this purpose FAA Lighting Styles are ranked as follows (with the most preferred lighting style listed first and the least preferred listed last): FAA Style B (L-856), FAA Style D (L-865), FAA Style E (L-864/L-865/L-810), FAA Style C (L-856/L-865), FAA Style F (L-856 Day/L-864 Night and L-810) and FAA Style A (L-864/L-810). A complete description of each FAA Style and the manner in which it is to be deployed can be found at FAA, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Advisory Circular: Obstruction Marking and Lighting, AC 70/7460-1K (Feb. 1, 2007);
(iv) For replacement of an existing antenna structure at the same geographic location that does not require an Environmental Assessment (EA) under § 1.1307(a) through (d) of this chapter, provided the new structure will not use lights if the previous structure was unlighted, the new structure will not use a less preferred FAA Lighting Style, there will be no substantial increase in size as defined in Section I(C)(1)-(3) of Appendix B to part 1 of this chapter, and there will be no construction or excavation more than 30 feet beyond the existing antenna structure property;
(3) Local notice. The prospective applicant must provide local notice of the proposed new antenna structure or modification of an existing antenna structure through publication in a newspaper of general circulation or other appropriate means, such as through the public notification provisions of the relevant local zoning process. The local notice shall contain all of the descriptive information as to geographic location, configuration, height and anticipated lighting specifications reflected in the submission required pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section. It must also provide information as to the procedure for interested persons to file Requests for environmental processing pursuant to §§ 1.1307(c) and 1.1313(b) of this chapter, including any assigned file number.
(1) Service and pleading cycle. The interested person or entity shall serve a copy of its Request on the prospective ASR applicant pursuant to § 1.47 of this chapter. Oppositions may be filed no later than 10 days after the time for filing Requests has expired. Replies to oppositions may be filed no later than 5 days after the time for filing oppositions has expired. Oppositions shall be served upon the Requester, and replies shall be served upon the prospective applicant.
(2) Content. An Environmental Request must state why the interested person or entity believes that the proposed antenna structure or physical modification of an existing antenna structure may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment for which an Environmental Assessment must be considered by the Commission as required by § 1.1307 of this chapter, or why an Environmental Assessment submitted by the prospective ASR applicant does not adequately evaluate the potentially significant environmental effects of the proposal. The Request must be submitted as a written petition filed either electronically or by hard copy setting forth in detail the reasons supporting Requester's contentions.
(6) Amendments. The prospective applicant must file an amendment to report any substantial change in the information provided to the Commission. An amendment will not require further local or national notice if the only reported change is a reduction in the height of the proposed new or modified antenna structure; if proposed lighting is removed or changed to a more preferred FAA Lighting Style as set forth in paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section; or if the amendment reports only administrative changes that are not subject to the requirements specified in this paragraph. All other changes to the physical structure, lighting, or geographic location data for a proposed registered antenna structure require additional local and national notice and a new period for filing Requests pursuant to paragraphs (c)(3), (c)(4), and (c)(5) of this section.
(7) Environmental Assessments. If an Environmental Assessment (EA) is required under § 1.1307 of this chapter, the antenna structure registration applicant shall attach the EA to its environmental submission, regardless of any requirement that the EA also be attached to an associated service-specific license or construction permit application. The EA may be provided either with the initial environmental submission or as an amendment. If the EA is submitted as an amendment, the Commission shall post notification on its Web site for another 30 days pursuant to paragraph (c)(4) of this section and accept additional Requests pursuant to paragraph (c)(5) of this section. However, additional local notice pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) of this section shall not be required unless information has changed pursuant to paragraph (c)(6) of this section. The applicant shall serve a copy of the EA Start Printed Page 18683upon any party that has previously filed a Request pursuant to paragraph (c)(5) of this section.
(8) Disposition. The processing Bureau shall resolve all environmental issues before the tower owner, or the first tenant licensee acting on behalf of the owner, may complete the antenna structure registration application. In a case where no EA is submitted, the Bureau shall notify the applicant whether an EA is required under § 1.1307(c) or (d) of this chapter. In a case where an EA is submitted, the Bureau shall either grant a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or notify the applicant that the proposal may have a significant environmental impact and further environmental processing is required pursuant to § 1.1308 of this chapter. Upon filing the completed antenna structure registration application, the applicant shall certify that the construction will not have a significant environmental impact, unless an Environmental Impact Statement is prepared pursuant to § 1.1314 of this chapter.
(9) Transition rule. An antenna structure registration application that is pending with the Commission as of [EFFECTIVE DATE OF FINAL RULE] shall not be required to complete the environmental notification process set forth in this paragraph. However, if such an application is amended in a manner that would require additional notice pursuant to paragraph (c)(6) of this section, then such notice shall be required.
9. The authority citation for part 22 continues to read as follows:
10. Section 22.143 is amended by revising paragraph (d)(4) to read as follows:
11. The authority citation for part 24 continues to read as follows:
12. Section 24.2 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (f) to read as follows:
14. Section 25.113 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
15. Section 25.115 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(2)(vi)(A)(4) to read as follows:
16. The authority citation for part 27 continues to read as follows:
17. Section 27.3 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (f) to read as follows:
18. The authority citation for part 80 continues to read as follows:
Start Printed Page 18684 Authority: Secs. 4, 303, 307(e), 309, and 332, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 307(e), 309, and 332, unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 301-609; 3 UST 3450, 3 UST 4726, 12 UST 2377.
19. Section 80.3 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (e) to read as follows:
20. The authority citation for part 87 continues to read as follows:
21. Section 87.3 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (e) to read as follows:
22. The authority citation for part 90 continues to read as follows:
23. Section 90.5 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (f) to read as follows:
24. Section 90.129 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as follows:
[FR Doc. 2011-7785 Filed 4-4-11; 8:45 am]