Re: [MDOsprey] Cell Phone Tower Alert
Charlie Muise (cmmbirds@yahoo.com)
Sun, 11 Jul 1999 07:41:35 -0700 (PDT)
Gail,
Do you have the email address for Steny Hoyer?
Thanks,
Charlie Muise
--- GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU wrote:
> HI all --
>
> Ospreyers who have been following the Rock Creek Cell
> Phone Tower saga (and
> the many who have been participating in the fight against
> them) may have
> read the article in the July 5 Post reporting how Sen.
> Tom Daschle of
> South Dakota (!) had an amendment placed into the DC
> Budget bill (on a voice
> vote) which voids the jurisdiction of the National
> Capital Planning Commission
> over any actions on NPS property. The NCPC had tabled
> Bell Atlantic's
> reapplication in order to receive expert advice on how to
> improve wireless
> phone communication in Rock Creek without threat to the
> natural resources
> of the park (including migratory birds). I and others at
> that hearing on
> July 1 heard all the testimony and I, too, was convinced
> that technology
> exists and is in wide use (including in DC) to allow
> wireless phone
> coverage in Rock Creek without the need for cellular
> towers. The NCPC action
> seemed reasonable and within their mandate.
>
> The real problem with Daschle's amendment is that it also
> removes ANY
> local or state oversight (by environmental, planning or
> zoning agency) for
> telecommunications structures on federal property "in the
> region" -- which
> would also include Maryland and Virginia.
>
> I do not need to say that this is a very dangerous and
> disturbing action,
> with a lot of legal ramifications. The best way to "bury
> it?" ----
> make sure that the House DC BUdget Bill (which will be
> marked up starting July
> 14) does NOT include any such language and that (in
> conference) Daschle's
> amendment is struck. Local Congressmen on the
> Appropriations Subcommittee
> include: Al Wynn, Steny Hoyer and Jim Moran.
>
> If you live in any of these gentlemen's district, please
> CALL, WRITE or
> EMAIL them and explain how Daschle's amendment threatens
> local and state
> oversight on projects with potentially serious
> environmental or landuse
> concerns. Mention threats to migratory birds, of course.
>
> An attorney who called these congressmen's staff
> yesterday was astonished
> to learn that none of them was aware of the Daschle
> amendment or its
> ramifications.
>
> If you do not live in these Congressmen's districts, you
> can nevertheless
> alert your Representative in case the DC Budget bill
> should reach the House
> floor with the offending language in it.
>
> The proliferation of communications towers nationwide is
> considered one of
> the major growing threats to migratory birds, yet
> research and even attention
> to the issue is poor. Recently, the American Bird
> Conservancy, Ornithological
> Council, US Fish and Wildlife Service and others have met
> with FCC and
> reps of the telecommunications industry to try and
> mediate this conflict.
> Right now, FCC and the industry would rather "not know"
> -- which is the
> response we got during the Rock Creek fight.
>
> This is a small first step we can take to try and regain
> control over this
> problem, in our region at least.
>
> Thanks for any help you can give,
> Gail Mackiernan
> Conservation Chair,
> Montgomery County MOS
>
===
******************************
Charlie Muise, Naturalist
Jug Bay Wetlands sanctuary
Next to the Beautiful Chesapeake Bay
Maryland, USA
cmmbirds@yahoo.com
******************************
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