Re: [MDOsprey] Cell Phone Tower Alert
Jack C. Leighty/Susan J. Noble (jleighty@chesapeake.net)
Mon, 12 Jul 1999 17:07:59 -0400 (EDT)
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>From: "Charlie Muise" <cmmbirds@yahoo.com>
>Date: 7/11/99 7:41:35AM
>To: mdosprey@ARI.Net
>Subject: Re: [MDOsprey] Cell Phone Tower Alert
>
>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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