03/01/2002
Environmental Issues - VOSI
Research Report RR12-V60.2
RESEARCH REPORT
FOR
PROPERTY OWNER NOTIFICATION OF CELL TOWER RF ANTENNA TOWER
VARIANCE
1. SCOPE
1.1 To require
notification of property owners whenever a variance is
requested to install a Cell Tower RF Antenna.
1.2 To create a
notification zone by which NOT ONLY property owners within a
200 ft area of the perimeter of the block and lot number of
the party requesting a Cell Tower antenna variance, but
additional property owners within a minimum 500 -ft radius
from the center of the antenna tower, must also be notified.
Ref 2.5, Fig 1. (click
here)
1.3 The property owners
within the notification zone have the same
"right-to-know" about radiation emitted from these
towers as the property owners that are presently notified. Ref
2.6, Fig 2. (click
here)
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Ref 2.5., Fig.1 |
Ref 2.6., Fig 2 |
2. REFERENCES
2.1 RF Compliance
Assessment and Report, Sprint PCS, Site NY54XC466F, North
Caldwell, NJ. January 8, 2002.
2.2 NJ Law Journal News
Archive: "Towns Handed a Pyrrhic Victory In Quest To
Regulate Monopoles", by Sandy Lovell. November 29, 1999.
2.3 NJ Bergen Record
On-line: "Borough Denies Variance for Cell Tower".
December 8, 2001.
2.4 Lawyers Weekly USA, "Towns can Reject Cellular
Towers". April 16, 2001.
2.5 Fig 1. VOSI Proposed
Cell Phone Tower Radial Notification Zone
2.6 Fig 2. Sprint
Proposed Cell Phone Tower Radial Notification Zone, N.
Caldwell Block 1201, Lot 58
2.7 Fig 3. Calculation of RF
Power Density to a Distance of 500-ft.(Ref 2.1)
2.8 Fig 4. FCC Limits
for both Occupational and General Exposures for the Different
Radio Frequency (RF) Ranges (MPE Limits) (Ref 2.1)
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 Ref 2.1. states that
the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established
limits for the maximum continuous human exposure to Radio
Frequency (RF) fields, a measurement also known as MPE, or
Maximum Permissible Exposure Limits.
3.2 The determination of
MPE represents a consensus amongst federal agencies and
independent experts responsible for RF safety matters,
including: National Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurements (NCRP), the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
3.3 The MPE can be seen
in the Ref 2.8, fig. 4. Graph: "Showing FCC Limits for
both Occupational and General Exposures for the Different
Radio Frequency (RF) Ranges (MPE Limits)". (click
here)
3.4 Ref 2.7, Fig 3 shows
the calculation of RF power density to a distance of 500-ft.
Ref 1. States that " at distances less than 500-ft, the
MPE% calculations reflect variations in the vertical-plane
antennae pattern, . . . therefore, at some intermediate
distances, the level may increase slightly with
distance." (click
here)
3.5 Ref. 2.3 states how
the Franklin Lakes NJ borough ordinance prohibits cellular
towers within 250 feet of a school, residential area or
recreational facility. A town may exceed the 200-ft
requirement of the " State of NJ Municipal Land Use
Law".
3.6 Cellular and PCS
communications systems rely on a combination of antennae and
associate electronic equipment referred to as "cellular
or PCS base station" or "cell site".
3.7 These cellular
communications systems use frequencies in the 800-900
megahertz (MHz) range, while Personal Communications Service
(PCS) use frequencies in the range of 1850-1990 MHz.
3.8 Typical heights of a
"cell site" are 50-200 ft, usually a monopole,
consisting of a collection of 1x4 panels, arranged in 3 groups
of 3, resulting in a overall 36 sq. ft panel, with several 10
to 15 ft "omni directional" antennas that look like
whips hanging from each panel. (Ref. 2.1)
3.9 Ref. 2.2 States:
"In Smart SMR v. Fair Lawn Board of Adjustment, 152 NJ
309 (1998), Justice Stewart Pollack held that communities
could reject cellular towers based on aesthetic concerns if
they supported their decisions with expert testimony."
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for Details |
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Ref 2.7., Fig.3 |
Ref 2.8., Fig 4 |
4. KEYWORDS
Cellular Communications
Systems (CCS) Freq 800-900MHz, Dept of Environmental
Protection (DEP), Effected Radiated Power, Electro Magnetic
Radiation (EMR), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Federal Communications commission (FCC), Maximum Permissible
Exposure Limit (MPE), Monopole, National Institute for
Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), National Council on
Ration Protection and Measurements (NCRP), Occupational and
Safety Health Administration (OSHA), PCS Ranges 1850-1950 MHz,
PCS base station (same as "cell site"), Personal
Communications Services (PCS), Range 800-2000 MHz, Radio
Frequency (RF), Right to Know
5. CONCLUSIONS
5.1 Due to the potential
of RF to increase within a 500-ft radius, notification of the
installation should be distributed to all people, residents
and commercial, within a 500-ft. radius, that such an
installation is scheduled to occur.
5.2 Due to the potential
of being an 'eye-sore', all involved parties within the 500-ft
radius should be notified to allow them to participate in
rebuttal of said RF tower installations.
5.3 As more and more of
these cases are being turned back on a local level, once again
the subject of "expert testimony" arises. Gathering
a list of cases where tower application has been denied will
provide a stronger case to present to the local boards.
5.4 The residents living
within a 500-ft radius of a cell-site, have the same
"Right-to-know" as residents within the present
200-ft. notification zone. Ref. 2.5 & 2.6.
Updated:
4/16/2002
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