Jun
24
2014

Environmental Compliance and Historic Preservation Review Workshop – Towers and Collocations

9:00 am - 4:00 pm EDT
Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.

The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau hosted two educational workshops on the environmental compliance and historic preservation review process required for the construction of wireless communications facilities. The first workshop was held on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, and included information relevant to the construction of all new communications towers and to the collocation of communications gear on towers and other structures. An additional workshop was held on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, on the FCC environmental compliance and historic preservation review process for Positive Train Control infrastructure being installed by the Nation’s railroads. Presentations were given by FCC staff, representatives of Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Nations, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and other federal agencies.

The first workshop focused particularly on improving submissions to Tribal Nations and State Historic Preservation Offices as well submissions made within the Antenna Structure Registration process. At the workshop, expert staff provided guidance to the FCC’s licensees, those who construct communications facilities for FCC licensees, and their consultants on the following topics: the environmental notification process for Antenna Structure Registrations, National Environmental Policy Act compliance, Endangered Species Act compliance, and National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 compliance under the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Review of Effects on Historic Properties for Certain Undertakings Approved by the Federal Communications Commission.

The second workshop was devoted to the submission and review process for Positive Train Control infrastructure, with a special emphasis on the Section 106 process. The workshop reviewed the use of the Tower Construction Notification System and the E106 System for batched submissions, as well as the various reporting requirements and deadlines associated with those systems. While this workshop was most useful for railroads and related consultants, attendance was open to all.

Earlier workshops on the subjects covered in this video can be found here and here.

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