Deadman’s Ridge Communication Site Project - Vista Towers ...

Deadman’s Ridge Communication Site Project - Vista Towers Scoping Packet

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Deadman’s Ridge Communication Site Project Scoping Packet

Introduction Current cell phone coverage in the south Big Bear area is unreliable and has “dead zones”, especially along Hwy 38. Wireless service is haphazard and inconvenient for area residents and visitors. Additionally, capacity for simultaneous multiple users is limited. Due to the dramatic increase in use of wireless devices - smart phones, tablets, and other devices that utilize wireless technology to provide internet service – the capacity for basic communication is reduced, i.e., use of a smart phone to stream a video, send a photo, navigate a map, or search the internet, takes much more capacity than a phone call or text, such that in the event of an emergency, E911 services may not be available to the residents and thousands of visitors a year that recreate on the private, State, County, and National Forest System lands in the area without additional facilities. Vista Towers, LLC applied to the San Bernardino National Forest, requesting a 30 year lease to construct, operate and maintain a cellular/wireless facility in the area. This site was selected because of its geographical features of the high promontory and line of sight. After analyzing alternatives, Vista Towers, LLC determined that there were no other effective or available locations for this type of communication tower. Verizon Wireless has conducted a wireless communications coverage analysis of the area and determined that they would locate on the proposed facility, if built, as there is not reliable coverage in the South Big Bear area (see coverage maps). Sprint has a permit from the USFS for cellular/wireless panels mounted on three of the existing Bear Valley Electric power poles at the site, as that specific location was deemed important for their network as well. Other efforts to provide increased wireless coverage in the surrounding areas are underway on private lands. This Deadman’s Ridge proposal would contribute to the cumulative improved coverage for the area if any other towers are built. This project is independent of the other communication tower projects in the area, and is not a connected action as it would provide improved coverage in the south Big Bear area with or without additional towers in nearby areas. Project Location The proposed project would be located along the south side of FS 2N12Y, off of Mariposa Lane, off of South Central Lane, off of Glen Cove Drive. Access is off of Hatchery Drive east off of Highway 38. Legal location is Township 2 North, Range 2 East, NE 1/4 of Section 29, Moonridge Quadrangle, approximate latitude and longitude is: 34.233000°, -116.792123° (see project maps and drawings for more details).


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Purpose and Need 1. There is a need to provide wireless communication coverage in the south Big Bear area and along High 38 for public safety and general communication. The desired future condition would be improved wireless communications, to materially reduce “dead zones”, and increased effectiveness and convenience. In the interest of public safety, emergency services would be reliable and available for the area.

2. There is a need to comply with the Forest Service National Strategic Plan (2003) and the San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan (LMP) (2006). Goals of the Forest Vision and Forest Strategy relevant to the proposed project are as follows: • National Direction: The Forest Service has been directed by Congress and the President to facilitate

implementation of the Nation’s strategy for wireless communications. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gives direction to Federal agencies to support the development of communication sites. In 1997 the General Services Administration released a bulletin regarding granting of siting requests, which stated: “Requests for the use of property, right-of-way, and easements by duly authorized telecommunications service providers should be granted unless there are unavoidable conflicts with the department’s or agency’s mission, or current or planned use of the property or access to that property.”

• Forest Plan: Communication sites are one of the special uses recognized in the Forest Plan. The Forest Plan calls for telecommunication facilities planning, due to the Forest’s proximity to large population centers and highways, and provides for facility development, occupancy, and use, unless otherwise restricted (Part 2, Strategy, pp.16, 19, 36; Part 3, Design Criteria S-44, p. 9; Appendix G, pp. 69, 70).

• Forest Plan Strategy: “Existing special uses are expected to continue. New special uses will be authorized only if: 1) the use is compatible with Forest Service Manual direction; 2) the use cannot be reasonably accommodated on non-National Forest System lands; 3) impacts to national forest resources can be mitigated, and 4) the cost is not a defining issue.

3. There is a need to avoid conflicts with existing special uses and minimize impacts to wildlife, botany, hydrology, heritage and visual resources. • LMP Goal 4.1b: “Administer Renewable Energy Resource developments while protecting ecosystem health.” • LMP Program Emphasis and Objectives: “Existing special uses are expected to continue. New special uses will

be authorized only if: 1) the use is compatible with Forest Service Manual direction; 2) the use cannot be reasonably accommodated on non-National Forest System lands; 3) impacts to national forest resources can be mitigated, and 4) the cost is not a defining issue. … Emphasis will be given to resolving issues related to land encumbered by existing authorizations rather than processing new authorizations.”

• Program Strategies and Tactics (Appendix B) LM 1 - Landscape Aesthetics (page 144)

Manage landscapes and built elements to achieve scenic integrity objectives: Use best environmental design practices to harmonize changes in the landscape and advance

environmentally sustainable design solutions. Lands 2 - Non-Recreation Special Use Authorizations (page 150)

Optimize encumbered National Forest System land and efficiently administer special-use authorizations (SUAs): Require SUAs to maximize opportunities to co-locate facilities and minimize encumbrance

of National Forest System land All special-uses comply with law, regulation, and policy. Upon termination restore areas to a

specified condition. Administer existing SUAs in threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species habitats to ensure they avoid or minimize impacts to threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species and their habitats. Develop operation and maintenance plans for special-use authorizations within threatened,

endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species habitats.


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For special-use authorization holders operating within threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species occupied habitats develop and provide information and education (e.g., workshops, annual meetings) on ways to avoid and minimize effects of their activities on occupied threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate, and sensitive species habitat. Cell and communication sites, as well as other utilities should conform to Scenic Integrity

Objectives by siting color and shape of structures without complete dependence on vegetation; site installations should also be sufficiently hardened to survive wildland fire burn-over and continue operations without removal of surrounding vegetation or structural protection.

• LMP Standards: o S9: Design management activities to meet the Scenic Integrity Objectives (SIOs) shown on the Scenic

Integrity Objectives Map. o S42: Include provisions for raptor safety when issuing permits for new power lines and

communication sites (see guidelines in Appendix G of the LMP).

Proposed Action The U.S. Forest Service, Mountaintop Ranger District proposes to authorize the construction and operation of a new Communication Site facility that includes a tower and ancillary buildings. The proposed site would be located along Deadman’s Ridge on National Forest System lands within the Mountaintop Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. The project elevation is approximately 7427 feet above mean sea level. The proposed site is a ridge line that runs east-west. The vegetation and wildlife found onsite are common species typically associated with pinyon juniper forests. The tallest trees in the area are about 20 to 30 feet tall. The proposed site is previously disturbed, it is not pristine ground within the Forest. There is an existing road, 2N12Y, a Bear Valley Electric transmission line, and Sprint cellular/wireless panels mounted on three of the existing power poles immediately adjacent to the proposed location. Lands other than National Forest System lands were explored for the placement of the facility and are not available. This project would establish a new Communication Site facility on Deadman’s Ridge. This project would address the need for a facility that would increase cell phone coverage, capacity and connection reliability in the local communities and along Highway 38. This would be a benefit to visitors and residents, as well as to Forest Service and other civil employees by improving communications capabilities. A new communication site in this area would meet the necessity to provide emergency 911 services (see coverage maps). The site would accommodate four wireless service providers and would be designated as Low power non-broadcast. The maximum power output would be based on the maximum output of 500 watts for cell phone network communication. The communication site would provide for limited future government use if compatible with existing communication facilities. The site would be fire hardened, designed to continue operating when power is out and is designed to survive a fire burn-over as best as possible. The facility would be built to meet the Forest Service Scenery Management guidelines for landscape character.

The project would consist of: 1. Site designation of the Deadman’s Ridge Communication Site. 2. Issuance of a 30 year lease to Vista Towers for: the construction, operation and maintenance of a

cellular/wireless communication facility. See attached DRAFT plan drawings, photographs and visual simulations.

The site would include:

• Two 40 foot mono-poles (preferred) OR two 45 foot mono-pine towers, designed to support the antenna equipment for four wireless service providers.


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o The mono-poles are preferred due to long term ease of maintenance, long term lower maintenance frequency, reduced visual impact from a distance (see visual simulations) and reducing the need for the production of fake plastic tree parts, as well as reducing the possibility of shed fake plastic tree needle clumps on the ground.

o The mono-pines could provide a better visual aesthetic from closer proximities and the proponent would be required to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the mono-pine, as well as collect and properly recycle any shed plastic tree part components over the course of the life of the lease.

• Two equipment shelters: ~ 12’ X 36’ feet each located between the towers. The buildings would be painted olive drab (or whatever color scheme is determined appropriate for the area by the Forest Service). The buildings would accommodate the equipment needs for at least three carriers.

• Two standby propane generators and one 499 gallon propane tank mounted on a 22’ x 24’ concrete pad, and surrounded by a 6 foot tall CMU 22’ x 24’ screen block wall with gate.

• The existing FS2N12Y native surface road would be utilized for construction of the site and access during operation.

• Electrical power would be supplied via an underground run from a drop from the existing utility pole ~ 50 feet from the site.

• The site would be slightly graded for leveling. It is not expected that excess soil would be stockpiled or any soils imported.

• Construction would take approximately 40-60 days to complete, subject to possible delays caused by snow and weather. Construction would require equipment such as an excavator for the tower foundation and a crane to stand the tower. Approximately 4 - 5 people would be working on-site during construction.

• Post-construction management would be minimal and involve maintaining equipment approximately once every month. Maintenance of fire clearance would be determined as needed by the Forest Service, in order to balance visual impacts, with at least 10 feet from the edge of the building maintained clear of vegetation. The site would be fire hardened through building material choice, e.g., block CMU walls, and not simply by vegetation reduction.

• The Forest Service proposes to allow equipment to be staged on site to complete construction and installation of the tower. A small area immediately adjacent to the facility location would be required to allow for equipment during grading, and for materials to construct the tower and the building/shelter. The existing open space next to the designated location would provide the area required.

• The communication site would provide for limited future government use if compatible with existing communication facilities and the site management plan.

• Upon termination of the lease, a new lease could be issued at the discretion of the Forest Service. In the event that a new lease is not issued, the lease holder would be required to restore and stabilize the site to the Forest Service’s satisfaction.

• In addition, the lease would be subject to national standard clauses, as well as project specific design criteria, put in place to protect the public, public lands, resources and the government of the United


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States. These clauses would be subject to change in order to comply with any amendments as directed by the National Forest Service at the time of lease issuance.

• Field visits have been conducted and design criteria would be incorporated to ensure that all resources would be protected and any potential conflicts are avoided. Resources such as cultural sites, wildlife, plants, soil, and hydrology would be protected as directed in the Forest Plan (see table below).

Resource Area

Design Criteria

Wildlife

Flagging or fencing or otherwise delineating the lay-down area to confine and minimize the temporary disturbance from equipment and materials storage.

The access road leading to the developed site may be gated to control access and limit further habitat disturbance.

Construction may occur within the migratory bird breeding season (March 15-August 15) as determined by the Forest authorized officer.

Biological monitoring during implementation would be conducted as applicable to the season and likelihood of species activity.

Limited Operating Periods would be applied as appropriate for species and site conditions. Botany Occurrences of R5 Sensitive plants located in the project area that would experience

negative effects due to project activities would be flagged and avoided during implementation where ever possible.

All equipment used on this project would be cleaned and inspected before moving into the project area. This would ensure no invasive plants would enter the project area.

Offsite staging areas for equipment, materials, or crews would not be infested with noxious weeds.

Post implementation monitoring for invasive plants would be conducted to measure the effectiveness of the design features.

Scenery

The building appearance would blend with the surrounding landscape; all colors for all the structures/features associated with the facility, including the retaining wall, would have a value of less than 48 Light Reflectivity Value (LRV) and all colors utilized would be similar hues to the existing vegetation and soils but darker values.

Site structures and towers should be fire hardened to operate through a fire without offsite fire protection assistance. Fire hardening should occur by choice of materials and construction techniques to the extent practicable; clearing the site of vegetation should not be relied upon solely as adequate fire protection. The Forest Service would work with permittee to identify the extent of the vegetation removal needed for defensible space based on site specific conditions.

All exposed metal surfaces would be required to be permanently colored to achieve an LRV of 42 or less. This could include acid bath and/or other anodizing methods by chemical oxidizing for permanent color change in place of paint. Color should be dark gray or close to an olive drab.

All structures would be colored to match existing vegetation which would be an olive drab with and LRV of 42 or less.

Fences/walls, if any, would be colored same as structures and could be open (chain link fencing) or solid (masonry) but would not have inserts or parts that vibrate in wind.

All the materials associated with the proposed site which are no longer used would be removed from the entire site after construction.

• All radomes / covers / insulators / conduits would be colored LRV of 42 or less. Noise • All air conditioners on the building would be on the side facing away from residential areas

to minimize noise effects. Hydrology Soils

Prior to construction, permittee would provide Forest Service with copy of required permits, if any, (e.g. Construction, Waste Discharge, Conditional Waiver, Stormwater, etc.) obtained from the applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board(s).


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As per R5 FSH 2509.22 Chapter 10 (dated December 5, 2011), the following Best Management Practices would be used during the construction and operation of the facility.

o BMP 1.14, 1.22 - To reduce erosion and promote vegetative growth, all vegetation on the site that is destroyed / removed in the placement of the facility would be made into rough mulch for spreading on any cut and restored slope.

o BMP 1.20 – Erosion-control Structure Maintenance: All constructed erosion control measures (e.g. silt fencing, wattles, berms, etc.) would be checked and cleaned following any weather event causing rilling and movement of sediment into structures. Erosion control structures are to be left in place until site is stabilized.

o BMP 2.2 – General Guidelines for the Location and Design of Roads – Final reconstructed design of the access road would be coordinated and approved by the Forest Engineer prior to implementation. Road Maintenance guidelines and/or a Road Use Permit would be coordinated and approved by the Forest Engineer.

o BMP 2.3 – Road Construction and Reconstruction– Include wet weather operation standards [schedule construction during dry periods]; maintain erosion-control measures; locate and designate waste areas before construction begins; stabilize all disturbed areas with approved materials; if wet weather operations are authorized, install erosion control measures during the winter period.

o BMP 2.4 – Road Maintenance and Operations – scheduling of maintenance shall be included in the applicable Forest authorization; inspections shall be regular after spring snowmelt and include inspection after every 5-year return interval storm.

o BMP2.9 – Snow Removal and Storage – If snow removal on road is required for maintenance, then permittee would prepare a winter road maintenance plan for approval by the Forest Engineer; move snow in a manner that would prevent disturbance of road surfaces and drainage structures, while protecting adjacent water resources.

o BMP 2.10 – Parking and Staging Areas – Designate specific locations for fueling; determine necessary drainage using appropriate design storm; Infiltrate as much of runoff as possible using permeable surfaces and infiltration ditches or basins.

o BMP 2.11 – Equipment Refueling and Servicing – allow temporary refueling and servicing only at approved locations; permittee to develop a spill response plan; provide for secondary containment.

o BMP 2.13 – Erosion Control Plan – After the decision and prior to implementation (if approved), and if the total disturbed site area exceeds 10,000 square feet, the Forest Hydrologist shall provide detailed mitigation measures based on site-specific surveys in conjunction with the construction contractor, the permittee, the Forest Engineer, and the Special Uses Administrator. Included in the plan would be BMP checklists for “daily diary” inclusion, maps and illustrations showing designated locations of erosion control structures, proposed schedule for construction and erosion control structure inspection, monitoring, and maintenance, and requirements for trained inspectors. Forest Service recommends to permittee that Erosion Control be made a “pay item” in the construction contract.

Cultural The proposed project location would be intensively surveyed and any archaeological site found would be fully recorded and evaluated for eligibility to the National Register of Historical Places (NRHP) with concurrence from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Eligible sites would be protected by redesigning the project to avoid the site or by excavating the site to recover all data which would be lost. If any further sites are inadvertently uncovered through the implementation of the project, the implementation would be halted until the archaeologists have recorded and evaluated the new sites for eligibility to the NRHP and received concurrence SHPO. Recorded sites are nearby and the proposal was designed to avoid them.

This project is consistent with all laws or policies governing national forest management in general and Forest Service operations on lands administered by the San Bernardino National Forest in particular, including: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act of 1987, Endangered Species Act of 1973, and National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.


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Project Maps


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Propagation Maps

EXISTING COVERAGE


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ANTICIPATED COVERAGE PROVIDED BY DEADMAN’S RIDGE SITE ALONG WITH EXISTING COVEAGE


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Photo Simulations of both mono-PINEs and mono-POLEs:


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Mono-PINES


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Mono-POLES


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Mono-PINES


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Mono-POLES


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Mono-PINES


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Mono-POLES


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Site Photos:

View of proposed site area facing east:


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View towards proposed site area facing west:


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View from proposed site area facing northwest:


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DRAFT plan drawings:


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*Mono-pines are shown, but mono-poles would be considered also. Mono-poles would be 40’, instead of 45’. The mono-poles are preferred due to long term ease of maintenance, long term lower maintenance frequency, reduced visual impact from a distance (see visual simulations) and reducing the need for the production of fake plastic tree parts, as well as reducing the possibility of shed fake plastic tree needle clumps on the ground.

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