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 ****************************** _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com