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<br /> Towers 100 feet or more in height shall be located on the lot so warts, the typical cell site emits 100 watts of power or less,
<br /> that the distance from the base of the cower to any adjoining sometimes as little as 10 in urban areas.
<br /> property line or supporting structure of another cower is a It should be noted that some ordinances,like Multnomah
<br /> minimum of 100 percent of the proposed cower height. No County's,include provisions that automatically apply more
<br /> variance shall be granted from this minimum setback stringent standards if chose are ever issued by the federal
<br /> requirement.Towers.less than 100 feet in height that cannot government. For more information about the relationship of
<br /> satisfy this 100 percent setback requirement may be approved P
<br /> by the board,provided that the applicant present a certification cellular communications to EMFs,planners may consult the
<br /> from a registered engineer chat the cower will withstand winds Electromagnetic Energy Association, 1255 23rd Sr.,NW.
<br /> of 100 miles per hour. Washington. DC 20037; 202-452-1070. EEA is a nonprofit
<br /> group representing corporations and individuals associated with
<br /> Some communities also determine setbacks by what are industries chat use non-ionizing EMFs.
<br /> considered acceptable levels of electromagnetic radiation.
<br /> Oldham Count/;Jefferson Count/,Colorado; Multnomah For M o r e Information
<br /> Count/, Oregon;and King County,Washington,all have
<br /> specific provisions related co the electromagnetic fields(EMFs) o n EMFs .
<br /> s
<br /> generated by the new cower.The Jefferson County ordinance
<br /> requires a complete non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation 1
<br /> (NIER) analysis with every cower application. o assist local governments in developing
<br /> regulations for siting cellular towers,the American
<br /> Elaetremagnotle Eirslds rQnal Standards Institute his published the
<br /> The health risks associated with EMFs have been the second ��Tndt o f the institute of Electrical and Electronics
<br /> greatest source of communiey opposition to the siting of cellular Engineers in IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect
<br /> g to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic
<br /> phone cowers for reasons related co both personal safety and the ,Fields,3g1'I to 300 GHz. 1992(ANSUIEEE C.95.1-1992
<br /> perceived impact on property values. EMFs are divided into two (Redesgnation as ANSUIEEE C95.1-19911).Another
<br /> basic categories.Ionizing radiation includes X-rays and gamma useful ANSI document is Recommended Practice for the
<br /> rays.Non-ionizing radiation,the category to which cellular Measurement of Potentially Hazardous Electromagnetic
<br /> communication devices,radio and TV broadcasting antennas, Fields—RF and Microwave(ANSVIFEE C95.3-1992)•
<br /> and sacellice stations belong,is considered less powerful because Order from American National Standards Institute,11
<br /> it does not strip the electrons from atoms and molecules to form W 42nd St•;New York,NY 10036;212-642-4900.Also
<br /> highly reactive panicles known as ions.Instead,it harnesses see the IEEE position statement,'Human Exposure to
<br /> energy gen-erated from the vibration of molecules to convey Radiofrequency Fields for Portable and Mobile Tele-
<br /> information or,in the case of microwave ovens or electric phones and Other GOnvou""adow Devices,1992."
<br /> t predates
<br /> blankets, to create heat. Though the advent of cellular communi-
<br /> cations,a good source for general information on the
<br /> Since 1979,scientists have conducted morq than 1,000 regulation of radio and television towers is PAS Report
<br /> studies,some of which have linked non-ionizing #384,Regulating Radio and TV Towers,by Beverly
<br /> electromagnetic field sources to higher incidences of cancer Bookin and Larry Epstein(Chicago:American Planning
<br /> among children living in close proximity to an EMF source. Association, 1984).For more information on EMFs in
<br /> However, these studies,often cited in opposition co the siting of enera1,consult PAS Report#43S,Electrorna netic
<br /> power lines and communication antennas,have also been found Ws and Land-Use Cabawls,by
<br /> inconclusive because they were unable to isolate their findings a Ma Connelly( 1ni
<br /> Co a single EMF source.This is because most homes ate
<br /> equipped with a variety of modern appliances chat generate o 3 3Q 2
<br /> varying EMF levels.No scientific study has shown a specific
<br /> correlation between cancer and the NIER levek Vrferakd Gy a
<br /> cellular communication faciUry or device.Likewise,no scientific `
<br /> research his proven them to be completely safe. >
<br /> The cellular radio system operates in the 800-900 megahertz
<br /> (MHz)ultra-high frequamy band,formerly used for UHF C"her Standard Previsions
<br /> television broadcasting,CArrendy there are no general federal Colocatiors.In order to minimize Cower proliferation,most
<br /> guidelines for what is considered acceptable public exposure to communities require applicants to exhaust all possible avenues
<br /> radio-frequcnry-emitted radiadon.The U.S.Environmental for sharing space on-existing Cowen,usually in a section of the
<br /> Protection Agency is developing such standards,but,in the ordinance on coloration or shared cue.Faxon that determine
<br /> meantime,many communities ate relying on the American feasibility include available space on existing towers,the cower
<br /> National Standards Institute for professionally acceptable radio owner's ability to lease space,the rowels structural capacity,
<br /> frequency emissions standards for all types of communication radio frequency interference,geographic service area
<br /> towers(see box on page 3). Many of the ordinances we reviewed requirements,mechanical or electrical incompatibilities.the
<br /> incorporate the ANSI standards into their review process and comparative costs of coloation and new construction,and any
<br /> approval requirements.Though coo detailed to list here.they FCC limitations on cower sharin&
<br /> present acceptable levels of NIER exposures from cowers Many ordinances name the regional or state communications
<br /> operating at various frequencies. division responsible for tracking the availability of suitable
<br /> Of all transmitting facilities,cellular towers typically operate sharing space on towers.Local regulations should be developed
<br /> at the lowest power levels.While a television cower emits up to in tandem with such agencies. In Palm Bea h y.Florida-t,
<br /> 5 million warts,and commercial radio stations up to 100,000 tower applicants must send a certified mail announcement to all
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