Bryce Canyon Opens Comment Period for New Cellular Tower

Bryce Canyon National Park is considering the issuance of separate right-of-way permits to Verizon Wireless and South Central Communications (SCC) to install a cellular telecommunications tower and fiber-optic utility right-of-way. The National Park Service (NPS) is required by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to consider all applications for the installation of wireless communication facilities on NPS lands. The park is preparing an Environment Assessment (EA) for this proposal and invites you to participate by providing your thoughts on the alternatives being considered and potential issues and impacts.

 

In the fall of 2015, Verizon Wireless, in partnership with South Central Communications, approached the NPS with a proposal of installing a fiber optic connected cell tower in the area known as  “Science Hill” near Inspiration Point where it could provide improved service to Bryce Canyon Lodge, Sunset Point, and the trails within the canyon below. All three locations have poor or zero coverage from all cellular providers. The EA will evaluate the impacts and explore mitigation measures applicable to building a single cell tower in the developed region of Bryce Canyon National Park. Potential sites being considered include a location near Science Hill, and a location near the Manzanita Dorm adjacent to the Old NPS Historic District.

 

Please submit your comments by Monday, October 30. You can submit your comments online and obtain more information on this proposed action at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/verizonproject

 

Additionally comments can be submitted by mail to:

Superintendent

Bryce Canyon National Park

PO Box 640201

Bryce, Utah 84764

 

Before including your address, telephone number, electronic mail address, or other personally identifying information in your comments, you should be aware that your entire comment (including your personally identifying information) may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us to withhold your personally identifiable information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Additional information can be obtained at www.nps.gov/brca or by calling the park’s information line at (435) 834-5322.

-NPS-

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.  Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

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