The FCC hired a biological consulting firm to review studies on t...
The FCC hired a biological consulting firm to review studies on the impact that communications towers may have on migratory birds. The studies were cited in comments the FCC received in response to a notice of inquiry released in…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
Aug. FCC Chmn. Powell said the agency retained Avatar Environmental Services to help the FCC meet its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal environmental laws. Powell last year had pledged a more active approach to environmental and historic preservation issues related to tower siting, including stepped-up enforcement and the inquiry on the impact of towers on migratory birds. At the time, Powell said the agency was considering hiring a staff biologist to work on bird issues. Avatar will “give the Commission access to the services of experts with training and experience in evaluating the impact of construction projects on animal and plant species, and who have performed similar services for other agencies.” The FCC said Avatar’s expertise will allow the agency to better “assess the impact of communications towers on migratory birds and more efficiently… process applications that implicate biological issues.” In comments last year on the notice of inquiry, many industry representatives urged the FCC not to take further regulatory steps to address migratory bird deaths at towers until additional scientific research is conducted. Environmental groups, however, said the FCC has already received extensive information on the subject but continued to violate environmental laws in its tower licensing program.