HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-03 Planning Board Supplemental Materials (58)M ARK F. H UTCHINS
CONSULTING RADIOFREQUENCY ENGINEER
WWW.MARKHUTCHINS.TEL PO BOX 6418 BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT 05302-6418 USA
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March 31, 2012
Via email & USPS: jtymon@townofnorthandover.com
Judy Tymon, AICP
Town of North Andover Planning Dept.
1600 Osgood Street
North Andover, MA 01845
REF: Review of Metro PCS, LLC Massachusetts (Metro PCS) and Omnipoint Communi-
cations, Inc., d/b/a T-Mobile ("Omnipoint” or “T-Mobile") Radiofrequency Exposure
Reports Regarding the Personal Wireless Facilities at 70 Elm Street
Dear Judy:
I have reviewed the Radiofrequency ("RF") Exposure submissions for the above-
referenced application. As I mentioned in my letter of March 16, once compliance with
Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") guidelines has been determined, any fur-
ther evaluation of the science relating to environmental impact, including health aspects, is
ruled out by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("TCA"). For this reason I am reluctant
to see an exhaustive analysis of measurements and calculations at this site as part of the
renewal process. I realize from my past involvement at this location that there are some
residents who have misgivings about RF exposure there. However, it is clear from all five
submissions that the site complies with the FCC guidelines for Maximum Permissible Ex-
posure ("MPE"). I am confident the Commission will support this conclusion if it is asked
for a declaratory ruling about it.
The compliance conclusion was reached from actual ground-level measurements at varied
locations near transmitting antennas, preexistent (without regard to operation by either car-
rier), in order to comply with Zoning Bylaw §8.9(8)(a) as reported by Donald L. Haes, Jr.,
Ph.D, CHP.1 To the base-line (preexistent) measurements, Dr. Haes added worst-case
operational assumptions for both Metro PCS and T-Mobile. (Remember that exposure is
cumulative of all providers at the site, along with any preexistent exposure. Finally, Dr.
Haes predicted Percentage MPE at a distance of 15 feet directly below antennas, again as
the cumulative total of MetroPCS and T-Mobile, along with the preexisting amount. As
pointed out in my earlier report and in other reports about this site, possible excess MPE
could occur in close proximity to each carrier's transmitting antennas. However, since
there appear to be signs and access restrictions closer to such antennas, it is reasonable
to assume there will not be an area where the general public could exceed FCC MPE
guidelines, and warnings and access restrictions serve to prevent occupational exposure.
As I stated in my March 16 report, the most recent SiteSafe report noted "un-
1 Report of Donald L. Haes, Jr., Ph.D, CHP dated 5/11/2009..
Town of North Andover, MA - MetroPCS 70 Elm St. Page 2 3/31/12
locked/unrestricted access".2 However, other steps have been taken to restrict access.
Moreover, the report sections that address this are quite comprehensive, outlining steps to
further reduce access. The reports present fairly similar measurement data which, along
with the addition of calculations, result each time in the conclusion that the site is respon-
sible for exposure that is a very small percentage of MPE. These five reports are also
consistent with actual measurements performed by Dr. Haes in 2009 supporting the re-
newal of T-Mobile permits at First Calvary Baptist Church, the MediaOne collocation tower
on Johnson Street, and at Stevens Estate.3 At each of those three sites the measured
levels were low and just a fraction of FCC MPE.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
[ORIGINAL SIGNED]
Mark F. Hutchins
2 Site Compliance Report for Site BOC0380C by SiteSafe, Arlington, VA; 11/30/11.
3 RF exposure studies for each site conducted by Donald L. Haes, Jr., Ph.D., CHP, dated 12/29/09.