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1110 4. The New Jersey Radiation Protection Act The shed can be visually shielded and is physically Q Can a base The issue of potential effects of a base secured to prevent unauthorized entry.The shed station fall over station's radiofrequency health effects received does not require any water or sewage hookup,and or be blown away in a does not emit noise,except if it is equipped with a storm. extensive treatment in Chapter Three.However, New Jersey, used as a case study at the Federal modest air condidaner.Depending on a base station's Focus Symposium, has its own RF exposure scan- height and proximity to airports,the Federal dard to which transmission facilities must adhere. Aviation Administration may require that a There is no The New Jersey exposure standard is 2700 monopole may have a light at the top to warn air- A record of this microwatts rare centimeter,about that per- craft of its presence.The light may be a flashing ever happening, even mitred by the 1982 ANSI standard.Typical expo per red lamp or white light. during extreme storms. sure six feet off the ground near a base station is 1. Limiting a Base Station's Visual Impact about 1.4 microwatrs per square centimeter—less A number of base stations will be visible,although than one thousandth of the state limit.So RF not nearly as much as television and radio anten- exposure from a base station is not a zoning issue. na towers.Two key techniques ameliorate the B. BASE STATION PHYSICAL INTEGRITY visual impact of base stations: ■ camouflage;and Neighbors of a proposed base station might wonder I appropriate site selection. whether the antenna tower will withstand adverse weather conditions.ANSI standards require Camouflage entails diverse techniques such as construction of base station towers to withstand painting the pole blue to blend in with the sky or 50-year storm events.Moreover,relative to that using a tower designed to look like a pine tree can standard,carriers usually overbuild base station disguise the antenna structure.Depending on the towers by 50%.Cellular carriers could have to facility's location and the nature of the surrounding compensate for damages if the physical facility were area,there may be a limit to how well this tech- to fail and damage persons or property.As far as nique will work. • we can determine,no cellular transmission tower Careful site selection is probably the most impor- has ever blown over.Indeed,there are documented tart way to reduce visual impact.Appropriate site cases in which an extreme weather event such as a selection would suggest,to the extent possible, tornado has left a base station tower the only that a base station: undamaged structure in the storm's path—even when trees,buildings,and utility poles have suffered ■ be in a commercial,industrial,or other area damage or total destruction.In California,base where it is most likely to blend in with the station towers must also meet earthquake safety immediate surroundings; codes.Towers have also withstood major forest fires. ■ u5e an existing cower or other appropriate structure;or C. BASE STATION PHYSICAL ■ be in a sparsely populated area. Q How does a base - APPEARANCE station's visual Reducing the structure's visibility is desirable,but appearance fit into a Often,the first question asked regarding a proposed each base station must fit into the overall tiansinis- base station is what will it look like.Base stationcommunity? Sion network..Sake base stations are low power facili- appearance varies widely.Many are inconspicuous ties,they must be near service subscribers,which or not readily visible.Some base stations facilities, often means their construction in residential areas. AAlthough base particularly those with their own towers in suburban and rural areas,are distinctly visible.However, 2. The Benefrt of Visual Impact Studies stations are amelioration of appearance and careful site selectionoften visible, they 1?P One effective way to evaluate a site's appropriate usually blend into the can render the facility as unobtrusive as possible. ness is to prepare a visual impact study.Such a landscape with other As we have discussed earlier,most base stations study simulates—through models,computer- municipal infrastruc- have two key structures: anted graphics,or similar techniques—what tore. Careful site the facility will look like from different vantage selection and tower ■ a one-story equipment shed approximately 12 points.Aerial photographs of the proposed site, • design may also feet wide x 28 feet deep; and available from government and private sources, reduce any visual • antennas on top of a monopole. are often useful.One draws or outlines the impact.