BLM seeks input on Glass Buttes towers plan

The Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office is asking for public comments on a proposed project to establish a Right-of-Way agreement with each of Bonneville Power Administration, a federal entity under the U.S. Dept. of Energy and American Towers LLC, a private company, to construct two new communication facilities (of up to 100 feet height, with non-reflective material) on the top of Glass Buttes, 15 miles east of Hampton.

The BLM is preparing an Environmental Assessment to identify a range of alternatives to address the potential of granting the ROWs, including a No Action alternative that would deny the proposed actions.

The BLM invites the public to share input on relevant topics or concerns related to this proposal, including visual resources, wildlife, recreation or historic/cultural resources. The public can also suggest additional organizations, groups or individuals who may have an interest in the process.

The proposed BPA facility would provide BPA telecommunications services, and would also host the State of Oregon’s State Radio Project (SRP), which would enhance emergency response and other crucial communications services throughout the State of Oregon.

American Towers would lease its new facility to multiple telecommunication service providers for the area of Glass Buttes and its surrounding residents and communities.

Lessee/providers would provide local telephone service as well as 911 and other emergency responder services to the area.

The communications site proposal would also require an amendment to resolve a conflict in the 1989 Brothers-La Pine Resource Management Plan, which allows the development of communication sites on Glass Buttes while at the same time directing the BLM to exclude activities that have long-term visual changes to Glass Buttes.

If you have comments you would like the BLM to consider, send them in using any of the methods below by July 31, 2013 .

MAIL: BLM, Glass Buttes Comm. Site EA, 3050 NE Third Street, Prineville, OR, 97754
EMAIL: BLM_OR_PR_GB_Comm_Site_and_VRM_Amendment@blm.gov
FAX: (541) 416-6798 (Attn: Glass Buttes Comm. Site EA)
PHONE: Mike Kroll, Project Lead (541) 416-6700

The BLM will use public comments to help develop the alternatives for the EA. When the BLM completes the EA, there will be another opportunity for public comment. For more information about this EA, or other planning efforts on the Prineville District, please visit our website at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/index.php and follow the links on the “Plans and Projects” tab.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.