Petition No. 744
New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (Cingular)
Hamden, Connecticut
Staff Report
November 17, 2005

On November 9, 2005, Connecticut Siting Council (Council) member Gerald J. Heffernan and Christina Lepage of Council staff met with New Cingular Wireless PCS (Cingular) representatives Christopher Fisher and Doug Drost at the proposed site off of Whitney Avenue (State Route 10) in Hamden to review this petition. Cingular proposes to replace and expand an existing and approved Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) transmission structure (#5215). Cingular is petitioning the Council for a declaratory ruling that no Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (Certificate) is required for this facility.

CL&P’s easement is 165 feet wide as it crosses Route 10 in Hamden. The easement currently consists of three 115-kV transmission lines, two of which are located on separate 57 foot wood H-frame structures and the third is located on an 80 foot lattice structure. The Council’s Decision and Order for Docket 272 approved the replacement of the wood H-frame structures, the consolidation of two 115-kV transmission lines onto new steel monopole structures, the addition of a 345-kV transmission line onto a second set of new steel monopole structures and the demolition of the lattice towers and denergizing of the third 115-kV line. The Council approved structures up to 123 feet in height along this section of the easement.

Cingular proposes to replace one existing wood H-frame structure with a steel monopole, as approved in Docket 272. CL&P requires a 95 foot steel monopole in this location to accommodate two relocated 115-kV transmission circuits.

Cingular would construct a 116 foot steel monopole, with the total height of the structure including appurtenances not exceeding 119 feet above ground level (agl). Cingular proposes to install 12 panel antennas on a low profile platform to be mounted at the 116 foot level of the structure. The proposed monopole would accommodate a future wireless carrier to be located at the 106 foot level.

Equipment would be installed within an irregularly shaped approximately 1,280 square foot compound. Cingular would construct a 12 foot by 20 foot equipment shelter located on a concrete pad near the base of the structure. The equipment compound would be approximately 43 feet from Route 10 and would be surrounded by a six foot chain link fence.

Access to the site would be along a gravel access road extending from Route 10. The existing guardrail would be reworked in compliance with Connecticut Department of Transportation requirements. Erosion and sediment control measures would be installed in accordance with the "Connecticut Guidelines for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control."

The proposed cumulative radio frequency electromagnetic radiation is approximately 11.5 percent of the ANSI/IEEE standard.