On April 13, 2005, Sprint Spectrum L.P. (Sprint) submitted a petition to the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) for a declaratory ruling that no Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (Certificate) is required for the redesign and replacement an electric transmission structure in Manchester to accommodate telecommunications use. The existing wood H-frame transmission structure is owned by CL&P. A field review was conducted on May 2, 2005 with Council member Colin Tait, staff member Robert Mercier, and Sprint representative Thomas Regan.

Sprint submitted a revised site plan on June 2, 2005. The revised plan transposed the location of the antennas and equipment compound from the outer H-frame pole to the inner H-frame pole to enlarge the buffer, by 20 feet, between the site and an adjacent residence approximately 200 feet to the south.

Sprint, with the agreement of CL&P, proposes to replace an existing 80-foot H-frame transmission structure with a new laminated wood structure approximately 10 feet west of the existing structure. The new H-frame structure would consist of an 80-foot outer pole and a 120-foot inner pole connected by diagonal and horizontal cross beams. The 120-foot pole would accommodate three flush mounted panel antennas owned by Sprint at a centerline height of 117 feet above ground level (agl). The pole would be designed to accommodate three additional flush mounted panel antennas at a centerline height of 107 feet agl.

Sprint would construct a 23-foot by 16-foot equipment compound at the base of the 120-foot pole. The compound would be enclosed by an eight-foot high stockade fence surrounded by evergreen plantings. Sprint would mount four equipment cabinets on a concrete pad within the compound. The site would be accessed by an existing dirt road emanating from Keeney Street. Sprint would construct a new 110-foot dirt/gravel drive off of the existing road to access the compound. No wetlands or watercourses are within or adjacent to the proposed construction area. Soil and erosion controls would be installed prior to construction.

The site is approximately 1,000 feet east of Kenney Street within an existing CL&P transmission line right-of-way containing two separate lines and associated H-frames. Residential areas are located to the north and south. The nearest residence is approximately 200 feet south of the site.