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Contact: Eileen Andes, 701-623-4466 Contact: Bill Whitworth, 701-623-4466
MEDORA, ND –Theodore Roosevelt National Park invites the public to provide feedback on a proposal to replace its North Unit communications tower with a shorter one at the same general location. The current tower provides communication functions essential to public safety and efficient park operations. It is located within the park boundary on the east side of Hwy 85 in McKenzie County, just north of the park entrance. The proposed project would permit Verizon Wireless to co-locate its telecommunications equipment on the tower, allow construction of a slightly larger support shed to accommodate the co-location of National Park Service and Verizon equipment, and require the addition of gravel to the existing access road to serve as a parking area during routine maintenance. "Allowing Verizon to co-locate its equipment with the park's will eliminate the need to construct a second, highly visible telecommunications tower in the area", said Chief of Resource Management Bill Whitworth. "Because of the tower's reduced height, a blinking light on top willno longer be required, improving the quality of the viewshed to those visiting park wilderness and other backcountry sites." The public is encouraged to provide comment through the National Park Service's Planning Environment and Public Comment System (PEPC) at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkID=167. Additional comment opportunities are available to the public on Twitter @TRooseveltNPS, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheodoreRooseveltNationalPark,or by simply writing the park superintendent. Photos, schematic drawings, andother relevant information on this proposal can be found at the PEPC website. |
Last updated: April 10, 2015