Conservation Groups Accuse Cell Phone Towers of Bird Cull Carnage

Three USA based conservation organizations have filed a formal petition with the telecoms regulator, the FCC demanding that it immediately cease issuance of licenses for new communication towers along the Gulf Coast. The petitioners, including American Bird Conservancy, Forest Conservation Council and Friends of the Earth say no more towers should be constructed until completion of an environmental impact statement, addressing the alleged adverse effects of communications towers in the Gulf Coast region on migratory birds.

The Gulf Coast, defined here as a 100-mile wide belt along the southern Gulf Coast from Port Isabel, Texas to Tampa Bay, Florida, is a recognized critical stopover region for neotropical migratory birds. The three organizations say that birds are drawn to the lights atop the towers, particularly at night and during low cloud, circle in confusion, dying by the thousand in collisions with the tower, its guy wires and related structures, each other, or even the ground.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that as many as 40 million birds are killed each year in these collisions nationwide.

The petition cites violations of the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"), Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), and Migratory Bird Treaty Act ("MBTA"). The groups are seeking an order from FCC mandating preparation of environmental reviews on 5,797 towers that were illegally authorized using a loophole in environmental regulations. Tower companies are alleged have been allowed to build structures harmful to migratory birds with no environmental documentation or public oversight. The petition calls for the preparation of a comprehensive environmental impact statement ("EIS") on FCC's overall licensing program in the Gulf Coast region, as well as proper implementation of public participation procedures. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has already recognized the need for a comprehensive EIS on the FCC's tower licensing program and has requested such a document directly from the agency.

Gerald Winegrad, Vice President for Policy at American Bird Conservancy said, "The FCC and the tower industry must address the environmental impact of these towers both individually and on a cumulative basis. Builders of roads, pipelines, and other structures are held accountable for the environmental consequences of their actions; builders of towers should be no different."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has produced guidelines for mitigating the impacts of cell towers on migratory birds, yet none of the structures covered by the petition has been constructed in a manner consistent with these measures."

Posted to the site on 21st February 2003