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Majid, <br /> As discussed, Edge Consulting has refreshed all documents for this new application. The <br /> updated NEPA file is attached. <br /> As to your question about the tower lights, as you may recall, Jim Lutes, with FWS asked <br /> Magnum early on to explore what at that time was discussion about the possibility of the <br /> FAA allowing a tower to be built without steady burning lights. Magnum promised <br /> Lutes he would go to work on his request. As you know, Magnum ultimately succeeded <br /> in receiving one of the first such waivers that was granted by the FAA. <br /> Please see this e-mail from Lutes to Rutland Chair Beske and Magnum on 10/25/12: <br /> Jim Lutes @fws.gov <br /> 11:57 AM <br /> to debeske, me <br /> Just as a point of clarifiation. The question addressed below was simply whether <br /> the Service would rather see a single taller, normally lit, and guyed tower over <br /> several smaller, normallly lit, and guyed towers. The short answer is it is the <br /> overall preference of the Service that short, unlit, and unguyed towers be <br /> developed wherever possible as outlined in the Service Guidelines. <br /> In situations where this is not pursued then it is the preference of the Service that <br /> the developer implement whatever possible actions are available to avoid <br /> negative interactions between migratory songbirds and communication towers. <br /> One significant action, as stated in the Service Guidelines, is to change the tower <br /> lighting configuration so as to eliminate the use of steady burning L-810 lights. <br /> Studies have indicated that this single action can reduce migratory bird mortality <br /> at communication towers by as much as 70% even at towers with guy wires (I <br /> can provide this research if need be) . The reason is simple. Steady burning <br /> lights attract birds under low visability conditions (i.e fog/clouds/rain). Not wanting <br /> to leave the safety of the light the birds flight patterns are then constrained within <br /> the halo of light. As the birds circle around the tower they often collide with the <br /> guy wires (as opposed to colliding directly with the tower itself). It is my <br /> understanding that Mr. Magnum has taken the necessary steps to petition FCC, <br /> and has received approval from FCC, to change the lighting configuration of the <br /> proposed tower so as to reduce the number of lights from 8 to 4 and do away <br /> with the stready burning L-810 in favor of flashing red LED lights. Based on the <br /> information above the voluntary actions of Mr. Magnum to address the attractant <br /> (steady burning L-810 lights) is a significant step forward in reducing the risk of <br /> migratory bird mortality at the proposed communication tower. <br /> Jim Lutes/R3/FWS/DOI <br /> 10/25/2012 09:41 AM Tomagcom @_chorus.net, debeske@wisc.edu <br />