HomeMy WebLinkAboutEx_05_NIER_ReportNIER REPORT
Exhibit 5
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B
HATFIELD & DAWSON
THOMAS M. ECKELS, PE CONSULTING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS TELEPHONE (206) 783-9151
STEPHEN S. LOCKWOOD, PE 9500 GREENWOOD AVE. N.FACSIMILE (206) 789-9834
DAVID J. PINION, PE SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98103 E-MAIL pinion @ hatdaw.com
ERIK C. SWANSON, PE ___________
MAURY L. HATFIELD, PE
THOMAS S. GORTON, PE (1942 – 2009)
MICHAEL H. MEHIGAN, PE PAUL W. LEONARD, PE
1925 – 2011)
JAMES B. HATFIELD, PE
BENJAMIN F. DAWSON III, PE
CONSULTANTS
NON-IONIZING ELECTROMAGNETIC EXPOSURE
ANALYSIS
AND
ENGINEERING CERTIFICATION
PREPARED FOR
Verizon Wireless
SEA CEDAR RIVER COW”
TEMPORARY PERSONAL WIRELESS FACILITY
1300 BRONSON WAY N
CITY OF RENTON
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON
AUGUST 2016
RECEIVED
06/26/2018
amorganroth
PLANNING DIVISION
06/13/2018
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B
1
INTRODUCTION
Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers has been retained to evaluate the proposed temporary
Verizon Wireless personal wireless communications facility “SEA CEDAR RIVER COW” for
compliance with current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and local guidelines
regarding public exposure to radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED OPERATIONS
Construction drawings and other information furnished by Verizon representatives show that the
proposed wireless facility will have a temporary Cellular on Wheels (COW) personal wireless
facility with three (3) antenna sectors, one (1) panel antenna per sector, for a total of three (3)
panel antennas, and a single microwave dish antenna, all mounted atop a temporary monopole
tower at 1300 Bronson Way N, Renton, in King County, Washington 98055.
All of the Verizon panel antennas will be mounted and centered at approximately 36 feet above
grade. The single microwave dish antenna will be centered at approximately the 38 foot level.
Thus all of the temporary Verizon antennas will be well above head height for persons standing at
ground level on or near the project site.
All of the proposed Verizon antennas are highly directional in the vertical plane and they project
the majority of the transmitted RF energy horizontally and well above all nearby buildings. Very
little energy is directed downwards towards ground level or the nearest occupancies. Therefore
RF exposure conditions at the project site and on adjacent properties, due to the combined
contributions from all of the Verizon antennas, will be well below the FCC Maximum Permissible
Exposure (MPE) Public limit, and the limits given in King County code K.C.C. 21A.26.100 “NIER
exposure standards.”
The operation of the temporary Verizon facility will NOT create significant RF exposure
conditions in any occupancy, habitable space or publicly accessible area.
Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B
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RF EXPOSURE CONDITIONS DUE TO VERIZON FACILITY
Verizon RF engineers have provided the following detailed information about the Verizon personal
wireless operations. The temporary facility may operate within the 700 MHz Upper Block C
frequency band, the 800 MHz Cellular B frequency band, the Personal Communications Service
PCS) frequency bands, and the Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) 2.1 GHz bands.
Ambient exposure conditions in nearby areas, below the elevations of the temporary antennas,
on and near the project site, are expected to be a fraction of the 100% FCC Public Maximum
Permissible Exposure (MPE) limit due to all Verizon operations at the site.
The temporary facility is expected to be compliant with FCC guidelines regarding public RF
exposure provided that direct access to the Verizon antennas is positively restricted. The Verizon
wireless facility is expected to be compliant with FCC rules and guidelines regarding public RF
exposure provided that direct access to the Verizon antennas is positively restricted. Note that
the antennas will be mounted well above grade level and away from casual access. Construction
drawings show the Verizon facility will be within a temporary fenced compound with a locking
gate. Therefore site access will be restricted to authorized personnel.
The RF exposure analysis is based on information provided by Verizon representatives, and
known characteristics of typical wireless facilities. The analysis provides a “worst-case” model for
calculating maximum “uncontrolled” (i.e., general public) RF power densities and exposure
conditions.
Personal wireless and microwave facilities are required to comply with the FCC “Rules &
Regulations” 47 CFR §1.1310, Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits. The exposure
limits shown in the table titled “NIER Exposure Standards (1) (6)” in K.C.C. 21A.26.100 “NIER
exposure standards” are generally in agreement with FCC exposure guidelines and limits. In
any case, since the FCC exposure limits supersede the limits shown in the aforementioned
table, then compliance is determined by comparing RF field predictions with the general
population/uncontrolled environment (i.e., “Public”) Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE)
limits allowed by the FCC rules and guidelines, as specified in 47 CFR §1.1310.
Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B
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The FCC document Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to
Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, OET Bulletin 65, August 1997, describes the
methods established by the FCC for predicting compliance with the FCC-specified exposure
limits.
RF power densities and exposure levels are computed in accordance with methods described in
OET Bulletin 65. The following formula derived from Equation 9 on page 21 of the bulletin has
been used to calculate the power densities at specific locations:
S(mW/cm2) = 0.36 x ERP (watts) / (Distance in feet)2
Theoretical calculations and worst-case exposure predictions indicate that exposure conditions
due to the temporary Verizon facility at all locations near ground level will be far less than the
100% FCC Public MPE limit. In fact the Verizon facility will likely contribute less than 5% of the
FCC MPE limit to the ground level exposure environment at the project site, or on any adjacent
property.
This conclusion is based on information supplied by Verizon representatives, and estimates of
future RF exposure conditions due to the Verizon facility in specific areas with the corresponding
safe exposure guidelines set forth in the FCC rules and guidelines.
COMPLIANCE WITH FCC AND LOCAL REGULATIONS
The FCC has determined through calculations and technical analysis that personal wireless and
microwave facilities, such as those operated by Verizon, are highly unlikely to cause human RF
exposures in excess of FCC guideline limits. In particular, personal wireless facilities with non-
building-mounted antennas greater than 10 meters (about 33 feet) above ground level are
considered to have such a low impact on overall exposure conditions that they are "categorically
excluded" (i.e., exempt) from the requirement for routine environmental assessment regarding RF
exposure hazards.
Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B
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Thus according to FCC rules, the temporary Verizon wireless facility, with all antennas centered
above the 33 foot level, is exempt from further RF safety environmental assessment because it is
presumed to be in compliance with the FCC RF exposure rules and guidelines. The Verizon
facility is expected to be compliant with FCC rules regarding public RF exposure provided that
direct access to the Verizon antennas is positively restricted.
COMPLIANCE WITH FCC REGULATIONS FOR RF EMISSIONS AND RF INTERFERENCE
It is expected that the RF interaction between all of the Verizon Wireless operations will be low
enough to preclude the likelihood of localized interference caused by the temporary Verizon
Wireless facility to the reception of any other communications signals. All of the Verizon
antennas will be sufficiently high enough, and far enough removed from all occupancies, that
they are unlikely to cause interference to nearby consumer receivers or other consumer
electronic devices.
Transmission equipment for the Verizon Wireless facility is certified by the FCC under the
equipment authorization procedures set forth in the FCC rules and guidelines. This assures that
the wireless facility will transmit within the desired base-station frequency bands at authorized
power levels. The temporary Verizon facility will operate in accordance with all FCC rules and
guidelines regarding power, signal bandwidth, interference mitigation, and good RF engineering
practices.
CONCLUSIONS BASED ON FCC REGULATIONS FOR RF EMISSIONS
The temporary Verizon Wireless facility “SEA CEDAR RIVER COW” will be in compliance with
current FCC and local rules regarding radio frequency interference and public exposure to radio
frequency electromagnetic fields provided that direct access to the antennas on the project site is
positively restricted to authorized and RF cognizant workers. This conclusion is based on
information supplied by Verizon representatives, and estimates of future RF exposure conditions
due to the Verizon facility in specific areas with the corresponding safe exposure guidelines set
forth in the FCC rules and guidelines, and in King County K.C.C. Chapter 21A.26.
Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B
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The Verizon Wireless facility at the project site will comply with all FCC standards for
radio frequency emissions. Verizon Wireless operations at the project site will not have a
significant environmental impact as defined by the FCC Public MPE limits. Furthermore,
the Verizon facility will not cause any nearby existing wireless facility to exceed non-
ionizing electromagnetic radiation (NIER) exposure standards.
These conclusions are based on information supplied by Verizon representatives, and estimates
of future RF exposure conditions due to the Verizon facility in specific areas with the
corresponding safe exposure guidelines set forth in the FCC rules and guidelines.
The FCC exposure limits are based on recommendations by federal and private entities with the
appropriate expertise in human safety issues. Under the Commission’s rules and guidelines,
licensees are required to ensure compliance with the limits for maximum permissible exposure
MPE) established by the FCC. These limits have been developed based on guidelines provided
by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) and the National Council on
Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). Both the NCRP and IEEE guidelines were
developed by scientists and engineers with a great deal of experience and knowledge in the area
of RF biological effects and related issues.
To ensure full compliance with FCC rules and guidelines regarding human exposure to radio
frequency electromagnetic fields, the Verizon transmitters should be turned off whenever
maintenance personnel are required to work in the immediate vicinity of the Verizon antenna
apertures. This safety procedure should apply to all existing and future wireless transmission
facilities at the project site. All instances of antenna-related work require deactivation of the
subject antennas.
COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL REGULATIONS
Because the Verizon Wireless facility will be in compliance with federal rules and guidelines, it will
also be in compliance with local regulations concerning RF emissions per K.C.C. 21A.26.090, etc.
Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B
6
The following is the complete text of 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iv):
No State or local government or instrumentality thereof may regulate the
placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities
on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the
extent that such facilities comply with the Commission’s regulations concerning
such emissions.”
QUALIFICATIONS
I am a Senior Member of the IEEE. As a partner in the firm of Hatfield & Dawson Consulting
Engineers I am registered as a Professional Engineer in the States of Washington, Oregon,
California and Hawaii. I am an experienced radio engineer with over 35 years of professional
engineering experience whose qualifications are a matter of record with the Federal
Communications Commission, and I hold an FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License PG-
12-21740.
All representations contained herein are true to the best of my knowledge.
17 August 2017
David J. Pinion, P.E.
Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers
DocuSign Envelope ID: A9383FBA-DF46-4B60-80B3-17E758A2FF5B