The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed to construct a communication relay tower within the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area in southern Arizona. The refuge is required to conduct a compatibility determination for all proposed uses of National Wildlife Refuge lands. As part of this process the refuge has prepared a draft Compatibility Determination and is currently accepting comments from the public on this draft. Comments will be accepted through February 1, 2010.
A copy of the draft Compatibility Determination is available at: www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/cabeza/
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed to construct a steel lattice tower, attached to a concrete foundation mounted to the ground with rock anchors. The structure will be approximately 33.5 feet high. In addition, a 16 foot wide by 14 foot tall solar panel array will be attached to the tower. There will also be three storage units placed within the footprint of the tower to store batteries and communication equipment. The temporary construction buffer will be 35 feet x 35 feet and the permanent footprint will be 14 feet x 14 feet. The proposed project is part of the larger Ajo1 Project proposed by the Department.
The 1997 Refuge Improvement Act requires that before a new activity is allowed on a National Wildlife Refuge the refuge manager must first assess the compatibility of the activity. A “compatible use” is one “that will not materially interfere with or detract from the fulfillment of the mission of the Refuge System or the purpose of the refuge”. The public is invited to provide relevant information and express views on whether or not this project will materially interfere with or detract from the refuge’s ability to meet its mandated purposes.
Comments should be directed to Curt McCasland, Refuge Manager at : Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, 1611 N. 2nd Ave. Ajo, AZ 85321, Curtis_McCasland@fws.gov, or faxed to 520-387-5359.
