Review of Cell Tower Installations

Initial Documentation Required for IHPA Review of FCC Permitted Undertakings (effective March 2005). These revisions reflect the FCC Nationwide Programmatic Agreements regarding collocation of wireless antennae and Section 106 review of effects on historic properties for certain undertakings approved by the FCC, i.e. new tower construction.

In order to request the comments of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) concerning possible project effects on cultural resources (both historic and archaeological) for purposes of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the following information should be provided:

1. Names of all funding, licensing or permitting agencies

2. Complete description of all elements of proposed undertaking (including tower height)

3. Any relevant permit, project or previous IHPA log numbers

4. Map clearly indicating project location, i.e., county maps, USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps (for archaeological purposes)

5. Project site plans and specifications, if applicable

6. Project address, i.e. street address or legal location

7. Locations of known Historic Properties that exist within the project’s area of potential effect (APE), clearly labeled on Project Location Maps.

8. Applicants shall identify Historic Properties within the APE for visual effects by reviewing the following records. Applicants are required to review such records only to the extent they are available at the offices of the SHPO or can be found in publicly available sources identified by the SHPO. With respect to these properties, Applicants are not required to undertake a Field Survey or other measures other than reviewing these records in order to identify Historic Properties:
a) Properties currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP);
b) Properties formally determined eligible for listing by the Keeper of the National Register;
c) Properties that the SHPO certifies are in the process of being nominated to the NRHP;
d) Properties previously determined eligible for listing on the NRHP as part of a consensus determination of eligibility between the SHPO and a Federal Agency or local government representing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and
e) Properties listed in the SHPO Inventory that the SHPO has previously evaluated and found to meet the National Register criteria, and that are identified accordingly in the SHPO Inventory.

9. Clear, color photographs (digital hard copies are acceptable) of any Historic Properties that may be visually or directly affected by the project. Photos should be clearly labeled with the property’s address/location and keyed to a Project Location Map. The photographer should be facing the direction of the proposed tower or antennae co-locate when photographing the HistoricProperty. The direction should be marked with an arrow on the photo key (on the Project Location Map).

10. In addition to the Historic Properties located through record searches (see items 8a-8e above), applicants shall make a reasonable good faith effort to identify other above ground and archaeological Historic Properties including buildings, structures, and historic districts that lie within the APE for direct effects. Such reasonable and good faith efforts may include a Field Survey where appropriate. The Applicant, in consultation with the SHPO, shall apply the National Register criteria (36 CFR Part 63) to properties identified within the APE for direct effects that have not previously been evaluated for National Register eligibility, with the exception of those identified in record searches (items 8a-8e). Identification and evaluation of Historic Properties within the APE for direct effects, including any finding that an Archaeological Field Survey is not required, shall be undertaken by a professional who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards.
Unless otherwise established through consultation with our office, the presumed APE for visual effects for construction of new tower facilities is the area from which the Tower will be visible:

1. Within ½ mile from the tower site if the proposed tower is 200 feet or less in overall height;

2. Within ¾ mile from the tower site if the proposed tower is more than 200 but no more than 400 feet in overall height; or

3. Within 1 ½ miles from the proposed tower site if the proposed tower is more than 400 feet in overall height.
In the event the Applicant determines, or the SHPO recommends that an alternative APE for visual effects is necessary, the Applicant and the SHPO may mutually agree to an alternative APE.

If no structures are located within the required survey limits described above, please indicate so and provide the following information:

1. Existing site conditions, i.e., vacant lot, agricultural field (plowed, planted), pasture, designed landscape, etc.

2. Total acreage involved in project

3. Documentation of any prior non-agricultural disturbance at project site (photos, soil reports, etc.)

This information should be addressed to:

Anne E. Haaker
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Preservation Services Division
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
Old State Capitol
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1507

NOTE: For archaeological concerns, please be advised that we consider the area of potential effect (A.P.E.) for cell towers to consist of not only the tower location itself, but any ground surface to be affected by tower facilities and construction equipment. This minimally includes any access road to the tower site, the area encompassed by the locations of the guy wire anchors, and the locations of any other construction actions or activities identified on a project by project basis. Archaeological surveys performed for cell towers should address this APE. If this APE is not addressed, we will consider the survey and survey report as inadequate to assess the effects to historic properties.