The Bureau of Land Management seeks public comment on communications network infrastructure environmental assessment

Organization:

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Southern Nevada District Office

Media Contact:

LAS VEGAS — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southern Nevada District announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment to address potential environmental consequences associated with a proposal by Crown Castle to construct a telecommunications network in sections of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area along Nevada State Route 159 in Clark County, Nevada. The draft environmental assessment will be available for public review and comment for a period of 30 days.

Crown Castle, the nation’s largest shared communications infrastructure provider and a Nevada public utility company, is proposing a fiber-fed telecommunications network project that will expand mobile wireless voice and broadband services, including public safety e911 access, in an underserved area along a heavily traveled section of  SR 159 adjacent to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. If approved, this network will allow for efficient expansion of wireless service by all carriers through available co-location or joint use communications facilities.

Currently there are areas along State Route 159 that do not have wireless coverage or access for emergency services by residents and visitors within Red Rock Canyon. This project would help by enabling more networks to exchange traffic across the state and by improving telecommunications reliability with high-quality, state-of-the-art technology. 

Maps and information on the proposed project are available at the project ePlanning web page at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2002744/510. Questions about the project can be emailed to blm_nv_smallcellnetwork_project@blm.gov to be answered by BLM and Crown Castle staff.

A 30-day public comment period on the draft environmental assessment is October 6, 2020, through November 6, 2020. The public is encouraged to review the EA, located at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2002744/510, and provide substantive comments or concerns prior to 4:30 p.m. (PST) on November 6, 2020. All comments received will be fully considered and evaluated for preparation of the final EA.

Comments and concerns may be submitted electronically at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2002744/510 or sent in writing to the BLM Red Rock/Sloan Field Office, ATTN: Crown Castle EA, 4701 N. Torrey Pines, Las Vegas, NV 89130. Hardcopies of the environmental assessment are available upon request from the BLM Southern Nevada District Office.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be publicly available at any time. While you can ask that your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Anonymity is not allowed for submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses.


The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.