ROGERS CELL TOWER ON HORNBY ISLAND POSTED PUBLIC NOTICE June 22, 2024
URGENT to all Hornby Residents, Visitors, Friends & Allies
Be advised: The following public notice has been posted today, June 22, 2024, at the proposed site for a Rogers Cell Tower on the Recycling Depot Trail accessed off Central Rd. across from the Fire Hall.
Comment Period: June 22 — July 13, 2024
Cite these identifiers: Application# 1415337 Tower Location 1415396
Submit A Comment Online Here
Email: daniel.scholey@gov.bc.ca WLRS Ministry (Water, Land & Resources “Stewardship”)
Phone Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm Toll free: 1-877-855-3222
Rogers Communications has responded to a pro forma questionnaire from the Water, Land & Resources Corporate Stewardship Ministry [my correction]:
Environmental Describe significant impacts and proposed mitigation for each of the following:
4.1 Land Impacts
Rogers promises to go around “one large veteran Douglas fir adjacent to the upgrade road.”
4.1.5 Visual Impacts What impacts will your activity have on visual quality objectives. Could it impact sight lines from surrounding areas likely to be used for scenic viewing?
While the tower will be visible from a near distance, it is sited very remotely and should not pose any substantial visual impacts. -Rogers
CORRECTION: This statement by the Toronto-based applicant is false. Towering 260-285 feet in height, this proposed industrial structure would tower over the surrounding stand of 5-10 meter tall trees, making it visible throughout Hornby Island’s Central District. Our island economy depends on visitors attracted to Hornby’s scenic qualities.
4.4.1 Disturbance to Fish/Wildlife and Fish/Wildlife Habitat
What effect will your activity (construction or operations phase) have on wildlife or wildlife habitat? N/A -Rogers
CORRECTION: This statement is egregiously false. Plants perceive and respond to electromagnetic fields; 45 peer-reviewed scientific publications have concluded that 90% of plants exposed to wireless antennas show “physiological and/or morphological effects.” “Trees are receiving antennas for electromagnetic fields,” adds Environmental Health Trust
With seven (7) transmitting antennas initially assigned to a tower restricted through local bylaws to serving local residents only, the deleterious effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) on wildlife and plants will be immediate, continuous and cumulative over time. Identifying low-level cell tower emissions as a pollutant, a 150 page meta-study of more than 1,200 peer-reviewed studies has shown how deer, whales, seals, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, microbes and many species of flora — including trees — “are uniquely sensitive to wireless radiation.” Specifically: “Broad wildlife effects have been seen on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and longevity and survivorship.”
The study concludes: “Taken as a whole, this indicates enough information to raise concerns about ambient exposures to nonionizing radiation at ecosystem levels. Wildlife loss is often unseen and undocumented until tipping points are reached.
This key meta-study further notes “a serious lack of federal accountability as there are no safety standards or regulations to protect wildlife” in Canada or the USA. In its application, Rogers promises to look for nests before chopping down trees.
5.0 Socio-Community Describe significant impacts and proposed mitigation for each of the following:
5.1.1 Land Management Plans and Regional Growth Strategies
Are there any plans, strategies, or use restrictions that could limit or prevent your activity? They include: Local government plans with zoning, or management policies or use restrictions in place that could limit or preclude your proposed use of the land?
Rogers has preliminarily pre-consulted the Islands Trust and the relevant Crown Lands Officer and is not aware of any plans or strategies that would limit the possibility of a communication site.
CORRECTION: With cellular access currently available in many locations on Hornby Island and Starlink providing full coverage for subscribers, the Trust failed to inform the applicant that this land is being sought by a local economic enhancement committee for urgently needed affordable housing as a more appropriate use of this Crown land. However, a public petition and letters corrected this oversight early in this 19-month process.
5.2.2 Public Access Will the project result in changes to public access? N/A -Rogers
CORRECTION: Public access on the existing Recycling Depot Trail will pass directly beneath the proposed tower, posing significant health risks to vaxxed and otherwise immune/cardio-compromised visitors, as well as children, seniors and nearby workers at the Ball Park, Radio Station and Recycling Depot.
5.2.3 Existing Services Describe any increased demand on fire protection, health facilities, or emergency services. Include proposed management or mitigation measures. N/A -Rogers
CORRECTION: As noted in my 18-page impact study, “Basic Premiss and Objections”: Fire is a constant concern on a densely treed island subjected to extreme drought conditions. Many online videos and news stories showcase cell tower fires, which are extremely difficult to extinguish. Whether the result of maintenance or malfunction, a burning telecommunications tower on the edge of Mt Geoffrey Provincial Park would almost certainly ignite the surrounding forest canopy. Quickly ascending Mt. Geoffrey’s steep slopes, such a “crown” blaze would present a nearly impossible challenge for our volunteer fire-fighters to control. How big is this risk? We insist that any additional hazard to our forests and their wild inhabitants is unacceptable. Furthermore, we are aware that through a process called “superheterodyning”, intersecting frequencies from multiple cell tower antennas, including an inevitable mix of microwave and millimeter wavelengths, add to or multiply each other — resulting in additional unintended frequencies that can cause much hotter power densities and “radio-frequency-related arcing.” Welding repairs have also started cell tower fires.
Roger intends to perform tower maintenance every 6 months, including summer.
TIMELINE:
This notification anticipates Road Widening/Clearing of brush and tower construction to be completed in Spring/Summer 2024. in Spring/Summer 2024. Hydro power will be supplied “largely underground.”
Rogers will have an initial 3-6 month construction period in Spring/Summer 2024, during which all construction activities will be completed. These activities would involve “logging equipment, excavator, rock drill, rock anchor installation gear,” a cement mixer and a crane for “stacking” the tower, as well as installation of an underground power line.
Like the song says, It's Not Over.
This Crown Land Use Application is Currently Under Review
Residents, friends and visitors to Hornby island, have until July 13 to respond.
In service,
William Thomas
June 22, 2024