Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
On March 13, 2012, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) released a Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) that evaluates the potential environmental effects of the FCC’s Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) program. The PEA considers: 1) alternatives to address potential environmental effects; and 2) whether more extensive analysis, in the form of a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) may be required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), under each of the alternatives.
The PEA responds to a Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruling in American Bird Conservancy v. FCC (516 F.3d 1027 (2008)) holding that the FCC had not adequately evaluated the potential effects of the Antenna Structure Registration System (ASR) program on threatened and endangered species and migratory birds. On November 12, 2010, the FCC released a Public Notice to seek public comment on the effects of the ASR program. On August 26, 2011, WTB released and sought comments on a draft PEA.