National Park Service officials have been silent on denying public review of cell tower issues in parks. This photo depicts examples of commercial cellular facilities/OIG file

National Park Service officials in Washington have been silent on retaining a Trump administration policy not to seek public involvement on proposals to locate cell towers in the National Park System or to provide other pertinent information surrounding the towers.

According to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, the policy change also repeals "requirements that applicants make available information about signal coverage or strength or conduct balloon tests to assess visual impacts of new towers; allow modifications, including expansion, of existing permits without public notice or environmental review; and block the public from appealing right of way approvals for cell towers or other facilities."

Twice this week the National Parks Traveler reached out to the Park Service's public affairs office in Washington with questions about the policy and whether the agency under the Biden administration would rescind it, but no response was forthcoming.

“Under its new rules, the Park Service gives telecom companies prerogatives it denies to the public,” said Pacific PEER Director Jeff Ruch, pointing out that emergence of 5G technology will put even more pressure on parks to approve new and expanded current wireless capacity. “The public should be able to review details of any plans to convert their national parks into outdoor cybercafes before the deals are cut behind closed doors.”

In a release this week PEER also said that the Park Service developed the policy "in response to a critical 2019 report from Interior’s Office of Inspector General that recommended NPS take steps to improve public notice and involvement in park wireless decision-making. Yet, after concurring with this recommendation, NPS proceeded to do the opposite by repealing the very public notice rules the IG found parks were ignoring."

“Before national parks surrender their serenity values, viewsheds, and soundscapes to commercial operators, the public should have the opportunity to meaningfully weigh in,” said Ruch, noting that the new rules also allow wireless and tower companies without FCC licenses to obtain park rights of way. “The quality of park management is this realm has left a lot to be desired and undoubtedly will not improve with less scrutiny and greater secrecy.”

PEER has asked Park Service Director Chuck Sams to restore public involvement in the process of siting cell towers in parks and related matters.