Compatibility Determination

Use: Renewal of Right of Way Permit M-8 to Tabletop Telephone Company (TTTC) For

the Operation and Maintenance of Existing Communications Equipment on the Childs

Mountain North and South Communication Sites

Refuge Name:

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge

Establishing and Acquisition Authority(ies):

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge

(CPNWR) on January 25, 1939 by Executive Order 8038.

Refuge Purpose(s):

1. The refuge was “reserved and set apart for the conservation and development of natural wildlife resources, and for the protection and improvement of public grazing lands and

natural forage resources…Provided, however, that all the forage resources in excess of

that required to maintain a balanced wildlife population within this range or preserve

should be available for livestock…” (Executive Order 8038 January 25, 1939).

2. Enactment of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990, designated over 90 percent of the refuge as wilderness and created a supplemental refuge purpose of wilderness

protection in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964.

3. Several other Federal policies, regulations, and laws affect refuge management activities. Preeminent among these is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, this act mandates the

protection and recovery of threatened and endangered species.

National Wildlife Refuge System Mission:

The mission of the System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the

conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant

resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future

generations of Americans.

Description of Use:

TTTC operates and maintains radio communication equipment on the Childs Mountain North

and South Communication Sites. Currently, TTTC has no valid Right of Way (ROW) permit

from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for this activity. At some point,

TTTC obtained the radio communication equipment from Qwest who had obtained the radio

communication equipment from Mountain Bell. Mountain Bell operated and maintained this

equipment on Childs Mountain under ROW permit M-8 which was issued by the Service, but

expired in 2011.

TTTC wishes to continue to operate and maintain radio communication equipment on the Childs

Mountain North and South Communication Sites and has asked the Service to issue a ROW

permit for this activity.

(a) What is the use? TTTC has asked to operate and maintain the following radio communication equipment

on Childs Mountain North Communication Site:

1) One thousand five hundred thirty-six square feet of leased space in the United States Air Force Building #86.

2) Radio communication equipment, computers, routers, copper cable facilities, and batteries.

3) Onan diesel generator used for back-up power, electrical connections, and 250 gallon fuel tank.

4) 25 ft. antenna tower on 52 sq. ft. base. 5) Microwave dish on two steel posts located 12 ft. 8 inches apart at the base. 6) Five parabolic radio antennas. 7) Air conditioning unit and stand located on the building’s west external wall. 8) Three thousand four hundred twenty feet of aerial copper wire attached to Arizona

Public Service power poles running from facilities at the north to the south Childs

Mountain Communication sites.

9) Four thousand six hundred forty-two feet of buried copper wire running from the north to the south Childs Mountain Communication sites.

10) Sixty-eight feet of buried fiber optic cable on Childs Mountain South Communication site.

(b) Where is the use conducted? Childs Mountain North and South Communication Sites, Childs Mountain, CPNWR.

(c) When is the use conducted? The use is currently being conducted.

(d) How is the use conducted? The radio communication equipment is used by TTTC to provide essential

communication services to the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Federal Aviation

Administration; United States Air Force, Pima County Sheriff Department; United States

Border Patrol; Arizona Public Service; and the towns of Ajo, Why, and Lukeville.

(e) Why is this use being proposed? The radio communication equipment owned and operated by TTTC on Childs Mountain

North and South Communication sites provides essential health, safety, and security

services to several federal and county law enforcement and national security agencies.

Without this service these entities ability to provide for national security and public

safety and monitor international and national air traffic would be severely impacted.

Availability of Resources:

Authorizing the continued operation and maintenance of TTTC radio communication equipment

on Childs Mountain North and South Communication Sites will require a small level of

expenditure of Service resources. The expenditure is primarily associated with the personnel

costs for development and review of documents such as this “Compatibility Determination”,

NEPA compliance, the issuance of public notices, development of the ROW, and review of draft

and final permit related documents.

There will be an additional expenditure of Service resources for coordinating with TTTC on any

change to the Childs Mountain Communication Site access road and gate, power supply, and

additional users.

Resources to develop the permitting documents and manage the Childs Mountain North and

South Communication sites are available as part of the Services ongoing day to day operations.

Anticipated Impacts of the Use:

Direct Impacts

There will be no change in the direct impact to refuge natural and cultural resources because

CBP communications equipment is currently installed and operating and no additional

equipment is proposed under this action.

Indirect Impacts

There will be no change in the indirect impact to refuge natural and cultural resources because

CBP communications equipment is currently installed and operating and no additional

equipment or change in location of equipment is proposed under this action.

Visitor Use

There will be no change in visitor use because the Childs Mountain North and South

Communication Sites are closed to the public.

Cumulative Impacts

There will be no change in the cumulative impact to refuge natural and cultural resources

because CBP communications equipment is currently installed and operating and no additional

equipment or change in location of equipment is proposed under this action.

Public Review and Comment:

The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires the Refuge Manager to

provide an opportunity for the public to review and comment on all compatibility determinations.

The purpose of the review is to offer the public the opportunity to provide relevant information

regarding the compatibility of the proposed use. The Refuge Manager must consider all

information provided during the public review and comment period. The Refuge Manager is not

required to respond, but will use all information available to make the most informed decision

possible.

The compatibility determination will be made available for public review and comment at the

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Ajo Public Library, U.S. Post Office in

Ajo, Arizona and on the refuge website at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Cabeza_Prieta/ until

January 6, 2017. Please provide comments in writing to Mary Kralovec, Assistant Refuge

Manager at Mary_Kralovec@fws.gov or at CPNWR, Attn: Mary Kralovec, 1611 N. Second

Ave, Ajo, Arizona 85321.

Determination (check one below):

___ Use is Not Compatible

___ Use is Compatible with Following Stipulations

Stipulations Necessary to Ensure Compatibility:

1. TTTC will notify the Refuge Manager prior to each visit to the site.

2. TTTC personnel and their contractors will adhere to the posted speed limit along the Childs Mountain Road while visiting the site.

3. TTTC personnel and their contractors will ensure the Childs Mountain Road Entrance Gate remains closed at all times while accessing the site.

4. TTTC will actively participate in and support the consolidation of existing facilities in the future to reduce the overall environmental footprint associated with the facilities.

5. In order to better coordinate with all the users on both the Childs Mountain South and North Communication Sites, TTTC will participate in the Childs Mountain

Communication Site User Group.

Justification:

The request by TTTC to continue to operate and maintain existing communications equipment

on Childs Mountain North and South Communication Sites will have negligible impacts to the

refuge while providing vital health, safety, and national security functions.

Signature: Refuge Manager ___________________________

(Signature and Date)

Concurrence: Regional Chief ___________________________

(Signature and Date)

Mandatory 10- or 15-year Re-Evaluation Date: ____________

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Cabeza_Prieta/mailto:Mary_Kralovec@fws.gov

Map 1. TTTC radio communication equipment and facilities on Childs Mountain North Communication Site.

TTTC

Radio

Antenna

Tower

TTTC

Microwave

Dish Tower

Building 86

Drawing 1. TTTC facilities on Childs Mountain North Communication Site.

Drawing 2. TTTC facilities on Childs Mountain South Communication Site.

Drawing 3. TTTC facilities between Childs Mountain North and South Communication sites.

Photo 1. TTTC radio antenna tower (25 ft.tall):

Photo 2. TTTC external generator fuel tank, 250 gallons diesel fuel.

TTTC

Radio

Antenna

Tower (25

ft.)

TTTC

Microwave Dish

Tower

USAF

Bldg. #86

Photo 3. TTTC air conditioning unit.

Photo 4. Unused water storage tank.