Glacier National Park is initiating public scoping for an environmental assessment (EA) on a plan to improve telecommunications in the park. The proposed action would correct deficiencies in radio, phone, and computer or data-based communications that support park operations and would also develop guidelines for connectivity in developed areas for non-governmental end-users.
Reliable and effective telecommunication systems are essential to the performance of park operations and maintaining employee and visitor safety. But radio, phone, and computer/data-based communications in the park are currently limited, unreliable, or unavailable in several areas. Issues include insufficient radio coverage, slow internet and network speeds, limited bandwidth, lack of phone or data access, and lack of or outdated equipment. A comprehensive, integrated plan is needed to improve the overall effectiveness of park communications and enable a flexible response to changing needs and technology.
A telecommunications plan is also needed to develop an appropriate strategy for expanding data and/or cellular connectivity for non-governmental use. There is an increased reliance on connectivity in developed areas among visitors and off-duty employees, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the National Park Service (NPS) to consider applications from commercial providers who propose installing telecommunications infrastructure on park lands. The park’s telecommunications plan would establish parameters for telecommunications infrastructure, coverage areas, and other factors.
The proposed plan would include several site-specific actions, for which the full scope or design cannot be known until closer to the time of implementation. For this reason, the park is preparing a programmatic EA for the plan. The programmatic EA will analyze broad environmental impacts and defer site-specific issues to subsequent and additional project-level review, analysis, and compliance.
A scoping newsletter with more information is available on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GNPtelecommunicationsplan. Comments can be posted to this website, or sent by mail to Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: Telecommunications Plan, PO Box 1, West Glacier, Montana, 59936. Public scoping is open for 15 days; comments are due by March 9, 2020.
Jeff
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