Vital statistics: Verizon to rent school property for $24,000 per year
More than 50 Hempfield, PA residents are up in arms about a 100-foot, Verizon Wireless tower project approved in 2015, that’s now about to be constructed on the grounds of Rohrerstown Elementary School, reported Lancaster Online. Parents are concerned about potential long-term health risks for the 450 kids in grades kindergarten through sixth that attend the school.
“Build the cell tower somewhere else,” resident and mother of three Carley Smith told Lancaster Online. “There are better locations than an elementary school playground to build a cell tower.”
To quell health concerns, an independent study was conducted by dBm Engineering, based outside of Philadelphia, regarding the cumulative radio-frequency (RF) exposure levels based on FCC guidelines. According to Andrew M. Petersohn, P.E., the maximum exposure to RF emissions from the proposed Verizon Wireless facility will be far below FCC exposure limits. Using upper limit assumptions for the Verizon Wireless equipment configuration, the cumulative RF exposure levels would be at least one hundred times less than the FCC limits at all locations of public access.
Smith is still leery of the report, calling the FCC guidelines “outdated.” The placement of the tower is planned between the school’s playground and a baseball field. Verizon plans to install up to 12 antennas in three sectors atop the tower; they also agreed to pay $24,000 per year to rent the space on school property.
Placement of towers on school property is not limited to the Rohrerstown Elementary School. There are four other schools in the area housing towers on their property and they are collecting between $12,000 – $36,000 from carriers to lease space.
According to Lancaster Online, Hempfield Superintendent Chris Adams sent a letter to Verizon earlier this month requesting more information and research conducted on cell tower safety. Adams also asked Verizon to cover costs of periodic, unannounced radiation measurements at both the Landisville and Rohrerstown tower sites. Verizon has not yet responded to the request.
September 21, 2017
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