APPLICATION LETTER 20150721083927885.PDF

Maricopa County
Office of Enterptise Technology
Thomas Crosby
Manager
Wireless Systems
3324 West Gibson Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Phone: M2-506-5264
Els:: 6112-51164753
July 20, 2015
Dr. Benjamin N. Tuggle
Regional Director
Southwest Regional Office
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Room 9018
500 Gold Avenue SW
P.O. Box 1306
Albuquerque, NM 97102
Dear Dr. Tuggle:
This letter, along with its attachments, constitutes the application by Maricopa County,
Arizona ("the County") for a special use permit to place its communications equipment at
the existing communications site atop Childs Mountain, located on the lands of the Cabeza
Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. The communications site is situated on a portion of the
Northeast quarter of Section 26, Township 11 South, Range 3 West of the Gila and Salt River
Base and Meridian, in Pima County, Arizona. The permit area contains approximately 2,902
square feet. Please see Exhibit 1 for a more detailed description of the permit area.
Purpose
The County currently operates a countywide public safety radio communications system.
The largest user of the system is the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The Probation
Department (of the Superior Court of Arizona for Maricopa County), the Maricopa County
Department of Transportation, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, and the
Maricopa Department of Emergency Management are also large users of the system.
In response to numerous requests from its users for improved radio coverage, the County
has embarked on a major upgrade of its radio communications system. One of the areas
that has been identified as requiring improved radio coverage is the Goldwater Air Force
Gunnery Range and the section of Arizona Highway 85 that runs south from the town of
Gila Bend to the Pima County border. Marico pa County Sheriff's Deputies perform search
and rescue missions and joint operations (drug smuggling and human trafficking
interdiction) with Federal law enforcement and other agencies in this area.

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The communications site at Childs Mountain is the most desirable site to cover this area. Its
location at the approximate southern boundary of the coverage area, combined with its
height above the surrounding terrain to the north, make it ideal. In addition, there are no
other existing communications sites that will cover even a portion of the desired coverage
area.
Details of the Proposal
The County proposes to:
Install two panel-style land mobile antennas upon the existing communications
tower operated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety ("AZDPS").
2. Place a new, prefabricated equipment shelter adjacent to the existing AZDPS
shelter. The shelter will be placed on skids rather than being constructed on a
permanent concrete foundation. A prefabricated, above grade concrete stoop will
be placed to facilitate entrance into the shelter.
3. Install a new backup electrical generator and fuel tank on separate, above-grade,
prefabricated concrete slabs. The existing generator and fuel tank currently used by
AZDPS will be removed.
4. Install approximately 45 feet of new cable bridge from new communications shelter
to the existing AZDPS tower. This ice bridge support poles will be placed on above
ground prefabricated cement blocks.
5. Install a new overhead power line from the existing utility pole (#0356) to the new
communications shelter.
6. Install a lightning protection grounding system, which will be attached to the
existing above grade ground leads, utilize Ufer grounds in the pre-fabricated blocks,
and place an above grade ground grid and cover with conductive cement.
7. It is the County's intent to not disturb any currently undisturbed ground.
Preliminary construction drawings are attached to this application as Exhibit 1.
Issues Relating to the County's Use of the Site
Co -Location with AZDPS - The County is proposing co-location of its antennas with AZDPS on
the existing AZDPS tower. The AZDPS facility is authorized under USF&WS Permit M-15,
issued June 1, 1987. The County initially proposed to co-locate its radio equipment in the
existing AZDPS shelter. However, upon investigation, it was discovered that there is
insufficient room within the existing shelter to house both parties' equipment.
Use of the Access Road - During the construction period, which is expected to last no more
than 21 days, construction vehicles will traverse the road daily. The equipment shelter will
be delivered to the site by a large truck, and a crane will be needed for at least one day in

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order to set the building. The County may need to make minor repairs to the road in order
to accommodate the crane and the truck that delivers the shelter. Once construction is
completed, the road will be returned to at least as good a condition as it was prior to
construction.
Once the site is placed in operation, County employees will need to visit the site
approximately four times per year for routine maintenance. Additional visits may be
required in the event of an equipment failure, but this is expected to occur only rarely. The
County radio maintenance personnel drive heavy duty pickup trucks modified with utility
beds, or large SUV-type vehicles.
The County's use of the site will marginally increase the frequency of propane deliveries
above that already occurring with AZDPS' use of the site.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Either I or members of my project team
are available at any time to answer questions or provide additional information.
Sin
Thorri
Director, Wireless Systems
Ma ricopa County, Arizona
attachments: USF&WS Permit M-15 for the Arizona Dept. of Public Safety
Preliminary construction documents
Environmental analysis document