Representative Steve R. Christiansen proposes the following substitute bill:


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METEOROLOGICAL EVALUATION TOWER MARKING

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Steve R. Christiansen

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Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill establishes requirements relating to the marking of meteorological evaluation
10     towers.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms; and
14          ▸     establishes marking requirements for meteorological evaluation towers.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     ENACTS:
21          72-10-133, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 72-10-133 is enacted to read:
25          72-10-133. Marking of meteorological evaluation towers.

26          (1) As used in this section:
27          (a) "Meteorological evaluation tower" means a permanent or temporary tower used for
28     meteorological evaluation that:
29          (i) is supported by guy wires and ground anchors; and
30          (ii) has accessory facilities on which an antenna, sensor, camera, meteorological
31     instrument, or other meteorological monitoring equipment is mounted.
32          (b) "Meteorological evaluation tower" does not include:
33          (i) a tower registered with the Federal Communications Commission; or
34          (ii) a tower that is primarily used to support telecommunications equipment, including:
35          (A) a microwave relay facility; and
36          (B) a tower erected for the purpose of providing commercial mobile radio service or
37     commercial mobile data service, as those terms are defined in 47 C.F.R. Sec. 20.3.
38          (2) Except as required by federal law, rule, or regulation, a meteorological evaluation
39     tower shall be marked as described in Subsection (3) if the tower is:
40          (a) over 50 feet in height;
41          (b) located outside of an incorporated city or town; and
42          (c) on land that is primarily rural, undeveloped, or used for agricultural purposes.
43          (3) (a) A meteorological evaluation tower shall:
44          (i) be painted in equal alternating bands of aviation orange and white, beginning with
45     orange at the top and bottom of the tower, to be visible in clear air during daylight hours from a
46     distance of at least two thousand feet;
47          (ii) have a high-visibility safety sleeve at least seven feet long on each guy wire,
48     extending from the anchor point along each guy wire attached to the anchor point;
49          (iii) have a spherical marker attached to the top third of each of the highest guy wires;
50     and
51          (iv) have a flashing light at the top of the tower that, when flashing, is visible during
52     nighttime from a distance of at least two thousand feet.
53          (b) The owner of a meteorological evaluation tower shall replace the markings
54     described in Subsection (3)(a) when they become inoperable, faded, or otherwise deteriorated.
55          (4) The owner of a meteorological evaluation tower erected before May 5, 2021, shall
56     meet the requirements of this section before May 5, 2022.