Bill Text: CA AB1760 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Navigable airspace: meteorological evaluation towers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-04-09 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB1760 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB1760-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1760 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Halderman
FEBRUARY 17, 2012
An act to add Section 21658.5 to the Public Utilities Code,
relating to navigable airspace.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1760, as introduced, Halderman. Navigable airspace:
meteorological evaluation towers.
The State Aeronautics Act prohibits a public utility from
constructing any pole, pole line, distribution or transmission tower,
or tower line, or substation structure in the vicinity of the
exterior boundary of an aircraft landing area of any airport open to
public use, in a location with respect to the airport and at a height
so as to constitute an obstruction to air navigation, unless the
Federal Aviation Administration has determined that the pole, line,
tower, or structure does not constitute a hazard to air navigation.
This bill would require that any meteorological evaluation tower,
as defined, be painted in alternating bands of aviation orange and
white paint and require that sleeves and high visibility spherical
marker or cable balls of aviation orange color be placed, as
specified, on its guy wires.
With a specified exception, any person violating any provision of
the State Aeronautics Act is punishable by a fine of not more than
$1,000 or by imprisonment of not more than 6 months.
Because the requirements of the bill are part of the act, the bill
would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 21658.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code,
to read:
21658.5. (a) For purposes of this section, "meteorological
evaluation tower" means a tower structure erected in a remote or
rural area for the purpose of determining feasible sites for wind
turbines.
(b) The main body of any meteorological evaluation tower that is
less than 200 feet in height above ground level shall be painted with
alternating bands of aviation orange and white paint. The paint
shall be replaced when faded or otherwise deteriorated.
(c) Unless doing so would impair the structural integrity of the
tower, one high visibility sleeve shall be placed on each guy wire
anchor point of a meteorological evaluation tower that is less than
200 feet in height above ground level. The sleeve shall be placed so
that it reaches a height above any crop or vegetation canopy near the
tower. Another sleeve shall be installed on each of the outer guy
wires. Eight high visibility spherical marker or cable balls of
aviation orange color shall be attached to the guy wires of each
tower, with four balls attached no further than 15 feet from the top
wire connection and four balls at or below the midpoint of the
structure on the outer guy wires.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.
