| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 17 Preferred Alternative The Preferred Alternative is the proposed action which would construct one 349-foot and four 199-foot self-supporting AM signal transmission structures to be used as a digital broadcast replacement site for KRKO Radio, and an 816 square foot equipment shelter. Phase II would include an additional four self-supporting transmission structures at 199-feet tall designed and constructed to co-locate other communications users, including other radio stations. These heights include an elevated base for each structure. The tallest structure will be painted and lighted as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA does not require lighting for structures less than 200 feet tall. FAA approval for the structures has been granted. Upon completion of Phase II, S-R Broadcasting plans to remove KRKO�s current antennas on Larimer Road. Construction of a possible second equipment shelter could occur after completion of Phase II if required to accommodate future collocation. Alternative 2: Alternative 2 includes the construction of one self-supporting antenna at 349 feet, and three selfsupporting antennas up to 199 feet tall. This alternative also includes the construction of a 816 square foot equipment shelter and access to the Antenna site. This alternative does not include construction and implementation of Phase II, as described under the Preferred Alternative. This alternative would allow KRKO to expand its night time coverage and upgrade its equipment to utilize the newest technology and increase broadcast range through out the county. However, this alternative may require that the existing lighted, guyed antennas remain in place along Larimer Road. No Action Alternative: Under the No Action Alternative no radio antenna structures would be built at the Shorts School Road site, and KRKO would continue to broadcast from it�s present location along Larimer Road. The current KRKO site on Larimer Road is no longer reliable, and continues to deteriorate. It was originally designed in 1959 to accommodate a population distribution in Snohomish County that has changed considerably over the last 44 years. Consequently, under the No Action Alternative there would be no opportunity for improvement of nighttime coverage, emergency coverage would not improve, and the possibility of providing border-toborder service coverage across the County would not be possible. |