Field Review and Hearing Directions

HEARING NOTICE

Pursuant to provisions of General Statutes § 16-50m and Section 16-50j-21 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, notice is hereby given that the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, May 14, 2009, beginning at 3:00 p.m., and continued at 7:00 p.m., at the Farmington Community and Senior Center, Rooms A&B, 321 New Britain Avenue, Unionville, Connecticut, and thereafter as necessary. The hearing will be on an application from Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public need for the construction, maintenance and operation of a telecommunications facility located at 199 Town Farm Road, Farmington, Connecticut.

The purpose of the hearing is to hear evidence on the applicant’s contentions that the public need for the facility outweighs any adverse environmental effects that would result from the construction, operation, or maintenance of a tower, ground equipment, and access road. The 3:00 p.m. hearing session will provide the applicant, parties, and intervenors an opportunity to cross-examine positions. The applicant will be allowed a final rebuttal. Briefs will be entertained after the close of the last hearing session. The 7:00 p.m. hearing session will be reserved for the public to make brief statements into the record. Cross-examination of parties and intervenors will resume, if necessary, after all statements have been heard.

The Council will conduct a public field review of the proposed site on Thursday, May 14, 2009, beginning at 2:00 p.m. The applicant will fly a balloon during the field review to simulate the height of the proposed facility.

Applicable law for this proceeding includes the Public Utility Environmental Standards Act, General Statutes § 16-50g, et seq., and Sections 16-50j-1 through 16-50v-la of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

The Council will hold a pre-hearing conference on procedural matters on Thursday, April 30, 2009, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Council’s office, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, Connecticut.

The Council directs that all testimony and exhibits be pre-filed with the Council and all parties and intervenors by May 7, 2009. In accordance with the State Solid Waste Management Plan, the Council requests that all filings be submitted on recyclable paper, primarily regular weight white office paper. Please avoid using heavy stock paper, colored paper, and metal or plastic binders and separators.

Individuals are encouraged to participate through their elected officials, and other party/intervenor groupings.

Any person seeking to be named or admitted as a party or intervenor to the proceeding may file a written request to be so designated at the office of the Connecticut Siting Council, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, Connecticut 06051, on or before May 7, 2009.

Parties and intervenors will be allowed to submit briefs and proposed findings of fact within 30 days after the close of the hearing.

Any person who is not a party or intervenor to this proceeding may file a written statement with the Council at the hearing or any time up to 30 days thereafter. Such statements will become part of the record. No written statement or any other material, evidence, or other information will be accepted from any person not a party or intervenor to the proceeding after 30 days following the close of the hearing, except as otherwise prescribed by law or the Council.

A verbatim transcript of the hearing session(s) will be made and deposited with the Town Clerk’s Offices of the Farmington and Avon Town Halls for the convenience of the public.

Requests for information in alternative formats or for sign-language interpreter services must be submitted in writing by May 7, 2009.

The applicant of this facility is represented by the following:

Applicant                                                   Its Representative

Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless

Joey Lee Miranda, Esq. Robinson & Cole LLP 280 Trumbull Street Hartford, CT 06103-3597

A copy of the application is available for review at the Council’s office during office hours at 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, Connecticut, (860) 827-2935. The Council has assigned this application docket no. 374.

March 18, 2009                         Connecticut Siting Council