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AN ACT Relating to personal wireless service facilities; adding a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW; adding a new section to chapter 80.36 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 19.27 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.92 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.21C RCW to read as follows:

(1) Decisions pertaining to applications to site personal wireless service facilities are not subject to the requirements of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c), if those facilities meet the following requirements:

(a)(i) The facility to be sited is a microcell and is to be attached to an existing structure that is not a residence or school and does not contain a residence or a school; or (ii) the facility includes personal wireless service antennas, other than a microcell, and is to be attached to an existing structure (that may be an existing tower) that is not a residence or school and does not contain a residence or a school, and the existing structure to which it is to be attached is located in a commercial, industrial, manufacturing, forest, or agricultural zone; or (iii) the siting project involves constructing a personal wireless service tower less than sixty feet in height that is located in a commercial, industrial, manufacturing, forest, or agricultural zone; and

(b) The project is not in a designated environmentally sensitive area; and

(c) The project does not consist of a series of actions: (i) Some of which are not categorically exempt; or (ii) that together may have a probable significant adverse environmental impact.

(2) The department of ecology shall adopt rules to create a categorical exemption for microcells and other personal wireless service facilities that meet the conditions set forth in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Personal wireless services" means commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services, as defined by federal laws and regulations.

(b) "Personal wireless service facilities" means facilities for the provision of personal wireless services.

(c) "Microcell" means a wireless communication facility consisting of an antenna that is either: (i) Four feet in height and with an area of not more than five hundred eighty square inches; or (ii) if a tubular antenna, no more than four inches in diameter and no more than six feet in length.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 80.36 RCW to read as follows:

(1) If a personal wireless service provider applies to site several microcells in a single geographical area:

(a) If one or more of the microcells are not exempt from the requirements of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c), local governmental entities are encouraged: (i) To allow the applicant, at the applicant's discretion, to file a single set of documents required by chapter 43.21C RCW that will apply to all the microcells to be sited; and (ii) to render decisions under chapter 43.21C RCW regarding all the microcells in a single administrative proceeding; and

(b) Local governmental entities are encouraged: (i) To allow the applicant, at the applicant's discretion, to file a single set of documents for land use permits that will apply to all the microcells to be sited; and (ii) to render decisions regarding land use permits for all the microcells in a single administrative proceeding.

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Personal wireless services" means commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services, as defined by federal laws and regulations.

(b) "Microcell" means a wireless communication facility consisting of an antenna that is either: (i) Four feet in height and with an area of not more than five hundred eighty square inches; or (ii) if a tubular antenna, no more than four inches in diameter and no more than six feet in length.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 19.27 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state building code council shall exempt equipment shelters of personal wireless service facilities from building envelope insulation requirements.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "personal wireless service facilities" means facilities for the provision of personal wireless services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 70.92 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The state building code council shall amend its rules under chapter 70.92 RCW, to the extent practicable while still maintaining the certification of those regulations under the federal Americans with disabilities act, to exempt equipment shelters for personal wireless service facilities that meet the following conditions: (a) The shelter is not located on or otherwise attached to a building or structure subject to barrier-free access requirements; (b) the shelter is not staffed; and (c) to conduct maintenance activities, employees who visit the shelter must be able to climb. In addition, the department of ecology shall adopt rules to add an exception to WAC 51-30-1103, section 1103.1 for equipment shelters that meet the same conditions.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "personal wireless service facilities" means facilities for the provision of personal wireless services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:

When funds are appropriated for this purpose, the department shall conduct a survey of scientific literature regarding the possible health effects of human exposure to the radio frequency part of the electromagnetic spectrum (300Hz to 300GHz). The department shall submit the survey results to the legislature, prepare a summary of that survey, and make the summary available to the public. The department shall update the survey and summary periodically.