WYDOT reminds meteorological tower owners of regulations

Cheyenne – During the 2009 General Session of the 60th Wyoming Legislature, SF 143 was created with safety in mind, especially regarding the many anemometer towers that have been erected across the state to gather information about wind quality.
“Persons owning or leasing meteorological towers in Wyoming that have been erected for the development or study of wind power are required to mark the structures to make them visible and report their locations,” says information provided by the Wyoming Department of Transportation, which has expressed concerns with awareness of the regulation.
Structures are required to be made visible so that they can be recognizable in clear air during daylight hours from a distance of at least 2,000 feet. Structures can be made visible by lighting, marking, painting, flagging, or otherwise constructing the tower in a manner that makes the tower visible from at least 2,000 feet.
Structures must be marked if they meet all of the following criteria:
1)    The structure is located outside the exterior boundaries of any incorporated city, town or recorded subdivision, and the structure’s appearance is not otherwise mandated by state or federal law or rule of regulation.
2)    The structure is at least 50 feet above the ground.
3)    The structure is associated with the development or study of wind power (i.e., meteorological tower or “met tower”).
4)    The structure was erected, raised after being lowered, or purchased or leased on or after March 4, 2009.
Every person owning or leasing a structure meeting the first three criteria in section A must report the following data, to the Wyoming Department of Transportation:
1)    The structure’s exact location either in UTMs (Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system) or latitude and longitude coordinates (see “Understanding UTM Values” and “Understanding Latitude and Longitude” below for details). The exact location coordinates can easily be read using a GPS unit.
2)    Elevation of ground at site of tower (in feet).
3)    The structure’s height above the ground (in feet).
4)    The structure’s owner (this data will not be made available to the public).
5)    The method used to make the structure visible (lighting, painting, etc.).
All data must be entered into the Met Tower Database which can be accessed through the Wyoming Department of Transportation website. Statutory requirements and further information may be found at: http://gf.state.wy.us/METTowers/default.aspx.
Article compiled by Christy Hemken, managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.