Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 53 First Substitute (2021GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Christiansen, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/11/2021

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms; and
• establishes marking requirements for meteorological evaluation towers.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

METEOROLOGICAL EVALUATION TOWER MARKING
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve R. Christiansen
Senate Sponsor: 
Wayne A. Harper
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill establishes requirements relating to the marking of meteorological evaluation
towers.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms; and
▸ establishes marking requirements for meteorological evaluation towers. 
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
72-10-133
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
72-10-133
 is enacted to read:
 72-10-133.
Marking of meteorological evaluation towers.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Meteorological evaluation tower" means a permanent or temporary tower used for
meteorological evaluation that:
(i) is supported by guy wires and ground anchors; and
(ii) has accessory facilities on which an antenna, sensor, camera, meteorological
instrument, or other meteorological monitoring equipment is mounted.
(b) "Meteorological evaluation tower" does not include:
(i) a tower registered with the Federal Communications Commission; or
(ii) a tower that is primarily used to support telecommunications equipment, including:
(A) a microwave relay facility; and
(B) a tower erected for the purpose of providing commercial mobile radio service or
commercial mobile data service, as those terms are defined in 47 C.F.R. Sec. 20.3.
(2) Except as required by federal law, rule, or regulation, a meteorological evaluation
tower shall be marked as described in Subsection (3) if the tower is:
(a) over 50 feet in height;
(b) located outside of an incorporated city or town; and
(c) on land that is primarily rural, undeveloped, or used for agricultural purposes.
(3) (a) A meteorological evaluation tower shall:
(i) be painted in equal alternating bands of aviation orange and white, beginning with
orange at the top and bottom of the tower, to be visible in clear air during daylight hours from a
distance of at least two thousand feet;
(ii) have a high-visibility safety sleeve at least seven feet long on each guy wire,
extending from the anchor point along each guy wire attached to the anchor point;
(iii) have a spherical marker attached to the top third of each of the highest guy wires;
and
(iv) have a flashing light at the top of the tower that, when flashing, is visible during
nighttime from a distance of at least two thousand feet.
(b) The owner of a meteorological evaluation tower shall replace the markings
described in Subsection (3)(a) when they become inoperable, faded, or otherwise deteriorated.
(4) The owner of a meteorological evaluation tower erected before May 5, 2021, shall
meet the requirements of this section before May 5, 2022.