The Ombudsman of the Liguria Region Francesco Cozzi, in his capacity as Guarantor for the right to health, in a letter sent to Anci on 14 May urges the Ligurian Municipalities to adopt the Plan to regulate the installation of mobile telephone systems on their territory: with the advent of the latest 5G technology, in fact, these systems are multiplying throughout the territory but only 13 of the 235 Municipalities have regulations that prevent so-called “sensitive” areas, such as schools, hospitals, parks, homes rest, and of environmental value are among the sites potentially suitable for the installation of mobile telephone antennas. 25 years after the entry into force of Regional Law n.18/1999, therefore, very few Ligurian municipalities have adopted regulations to exclude the installation of antennas in sites potentially dangerous to public health.
The data were provided by the offices of the Territory Protection – Environment Directorate of the Liguria Region. After repeated reports from citizens contesting the proliferation of telephone antennas, in recent weeks the Ombudsman has urged Anci to “invigorate” the Municipalities to implement the planning of the sources of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields in order to reduce citizens’ exposure to emissions and therefore protect public health.
“In view of the increase in electromagnetic limits from 6 V/m to a minimum of 15 V/m, included in an amendment to State Law 214/2013 and which came into force just last May, three months ago I had already consulted the councilor regional Environment and Arpal – recalls Cozzi – and the Agency that manages the register of electromagnetic sources has made itself available to support the Municipalities to provide them with the register of plants for each individual Municipality. I therefore decided – continues Cozzi – to request the intervention of Anci Liguria again to raise awareness among the Ligurian municipalities for the adoption of the organization plan of the telecommunications system, in which to identify the sensitive sites precluded from the installation of telephone systems”.
The ombudsman continues: “There are reports from citizens and committees who, from Imperia to La Spezia, complain about the installation of even large and powerful plants in areas of environmental and cultural value and without adequate planning and a preventive development plan by the managers. Thus, the conditions are created to cause strong concerns among the population and disputes at the TAR. Furthermore, press sources predict the rush of operators to grab new spaces or increase the power of the current systems supplied, increasing situations of conflict, also following the revision of the emission limits for exposure to electromagnetic fields in force since last May. It is therefore absolutely necessary – concludes the ombudsman – the intervention of the Municipalities in order to correctly plan the installation of the plants. I also remember that with the regional council decree n. 68/2004, the technical criteria and procedures for the approval of the municipal plans for the organization of the telecommunications system have been established”.
Cozzi explains in detail the Organization Plan, which is prepared by the Municipalities, alternatively, with municipal regulation:
1. identifies the areas suitable for the installation of the systems, or those not considered such, based on the historical, architectural and landscape characteristics of the municipal territory, leaving the achievement of the maximum level of compatibility and harmonization with the specific context to the design phase urban and extra-urban (through appropriate study of the shape, size, materials, color and specific location of the installation to minimize visual intrusion);
2. defines, where deemed necessary in order to guarantee the correct insertion of the systems, the relevant regulations to pursue the objectives referred to in point 1;
3. can prohibit the installation of systems in sensitive sites (schools, parks, hospitals, retirement homes, etc.)
