[TowerTalk] Towers and Concrete with soggy soil

[Gilmer, Mike]

I've got some land I'm hoping to clear (somewhat) this summer so I can
erect two (I hope) guyed towers.  The land has a lot of scattered
patches (some big, some not-so-big) of standing water (a few inches
deep).  They generally dry up a bit after Spring but some more tenacious
"puddles" remain. The Upstate-NY soil is mostly clay and rocks with a
little dirt on top.

Questions:

TECHNICAL:
Is the soggy soil a safe environment for putting up a tower?
Specifically - what affect does soggy land have on the attributes of the
guy and base concrete and rebar (curing time, long-term "holding"
ability, etc.)?
(I don't think I'll be burying any cables in this stuff, either!)

What does one do if water seeps into the guy holes while they're being
dug?
(My guess is to pump it out just before any concrete is poured though
that could be hard with the pump I have if there is a cage of rebar in
the way)

Other than for clearance needed for getting a big antenna up the tower,
how far from the guys would be recommended for tree removal?
(My plan is to cut everything down that could fall on any guy or the
tower - too simplistic?)

Since the designated tower zone (DTZ) is in the woods and not accessible
by cement trucks - what are my options for making the concrete?
I plan on renting (or borrowing) a small mixer-on-a-trailer - hopefully
my 4WD pickup can get it into the DTZ.  I know this will be a lot of
work but wheelbarrowing it all from a big truck across 300 feet of
forest floor seems worse.

Ah, for a dry, already-cleared field...


LEGAL:
What do TTers think about whether I should attempt a permit on the
towers?  I live in a rural area (400-head dairy farm across the street
for example) but have a few neighbors (the closest are 500 feet away
from planned towers, others are >>1000 feet).  And, the two closest
spend the cold months in Florida.  I have ~12 acres of land, all fairly
well treed. I'd like to hear legalistic as well as practical comments -
please respond privately.

Thanks all!

Mike N2MG

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