Agenda - Council - 06/25/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Enterprise Park to Crooked Lake 115 kV Transmission Line March 2012 Environmental Assessment • Some epidemiological results do show a weak but consistent association between childhood leukemia and increasing exposure to EMF (see the conclusion of IARC and NIEHS). However, epidemiological studies alone are considered insufficient for concluding that a cause and effect relationship exists, and the association must be supported by data from laboratory studies. Existing laboratory studies have not substantiated this relationship (see NTP, 1999; Takebe et al., 2001), nor have scientists been able to understand the biological mechanism of how EMF could cause adverse effects. In addition, epidemiological studies of various other diseases, in both children and adults, have failed to show any consistent pattern of harm from EMF. • The Minnesota Department of Health concludes that the current body of evidence is insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship between EMF and adverse health effects. However, as with many other environmental health issues, the possibility of a health risk from EMF cannot be dismissed. Construction of new generation and transmission facilities to meet increasing electrical needs in the State is likely to increase exposure to EMF and public concern regarding potential adverse health effects. • Based upon its review, the Work Group believes the most appropriate public health policy is to take a prudent avoidance approach to regulating EMF. Based upon this approach, policy recommendations of the Work Group include: o Apply low-cost EMF mitigation options in electric infrastructure construction projects; o Encourage conservation; o Encourage distributed generation; o Continue to monitor EMF research; o Encourage utilities to work with customers on household EMF issues; and o Provide public education on EMF issues (MSIWG, 2002). A viable cause and effect relationship between the exposure to EMFs and adverse health effects has not been established. The calculated electric fields for the Project at 1 meter (approximately 3.28 feet) above ground are displayed in Table 5.6. Estimates of the anticipated strength of the magnetic field associated with the Project routes are displayed in Table 5.7. The maximum electric field associated with the Project (1.39 kV/m) would be significantly less than the maximum limit of 8 kV/m, which would be a permit condition imposed by the PUC. The maximum calculated peak magnetic field strength at 1 meter aboveground would be 87.35 mG. Because the actual power flow on a transmission line could potentially vary widely throughout the day depending on electric demand, the actual magnetic field level could also vary widely from hour to hour. In any case, the typical magnitude of the magnetic field associated with the Project's transmission lines is expected to be well below the calculated intensity at the expected peak loading. The Commission does not impose permit conditions that limit magnetic field strength. 36