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<title>June 2004: Connecticut General Assemble Requires Assessment of
Electromagnetic Field Impact on Transmission Line Siting</title>
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<p align="left"><strong><small><font face="Arial">About The Author:</font></small></strong></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial" style="font-size: 9pt">Robert A. Olson is a partner in the law firm of
Brown, Olson & Gould, P.C. which maintains a nationwide practice in energy law,
public utility law and related commercial transactions.</font></p>
<p><small><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 9pt">He can be reached at:</font><br>
<br>
<b><font color="#0000FF">Brown, Olson & Gould, PC</font></b><br>
2 Delta Drive<br>
Suite 301<br>
Concord, NH 03301<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><br>
(603) 225-9716<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]"></a></font></small></p>
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<p align="left"><b><u>June</u></b><u><b> 2004</b></u><font size="6"><b><br>
Connecticut General Assembly <br>
Requires Assessment of Electromagnetic <br>
Field Impact on Transmission Line Siting</b></font><strong><br>
by Robert Olson -- Brown, Olson and Wilson, P.C.<br>
</strong><font face="Arial" size="2">(<em>originally published by PMA OnLine Magazine:
200</em>4/</font><font size="2">06/27)</font></p>
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<p align="justify">The Connecticut General Assembly recently passed
legislation which imposes additional criteria on utilities seeking a
certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for new
facilities. Public Act No. 04-246. Legislators describe the amendment to
existing siting statutes as “one of the highest bars in the country for
electromagnetic fields and standards for construction of transmission
lines.” Connecticut House of Representatives, Transcript for May 3, 2004.<br>
<br>
<b>Public Health Concerns</b><br>
Legislators were responding to concerns expressed by constituents in areas
to be affected by Connecticut Light and Power Company’s proposed 345-kV
transmission line between Middletown and Norwalk, Connecticut. Intervenors
before the Connecticut Siting Council filed expert testimony that operation
of the proposed overhead high voltage power lines would be expected to pose
a long-term health hazard, particularly to children. Connecticut Siting
Council, Docket No. 272, Testimony of Dr. Leonard Bell, et al. Residents
voiced these concerns to their legislative representatives. The General
Assembly did not make findings that such a health hazard exists, but decided
to pass the act as a public health and safety measure to reduce possible
hazardous health risks due to electromagnetic fields (“EMF”).<br>
<br>
<b>Presumption of Public Benefit</b><br>
The act creates a presumption that 345 kV lines in all residential areas
will meet the law’s public benefit standard if the facility is substantially
underground. The presumption may be overcome by evidence submitted to the
satisfaction of the Siting Council. The act directs the Siting Council to
consider the best management of EMF practices in making its decisions
regarding placement of high voltage power lines. The Siting Council is
directed to take administrative notice of completed and on-going scientific
and medical research on electromagnetic fields and may adopt standards
regarding best management practices. The act also directs the Siting Council
to consider whether it will be technologically infeasible to bury the
facility.<br>
<br>
<b>Costs of Compliance Recoverable in Rates</b><br>
Legislators speaking in support of the act stated that cost should not be a
consideration. The act does state that all prudent costs associated with
burial “shall be deemed to be reasonable” and shall be recovered by the
electric distribution company in rates. Public Act No. 04-246. The specific
language of the act requires applicants to provide “a justification for
overhead portions, if any, including life-cycle cost studies comparing
overhead alternatives with underground alternatives, and effects … of
undergrounding.” Legislators were not able to assess the additional costs
imposed by the legislation, estimating an approximate 1% to 2% increase in
rates across the state.<br>
<br>
<b>Effective Date of the Act</b><br>
The effective date of the legislation specifically makes the act applicable
to petitions for a certificate of environmental compatibility and public
need filed on or after October 1, 2003, for which the Connecticut Siting
Council has not rendered a decision. Connecticut Light and Power filed its
application for the Middletown to Norwalk transmission line on October 9,
2003 and is therefore subject to the terms of the act. The act was
transferred to the Secretary of State on May 21, 2004 and will be sent to
the governor for signature, at which time the governor has fifteen days to
act or the bill becomes law without the governor’s signature.</p>
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<blockquote>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial">
<small>Robert A. Olson is a partner in the law firm of Brown, Olson &
Gould P.C.
which maintains a nationwide practice in energy law, public utility law and related
commercial transactions. He can be reached at:</small></font><p align="center">
<font face="Arial"><small><font color="#0000FF"><b>Brown, Olson & Gould, PC</b></font><br>
2 Delta Drive, Suite 301<br>
Concord, NH 03301 <br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> | (603) 225-9716<a href="mailto:[email protected]"></a></small></font>
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