Letter from: Daniel Wartenberg, PhD, Chair, Advisory Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation [New Jersey]

May 3, 1995

Dear Interested Party:

I write to request your assistance and input on the enclosed draft proposal for regulating new and modified high voltage electric power transmission lines in New Jersey.

Over the past several years, New Jersey's Commission on Radiation Protection (CORP), the governmental body that has the legislative authority to promulgate regulations on radiation protection, has been considering the scientific data on the possible adverse health effects of exposure to 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields. CORP charged its Advisory Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation (ACNIR) with development of a draft proposal to regulate all new and modified high voltage electric power transmission lines of 100 kilovolts and higher voltages. ACNIR has held many meeting over the past few years soliciting opinions from experts, utilities and the general public. Through consideration of the scientific literature and the input received at these meetings, we have completed a draft proposal that now is being released for public comment and expert review.

The general philosophy of the draft proposal is to regulate these lines following the principles of prudent avoidance and ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable). That is, the draft proposed regulations seek to limit the magnetic fields within the Rights-of-Way of the lines as much as possible without placing undue cost on the utilities and the rate payers of New Jersey. Based on ACNIR's compilation of published data, the maximum magnetic field reduction (from a horizontal configuration) that it is possible to achieve without excessive cost (i.e., less than a doubling of construction expenses) is 50%.

One of the ACNIR's main concerns is that we do not have the broad range of expertise necessary to review and critique all the issues involved, from the epidemiology to the engineering to the economics. To solicit input, we have published a notice about the draft proposed regulation in the New Jersey Register on May 1, 1995. This notice identifies specific topics on which we would particularly welcome assistance. We would greatly appreciate any input you can provide.

We will be holding a series of Interested Party Reviews during May and June to solicit any and all input on this proposed draft regulation. The times and locations are listed in the enclosed New Jersey Register notice. In addition, we will be accepting written comments until July 15, 1995. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions, comments or input.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Daniel Wartenberg, Chair
Advisory Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation [New Jersey]