Proposed New Jersey Regulations Governing Magnetic Fields From Electric Power Transmission Lines

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

• Alternating current means a periodic sinusoidal current, alternately varying between equal positive and negative peaks. The unit for measuring the strength of the alternating current is the ampere (A).
• ANSI is the American National Standards Institute, Inc.
• Anticipated average and maximum current flow means those averages and maximum circuit currents expected as determined from historical or special study data.
• Centerline means the real or imaginary line designating the center of the circuit(s) comprising the electric power transmission or subtransmission line. Commission means the New Jersey Commission on Radiation Protection.
• Department means the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
• Electric field means the RMS (root mean squared) amplitude of the electric field produced by an electric power transmission line as measured at a height of one meter above ground level, expressed in kilovolts per meter (kV/m).
• Electric power line means transmission and other lower voltage lines.
• Electric power distribution line for the purposes of this subchapter, means a system of conductors used to transport electrical energy of an alternating current at voltages equal to or less than 26 kilovolts, at a frequency of 60 Hz, from a source or sources of supply to other principal parts of the system, including to consumers' service entrance equipment.
• Electric power subtransmission line for the purposes of this subchapter, means a system of conductors used to transport bulk electrical energy of an alternating current at voltages equal to or greater than 26 kilovolts, but less than 100 kilovolts, and at a frequency of 60 Hz, from a source or sources of supply to other principal parts of the system.
• Electric power transmission line for the purposes of this subchapter, means a system of conductors used to transport bulk electrical energy of an alternating current at voltages of 100 kilovolts or greater and at a frequency of 60 Hertz (Hz), from a source or sources of supply to other principal parts of the system.
• Electric power transmission or subtransmission line owner means the legal owner of an electric power transmission or subtransmission line.
• Exposure means an instance where a person is within the electric and magnetic field created by an electric power transmission, subtransmission or distribution line.
• Frequency means the number of complete cycles of sinusoidal variations per unit of time, expressed in Hertz (cycles per second). For electric power facilities in the United States, the commonly used frequency is 60 Hz.
• Hertz (Hz) is the SI unit for cycles per second.
• Highest operating voltage means the maximum voltage value set forth for a particular electric power transmission line in Table 1, ANSI C84.1, Voltage Ratings for Electric Power Systems and Equipment (60 Hz), latest revision, or ANSI C92.2, Preferred Voltage Ratings for Alternating-Current Electrical Systems and Equipment Operating at Voltages above 230 Kilovolts Nominal, latest revision.
• IEEE means the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc.
• Kilovolt (kV) means one thousand volts. Kilovolt per meter means a unit of measurement of electric field strength generally measured at a point one meter above ground and expressed as kV/m.
• Magnetic field means the RMS (root mean squared) amplitude of the magnetic flux density produced by an electric power line as measured one meter above ground, expressed in gauss or tesla.
• Maximum current rating (MCR) means the maximum quantity of electric current, expressed in amperes that can be continuously carried by the conductors of an electrical circuit as determined by the electrical power transmission or subtransmission line owner.
• Modified means the alteration of a portion of an electric power transmission or subtransmission line, said portion having a minimum length of 0.5 mile, by reconductoring, reinsulating or rebuilding for any reason that may result in any change to the magnetic field arising from electric current flow on this line after the effective date of this rule.
• Phase means the separation in time between each voltage with its associated current and the conductor(s) that comprise a polyphase system. All peak voltages are equal in magnitude as are all peak currents but each voltage/current is displaced from the other by equal time intervals. For instance, a three (3) phase 60 Hz system would have its voltages/currents separated by 1/180 of a second.
• Recreational area means any area used for active, non- occupational activities such as but not limited to playgrounds, ball fields, tennis courts and school yards. This is not meant to apply to passive uses such as hiking or camping.
• RMS means root-mean-squared which is the square root of the mean of the squares of the instantaneous values for a sine wave. For a sine wave, it is numerically equal to 0.707 of the maximum value.
• Right-of-way (ROW) means a term used only for the purposes of determining the appropriate points for compliance with this rule, and not for the purpose of determining a legal interest in the property and may mean any of the following, as appropriate:
  • (a) Land where the electric power line owner has property interest, such as, but not limited to, an easement, prescriptive easement, or fee simple title, and which is used or designated for construction, operation, and maintenance of electric power transmission lines
  • (b) In areas where the electric power line owner has a property interest as described in (a) and where such interest is adjacent to a public road or adjacent to or within the boundary of a property or easement of a railroad, utility pipeline, communication line, or public utility linear facility, or conservation zone, or canal, the ROW will be assumed to extend to the furthermost edge of such property or easement.
  • (c) In areas where the electric power line owner does not have a property interest in the land where the electric power transmission line is located, or where the electric power transmission line is located in a public road, for the purpose of this rule, the ROW will be assumed to extend 65 feet from each outside conductor.
  • (d) For electric power line crossings of public roads and bodies of water, the ROW, for the purposes of this rule, shall be assumed to extend 65 feet from each outside conductor.
• Standard horizontal configuration means all circuit conductors or conductor bundles lie in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the centerline of the transmission line.
• Standard low reactance configuration means the phases of multiple circuits are not arranged in the same physical positions or electrical sequence, so as to produce the minimum circuit reactance.
• Standard superbundle configuration means the phases of multiple circuits are arranged in the same relative positions and electrical sequence, so as to produce the lowest voltage gradient at the surface of the conductors.
• Voltage means the effective RMS (root mean squared) potential difference between any two conductors or between a conductor and ground, expressed in the unit of the volt (V). Voltages are expressed in nominal values as set forth in Table 1, ANSI C84.1, Voltage Ratings for Electric Power Systems and Equipment (60 Hz), latest revision, unless otherwise indicated. The nominal voltage is the value assigned for the purpose of convenient designation. The operating voltage may vary above or below this value.