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

(a) Any owner seeking to construct a new, or to modify an existing electric power transmission line shall submit a report to the Department and to the Mayor of each township to be affected at least 90 days prior to the planned start of construction or modification. The information will be used for a database and shall be a public record. The public shall be notified of the availability of this report by the utilities by following the procedures stipulated in the Administrative Procedures Act. This report shall contain the following information:

1. The highest operating voltage.

2. The anticipated average and maximum current flow per phase and normal flow direction.

3. Physical dimensions of and between all conductors and distance of conductors to earth.

4. A route map based on the New Jersey Plane Coordinates or latitude and longitude background and standardized geographic coordinates of all structure locations in digital form.

5. ROW description including adjacent habitation, schools, and public buildings.

6. The rationale for selecting the particular line design parameters as it relates to magnetic field exposure including the factors used in the determination. It shall include but not be limited to the following:

i. technical factors;

ii. cost trade-offs;

iii. siting that minimizes potential exposure;

iv. calculated values of the magnetic fields under anticipated average and maximum current flow conditions at every 25 foot interval from the centerline, as measured perpendicular thereto, to the edge of the ROW or 100 feet from the centerline, whichever is greater, in accordance with 7:28-44.6 (Computational Methodology).

v. a description of all alternatives considered and why they were rejected; and

vi. a list of other permits required by the Department before constructing the line.

7. Date of anticipated energization.

(b) Any owner seeking to construct a new, or modify an existing single circuit or double circuit electric power transmission line shall select a line design which will reduce the magnetic field by at least 50% of standard horizontal configuration for single circuit lines, standard superbundle configuration for double circuit lines with current flowing from both circuits in the same direction, or standard low reactance configuration for double circuit lines with current from each circuit flowing in opposite directions to the other circuit, as calculated under anticipated average and maximum current flow for every 50 foot interval from the centerline, as measured on a perpendicular thereto, from the centerline to the edge of the ROW or 100 feet from the centerline, whichever is greater.

(c) Any owner may request an exemption from the requirements of the above sections for all or part of a proposed or modified electric power transmission line. However, the owner must provide sufficient information (e.g., economic hardship, substantially reduced exposures) why the requirements cannot or should not be met to allow the Commissioner to make a determination whether such an exemptions should be given.

(d) Any person likely to be affected by the proposed or modified line may request issuance of a more stringent requirement for magnetic field reduction for all or part of a proposed or modified line. However, the person must provide sufficient information demonstrate the uniqueness of all or the specified part of the proposed or modified line (e.g., unusually sensitive population exposure) and must stipulate why and how the requirements should be amended to accommodate their concern. This request must pertain specifically to the line or part of the line in question rather than being a request for a reevaluation of the entire regulation, which can be addressed through normal requests to the Commission. These stipulations will provide grounds for the Commissioner to consider such requests.