Letter To The Editor: CL&P's Dirty Little Secret

CL&P is building a 345 kV power line through Suffield and into Massachusetts that, according to CL&P’s testimony to the CSC (Connecticut Siting Council), will produce an average EMF (electromagnetic field) of 269.2 milligauss (mG, a measurement of magnetic field) under the conductors.

Dr. Gary Ginsberg, a highly respected toxicologist at the state Department of Public Health, provided testimony that exposure to levels above 3 mG may elevate the risk of death from childhood leukemia. The forecasted average level is about 90 times greater than the risk level stated by Dr. Ginsberg. Only CL&P knows what the maximum emissions at any given time will be.

Others and I own and use property directly under the conductors. I have asked CL&P to respond, verbally and in writing, the following question and statement:

1. Under the worst output conditions, how long can my family members and others spend under the conductors in a 24-hour period without adverse health effects from EMF?

2. If the company can’t answer no. 1, please state that the company doesn’t know the answer.

CL&P has not responded, despite many efforts to contact the company.

I have asked Attorney General George Jepsen, Suffield’s Board of Selectmen, State Sen. John Kissel, and State Rep. O’Brien to get involved to make sure the health and safety of their Suffield constituents are protected.

I have done considerable research on the effects of EMF on health and I truly believe that an honest answer from CL&P to the first request would be “we don't know.”

There isn't any agreement among science professionals as to whether EMF is or is not a health risk contributor. But the CSC has guidelines in place, as part of its best management practices, to reduce the magnitude of EMF radiation.

Any intelligent person would have to ask: If EMF is not a health concern then why does the CSC have guidelines, which impact cost of construction, to reduce it? CL&P will say the magnitude of the EMF depends on several factors, including line load.

A landowner who wants to make a decision on whether it would be safer to enter his property, or a part of his property, now or later should have an immediate method to measure the magnitude of EMF. You can't see EMF so you have to use a device called a gauss meter to measure it. Since CL&P is creating the possible risk, I think the onus should be on them to offer these gauss meters free of charge to affected landowners (the people who own property in Suffield and other towns that is crossed by the easement in Suffield and other towns).

This is not a CSC issue, although they could have made it a requirement of approval, but rather one of corporate responsibility to the public.

Bruce Millick

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