Potential environmental effects of 765-kV transmission lines: views before the New York State Public Service Commission, Cases 26529 and 26559, 1976-1978

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5766103· OSTI ID:5766103

Scott-Walton, B.; Clark, K. M.; Holt, B. R.; Jones, D. C.; Kaplan, S. D.; Krebs, J. S.; Polson, P.; Shepherd, R. A.; Young, J. R.

Testimony given before the New York Public Service Commission in two recent cases on the potential environmental effects of 765-kV overhead ac transmission lines is reviewed. The testimony focused on the potential effects of audible noise, on the potential biological effects of the electromagnetic fields, on the potential for electric shocks to people who touch vehicles parked under the proposed lines, on the potential effects of the electromagnetic fields on electronic cardiac pacemakers, and on potential effects of ozone produced by corona discharge from the lines. The testimony fully explored these questions; however, it did not resolve all of them. The testimony indicates potential impacts from the audible noise and from the electrostatic shocks that people can receive when they touch a large vehicle parked under the lines. The testimony also indicates that certain cardiac pacemaker and lead combinations may, under certain circumstances, undergo reversion to a fixed rate of pacing in the presence of the fields under the lines, but that little risk to cardiac patients results except possibly for those patients for whom competition between the heart's own rate and the pacemaker rate presents a health risk. The testimony fails to demonstrate biological hazards from the field; further research is necessary to understand better the effects of the fields on biological systems. The testimony indicates that ozone produced by the lines will not significantly affect the environment.

• Research Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-03-0115-120
• OSTI ID: 5766103
• Report Number(s): DOE/EV-0056
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
EHV AC SYSTEMS
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CARDIAC PACEMAKERS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
NEW YORK
OVERHEAD POWER TRANSMISSION
SAFETY
AC SYSTEMS
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
NORTH AMERICA
POWER SYSTEMS
POWER TRANSMISSION
USA
200301* - Power Transmission & Distribution- AC Systems
EHV & UHV- (-1989)