On EMF and safety issues in North Valencia and Saugus

Cal writes "As was recently reported, 220 foot tall electrical towers may soon extend across north Valencia and Saugus neighborhoods under a plan proposed by Southern California Edison and detailed in an environmental impact report (EIR) written by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The City of Santa Clarita is not happy. Can electromagnetic fields (EMF) from power and distribution lines cause brain tumors, leukemia, birth defects, and other health problems?

Legal experts are warning industries whose products/services generate EMF by-products that unless they take some precautions, these companies could face a potential liability disaster-just like asbestos companies did several years ago. The environment is ripe for personal injury suits and property devaluation suits. The City of Santa Clarita is objecting to the EIR citing the electric utility’s use of outdated and inaccurate maps which downplay the number of residences that will be impacted by the installation of the new towers The City also objects to the fact that this project is near the final stages of approval with so very little community discussion/input regarding the potential risks of Electromagnetic fields.(EMF). The City and Congressman Buck McKeon have suggested an alternative routing for these transmission lines which would pass through more of the Angeles Forest areas and avoid residential neighborhoods. The routing alternative was not included in the final EIR documents. Southern California Edison Company, as a public corporation, is required to file a variety of financial reports and prospectuses with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports must contain the facts that an investor needs to make an informed decision. The electric utility’s lawyers and accountants have been including the following ‘Risk Statement’ in these reports:
“Attention also has been focused on the potential health effects of electric and magnetic fields (“EMF”) that naturally result from the generation, transmission, distribution, and use of electricity. The California Department of Health Services released a report in 2002 assigning a substantially higher probability than had other reports that there is a causal connection between EMF exposures and a number of diseases and conditions, including childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and miscarriages.”
The statement continues “It is unclear what actions the CPUC will take to respond to the California Department of Health Services report and to the recent EMF reports by other health authorities such as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the United Kingdom's National Radiation Protection Board. The adoption of new laws and regulations to address the EMF concern, or any litigation arising out of these issues, could adversely affect our operations.” Do you think that the dangers of EMF warrant further discussion in our community ? If the City’s policy makers react too quickly based on fear and public pressure rather than on legitimate risk information, then taxpayers will wind up paying for it in the end. Time and money which could have been spent in addressing more widely recognized public health problems may be misdirected. If, however, no action is taken, and the detrimental health effects of EMFs are confirmed, the Santa Clarita community members’ quality of life may be decreased, lives may be lost unnecessarily, and property values may decrease. It will be very expensive to take care of an EMF problem- after transmission lines have been installed. The lines would have to be relocated out of densely populated areas, or the homes along the power line corridor would have to be abandoned and the property purchased to provide a buffer zone on both sides of the line. Neighborhood distribution lines would have to be replaced with new low field designs. In addition, changes would be required in the way power is distributed to individual homes and within large commercial buildings. Who pays for all these changes? If Southern California Edison bears the burden, then everyone who pays an electric bill will pay a share. If the government picks up the tab, this translates into higher taxes for everyone. We must support our city government in its efforts to make sure that anyone doing business in Santa Clarita does not violate any state or federal laws regarding environmental impacts of projects. We owe it to our community-especially to our families- to educate ourselves regarding EMF. Once we review the facts, we must speak up-NOW- before it’s too late. There are many excellent sources containing background information on EMF including the Minnesota Dept. of Health EMF FAQ and the California EMF Program. In addition, the following three books written by Paul Brodeur ( Investigative reporter -The New Yorker magazine who alerted the nation to the massive public health hazard posed by asbestos) deal with the EMF crisis :The Great Power-Line Cover-Up ; The Zapping of America ; Currents of Death.

Note: - Jeff"

Comments (1)

ChrisAMarch 8 at 2:29 PM PT
I think that this issue should be discussed within the community. What's more, I think this issue should be discussed with an eye to the future as well. Our city is growing, we all know that. Soon, Newhall Ranch will begin construction. There are also tens of thousands of homes slated for other areas around us as well. I have a question - where are they going to get their power? In researching my story posted a few weeks ago, I spoke to a utilities engineer, and I asked him this same question. He told me that while Newhall Ranch was planning to have their own substation, the power will have to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is the Antelope Valley. Which means that they will probably end up placing more power lines through the existing Right of Ways in order to bring in power to the new developments. It also means that there will probably be more homes be built around these power line right of ways as well. So, if one is looking to the future, it seems to me that developing another right-of-way that avoids population centers (as the City's alternative does) would be the best idea, even if it costs a little more up front. It also bothers me greatly that this is occurring and the residents really don't know anything about it. After I wrote the story, I went out and tagged notices on doors of the houses located closest to the power lines. I asked them to email me and let me know if they were aware. Out of 40 notices I posted, I received 2 responses from residents, both didn't know anything about it. I wonder how hard Edison and the CPUC tried to inform the residents. I think that is my biggest concern. With all the development going on around us, people need to be aware of how this will affect their neighborhoods and themselves. Sometimes things get missed, people don't get notified, and disastrous things can happen. (I speak from experience!!) Once something is built, it never gets unbuilt, so it's critically important to be sure it's done right in the first place.