STATE OF NEW YORK PUBLIC SERVICE COMISSION
CASES 26529 & 26559 - Comon Record Hearings On Health And Safety of 165 kV Transmision Lines.
STAFF'S INITIAL BRIEF
ROBERT A. SIMPSON - Staff Counsel
Dated: Albany, New York
August 30, 1977
CONTENTS
A. Positions of the Witnesses
B. Dr. Becker and Dr. Marino's Rat And Mice Studies.
C. Dr. Marino's Rat Experiments Indicate That Electric Fields May Cause Stress But They Are Not Conclusive
1. Experiments 1-4: Animal Cage Density
2. Pooling of Blood Serum
3. Statistical Procedures
4. Grounding Microcurrents
5. Animal Holding Times And Vibration
6. Stress Induced By The Electric Field
D. Dr. Marino's Mice Studies Are Excellent Studies That Demonstrate ELF Fields Can Cause Adverse Biological Effects
1. Poor Animal Care
2. Litter Size
3. Photographic Evidence Of Stunting Of Growth Irreversible Effects.
5. (Not Used).
6. The Knickerbocker And Marino Studies.
E. The Marino, Noval, and Mathewson Studies Are Not Contradictory. The Noval Tends To Confirm Marino's Findings
F. The Marino And Noval Studies Indicate That The Electric Fields May Cause Stress In Humans Living Adjacent To The Lines
G. There Are Numerous Other Studies That Indicate That The ELF Fields From The Lines Will Probably Cause Biological Effects
1. Krueger-Egg Laying Capacity of Hens
2 & 3. Altman and Warnke-Abnormal Bee Behavior
4. Goodman-Mytotic Delay in Slime Mold
5 & 6. Southern and Larkin-Effects on Migratory Birds
7. Moos-Increased Activity in Mice
8. McCleave-Detection of Weak Fields By Fish
H. The Studies of Magnetic Field Effects Provide Additional Evidence That The Lines Could Cause Biological Effects
I. Analysis of Applicants' Witnesses Position
1. Dr. Carstensen's Predictions Of Current Density And Electric Fields Have Never Been Verified
2. Schwan's Model On Neural Stimulation Is Too Simplistic To Support His Conclusion That The Electric Field From The Transmission Line Are Safe
J. The Negative Literature Cited By Applicants Has Very Limited Value
K. There Is Sufficient Evidence That The Proposed Lines Will Probably Cause Biological Effects
L. The Soviet Studies Provide Additional Evidence That The Transmission Line May Cause Biological Effects
M. There Is No Evidence To Indicate That The Transmission Lines Will Cause Synergistic Effects
N. Dr. Marino's Belief That The Transmission Line May Increase Skin Cancer And Modify Weather Is Too Speculative To Warrant Commission Action
O. Staff Recommendations
II. AUDIBLE NOISE FROM THE 765 kV LINES AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMANS
A. The 765 kV Line Is Expected To Provide A Noise Level Of About 54 dBA At Least 50 Of The Time During Foul Weather
B. Absolute Noise Levels Should Be Used In The Analysis Of The Effects Of Transmission Line Audible Noise On People
C. The EPA Guideline Of 55 dB (A) Should Not Be Used
D. Transmission Line Noise Through A Partially Open Window Is Attenuated 13.5 dB At The Center Of The Bedroom And 16.5 dB At The Sleeping Location
E. There Is A Possibility Of Sleep Interference Caused By The Noise From 765 kV Lines But It Does Not Appear To Be A Widespread Problem
F. The Applicants Should Be Required To Mitigate Noise Problems
A. Hazardous Shocks
B. Factors Which Affect Shock Levels
C. The Determination Of Criteria For Shock Magnitude And The Conditions Under Which They Are Applied Must Balance Costs And Benefits
D. The 1 mA and 4.5 mA Criteria Should Be Applied To The Most Stringent Conditions
E. Recommendations To Eliminate Shock Hazards
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