Section Ten of Public Act 04-246, An Act Concerning Electric Transmission Line Siting Criteria, directs that, effective from passage and applicable to applications for a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need originally filed on or after October 1, 2003, for which the Siting Council has not rendered a decision upon the record before the effective date of this section, amends Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-50t and provides that the Council shall adopt and may revise, as the Council deems necessary, standards for best management practices for electric and magnetic fields for electric transmission lines. Such standards shall be based on the latest completed and ongoing scientific and medical research on electromagnetic fields and shall require individual, project-specific assessments of electromagnetic fields, taking into consideration design techniques including, but not limited to, compact spacing, optimum phasing of conductors, and applicable and appropriate new field management technologies. Such standards shall not be regulations for purposes of chapter 54.

Thus, the public is advised that there is a proceeding pending before the Council for the purposes of providing for full review and potential revision of such standards for best management practices for electric and magnetic fields for electric transmission lines. Persons may review materials that are presently in the record of this proceeding by visiting the following hyperlink: 

PE754: Revision of CSC's EMF Best Management Practices

Electric and Magnetic Field Best Management Practices
February 11, 1993

Although scientific knowledge does not at this time permit firm judgments about possible health effects of 60 hertz electric and magnetic field (EMF) exposures from electric generation, substation and transmission facilities, the Connecticut Siting Council has adopted a cautious approach to the issue by adopting the following Best Management Practices. These practices are intended to recognize the latest information as well as effective technologies and management techniques on a project-specific basis to protect the public and maximize the efficiency of the electric generation, transformation, and transmission industry.

1. Administratively notice and recognize completed and ongoing scientific EMF research.
2. Require individual project-specific assessments of EMF.
3. Require detailed project-specific assessments of need and non-structural alternatives.
4. Require EMF assessments for project alternatives.
5. Require EMF assessments to consider exposure levels and durations with respect to existing and planned land uses.
6. Require baseline, preconstruction measurements of EMF during siting of new facilities.
7. Require post-construction measurement of EMF to extrapolate values for normal, peak, and maximum allowable continuous operating levels.
8. Require adoption and use of a uniform measurement protocol.
9. Solicit specific comments from the DEP, DPUC, and DOHS regarding EMF exposure during siting of new facilities.
10. Require consideration of low-EMF designs during the siting and construction of new facilities, including use of: 
    
          a.   Compact spacing; 
    
          b.   Optimum phasing of conductors; 
    
          c.   and Applicable and appropriate new field management 
                technologies.
11. Consider project-specific exposure limits for EMF.
12. Recognize the possibility for future standards and consider conditioning approval on retrofitting or elimination of facilities to meet future federal and State standards.

All council proceedings are conducted at publicly noticed meetings and hearings offering full opportunity for participation and due process as afforded by federal and State law.

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