Summary

The project runs through the heart of a densely urbanized area, within 10 to 15 feet of many homes.

(See above links for more information)

Environmental Impact Worksheet (1999)

Before building the line, NSP is required to obtain permission from the Environmental Quality Board (EQB).  The Environmental Quality Board can require NSP to prepare a Environmental Assessment Worksheet in help it in its deliberations.  In response to a citizen petition, the EQB did order the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on this project.   As part of that EAW, there is an Erosion Control Plan.  An EQB staff member prepared and distributed an analysis of EMF.  This analysis concluded that there was no meaningful chance that EMF was dangerous.

The EAW was prepared in response to a petition from Sunfish Lake citizens to the Environmental Quality Board.  This petition focuses a great deal upon the environmental effects on wildlife and plants.  NSP agreed to prepare the Worksheet without being ordered to do so by the EQB.

With the permission of the EQB, the impacted citizens of Sunfish Lake also prepared an EAW.  This "citizen" EAW was intended to assist the EQB staff by allowing it to develop a balanced presentation for the full EQB board.  Unfortunately, the "citizen" EAW was almost entirely ignored by the EQB staff.  The reader is invited to compare the honesty and completeness of the "citizen" EAW with the incomplete and misleading EAW produced by NSP.

The EQB ruled that the proposed line would not have significant environmental effects.  The Power Line Task Force sued to have this decision reversed on the grounds that there is new information.  Here are the briefs regarding that suit.

The Power Line Task Force's brief in its suit against the EQB.  In this brief, the Force asserts that new information demonstrates that there are viable alternatives to the proposed line.  NSP contended there were no alternatives at the EQB hearing, although it must have known that this was incorrect.

The Court ruled against the PLTF on the grounds that new information is not grounds for reversing a decision.  This means that the PLTF will need to repetition the EQB.