Transcript Background Health Need Property Values

Summary

The information on power lines developed at the EIR meeting is among the most comprehensive and authoritative developed anywhere.

(See above links for more information)

Environmental Impact Review

Background:

With the agreement of Xcel, the cities of Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake, and South St. Paul conducted a 6-months investigation into the need for the line and the impact of the line's magnetic fields upon health.  This process began in September 2000 and concluded in March, 2001 and was termed the Environmental Impact Review.

The review was administered by a committee made up of the mayors of the three cities called the "Steering Committee."  To assist the committee, Xcel provided an engineering firm called Commonwealth Associates, Inc. (CAI).  Xcel selected this firm and paid the firm.  The firm reported to Xcel.  It has had the design contract for the proposed line and therefore would receive extra income should the line be approved.  It had other contracts with Xcel before the process began, and received additional contracts from Xcel after the project was completed.  It aggressively supported Xcel at every opportunity.  For these reasons, the Power Line Task Force judged that CAI was biased.

The EIR reached no conclusions.  However, it did hold a public meeting on March 22, 2001, at which experts for both Xcel and the PLTF appeared.

The Impact of EMF on Human Health as discussed at the March 22, 2001, meeting.

Columbia University's Martin Blank discusses how magnetic fields impact cellular function and how such fields may promote the growth of cancer.  He notes that EMF reduces the body's concentration of melatonin, which inhibits cancer, and reduces the effectiveness of the anti-cancer drug tamoxifen

Trent Unversity's Magda Havas reviews the scientific literature.  (In her verbal testimony, she noted that the Russian and Polish literature also had much evidence on the cancer-causing impact of EMF.

CAI hired Peter Valberg, who was charged with minimizing the dangers of EMF.  Here is his testimony, with links to those pages in the PLTF's experts presentations that respond to his points.

Martin Blank responded to the Valberg Testimony.

Magda Havas responded to the Valberg Testimony.

Here is the transcript of the meeting.

The Need for the SE Metro Line as analyzed by CAI and its critics

The consultant, CAI, developed a summary of its report that addressed the need for the line.  (CAI states it "cannot" make the full report available for online viewing.)

The full report contained a table (Table 2.1) that summarized Xcel's projections for the need for the line.  Here is a graph of those projections.  The bars show three Xcel projections and the date of those projections.  The PLTF believes that Xcel devised the last projections at CAI's request solely because the earlier projections failed to validate a need for the line.  Included in Xcel's projections were 25 MW for the Eagen based failing internet company Wam!Net.  Even if Wam!Net should survive, it will be so reduced in strength it is unlikely to use any significant amounts of power.

The PLTF asked the engineering firm firm, MSB Energy, to analyze CAI's analysis.

CAI responded to MSB's analysis in two documents.  A first letter addressed to Mayor Tiffany and a second letter addressed to him.

MSB then responded to CAI's two letters.

Property Values as developed by CAI's consultant Towle-Crowe

CAI's report contained an analysis by the real estate firm Towle-Crowe that suggested the new line would have only a minor impact upon property values.  The data upon which it relied was drawn from a database maintained by Capital Appraisals, who maintain that their data was misinterpreted.

A resident, James Schatz, has successfully had his property tax appraisal reduced because of the power line.