HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6771

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Lee, Talmadge, Anderson, McMullen and Patrick)

Studying the placement of electric transmission lines and magnetic fields.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; H. Myers, Vice Chair; Bennett, Cooper, Gallagher, Jacobsen, Jesernig, R. Meyers and Miller.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (4)

      Signed by Representatives Hankins, Ranking Republican Member; Brooks, May and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Energy & Utilities.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Belcher, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Bowman, May, McLean and Nealey.

House Staff:      Karl Herzog (786-7271) and Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In the past several years there has been an increase in public discussion over the possibility of health effects from electric and magnetic fields.  One common source of these fields is electric power lines.

Several major studies are now in progress in an attempt to better document the potential health effects of these fields.  There appears to be a growing consensus that setting standards for exposure to these fields would be premature until the results of the studies are known.

At the same time, growing areas need to be served by additional electric power lines.  Because of the different properties of electric and magnetic fields, the location of the line can be a major factor in the amount and type of public exposure to these fields.

SUMMARY:

A task force is created to recommend additional research needs for limiting human exposure to electric and magnetic fields from electric transmission and distribution lines.  The task force consists of representatives from the state Energy Office, the Department of Health and the Utilities and Transportation Commission.  The task force is directed to solicit recommendations from utilities and experts within the state's higher education system on ways to limit human exposure to electric and magnetic fields.  The task force is to recommend legislative options and the need, costs and funding options for additional research.  The task force is to report to the Energy and Utilities Committees of the Legislature by January 15, 1992.

Appropriation:    $40,000 from the public service revolving fund to the Department of Health; $40,000 from the general fund to the Department of Health.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 21, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Energy & Utilities)  Virginia Wilhelmi and Don Manley, Citizens Against Overhead Power Lines; Senator Eleanor Lee, Prime sponsor; and Senator Phil Talmadge, Sponsor.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Energy & Utilities)  Tom Mortimer, Washington PUD Association; Ed Kilga, Tacoma City Light; and Ron Newbry, Pacific Power & Light.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Energy & Utilities)  We should have safe, underground power lines.  Studies show that overhead power lines in populated areas cause health problems.  There are no studies expressly addressing location of overhead power lines.  We need to explore what studies are needed and ways to pay for them.

(Appropriations)  None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Energy & Utilities)  The requirements of the bill are premature.  The Institute for Public Policy review ordered by the Legislature last year indicated that no policy actions are indicated before the ongoing studies are completed or close to completion.  This is expected within a year or two.  It is inappropriate to prejudge the study results.  The Public Service Revolving Fund is an inappropriate source since all electric customers are affected rather than just those of regulated utilities.

(Appropriations)  None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 75; Nays 19; Excused 3 - 3/1.

Voting Nay: Representatives Baugher, Beck, Bowman, Brooks, Brumsickle, Doty, Haugen, Horn, Kirby, McLean, Moyer, Nealey, Schmidt, Silver, Smith, D. Sommers, Van Luven, S. Wilson and Youngsman

Excused:    Representatives Day, Hankins and K. Wilson