2.
Response
to
Comments
2.9
Individual
Responses
to
Comments
from
Organizations
A
person
standing
directly
under
a
high-voltage
transmission
line
may
feel
a
mild
shock
when
touching
something
that
conducts
electricity.
These
sensations
are
caused
by
the
strong
electric
fields
from
the
high-voltage
electricity
in
the
lines.
They
occur
only
at
close
range
because
the
electric
fields
rapidly
weaken
as
distance
from
the
line
increases.
Electric
fields
in
the
home,
on
average,
range
from
0
to
10
volts
per
meter.
By
comparison,
electric
fields
directly
beneath
power
lines
may
vary
from
a
few
volts
per
meter
for
some
overhead
distribution
lines
to
several
thousands
of
volts
per
meter
for
extra
high
voltage
power
lines.
Electric
fields
from
power
lines
rapidly
become
weaker
with
distance,
and
can
be
greatly
reduced
by
walls
and
roofs
of
buildings.
Electric
fields
may
be
shielded
and
further
weakened
by
buildings,
trees,
and
other
objects
that
conduct
electricity.
Magnetic
fields
are
not
blocked
by
most
materials.
Magnetic
fields
produced
by
AC
electricity
can
induce
the
flow
of
weak
electric
currents
in
the
body.
However,
such
currents
are
smaller
than
the
measured
electric
currents
produced
naturally
by
the
brain,
nerves,
and
heart.
Magnetic
fields
rapidly
weaken
with
distance
from
the
source.
Over
the
past
25
to
35
years,
research
has
addressed
the
question
of
whether
exposure
to
EMF
might
adversely
affect
human
health.
For
most
health
outcomes,
there
is
no
evidence
that
EMF
exposures
have
adverse
effects.
There
is
some
evidence
from
epidemiology
studies
that
exposure
to
power-frequency
EMF
is
associated
with
an
increased
risk
for
childhood
leukemia.
This
association
is
difficult
to
interpret
in
the
absence
of
reproducible
laboratory
evidence
or
a
scientific
explanation
that
links
magnetic
fields
with
childhood
leukemia.
EMF
exposures
are
complex
and
come
from
multiple
sources
in
the
home
and
workplace
in
addition
to
power
lines.
Scientists
are
still
debating
whether
EMF
is
a
hazard
to
health.
The
California
Public
Utilities
Commission
(CPUC)
issued
Decision
93-11-013,
in
1993,
establishing
EMF
policy
for
California’s
regulated
electric
utilities.
Decision
93-11-013
acknowledged
that
scientific
research
had
not
demonstrated
that
exposures
to
EMF
caused
health
hazards,
and
stated
that
it
would
be
inappropriate
to
set
numeric
standards
to
limit
exposure.
In
2006,
the
CPUC
updated
its
EMF
Policy
in
Decision
06-01-042,
which
reaffirmed
that
health
hazards
from
exposure
to
EMF
have
not
been
established
and
that
state
and
federal
public
health
regulatory
agencies
have
determined
that
setting
numeric
exposure
limits
is
not
appropriate.
In
recognizing
the
scientific
uncertainty,
the
CPUC
addressed
public
concern
over
EMF
by
establishing
a
no-cost
and
low-cost
EMF
reduction
policy
that
utilities
would
follow
for
proposed
electrical
facilities.
Brisbane
Baylands
Final
EIR
2.9.3-115
May
2015