The easement was obtained in the 1950s, at a time when the area was significantly less populated. The draft states, “A safe, minimum distance of 100 feet from transmission facilities is recommended to minimize the health effects of EMF” (pg. 509); however, the proposed route runs over homes that are as close as 10 feet away. Environmental Research (Vol. 178, Nov. 2019) reveals that exposure to magnetic fields increases the risk of leukemia, breast cancer, and brain cancer. There is also a link between EMF exposure and Lou Gehrig’s Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS).

It is crucial to highlight that the easement in question is inaccurate. Due to discrepancies in survey data, it is often unclear where the easement truly lies. Errors in the placement of the easement on certain parcels make an already narrow path even narrower, which may force PacifiCorp to encroach on land outside the designated easement. Recent surveys indicate that parts of the proposed easement route overlap with parcels that do not have an easement in the deed.

PacifiCorp does not possess rights to the entire route and will likely need to seek additional land-use rights, possibly through eminent domain, to fill easement gaps along the route near Camas and for substation placement. They should be required to explore alternative routes, as their current plans do not address this necessity. Established routes with existing transmission lines along the I-5 corridor could be a viable option. Additionally, a route through the Gifford Pinchot Forest, located just to the east, would avoid residential neighborhoods and environmentally sensitive areas, which was identified as the preferred route for a similar transmission line by BPA in 2009.

In addition, to manage vegetation along the lines, PacifiCorp uses numerous herbicides for maintenance. Many residents along the easement rely on wells for drinking water or have streams on their properties. Monoclonal gammopathy of unspecified origin (MGUS) is a recognized condition that affects all veterans exposed to toxic chemicals, posing a statistically significant increased risk leading to Multiple Myeloma with continued herbicide exposure, particularly those used by PacifiCorp. These are serious public health concerns that need to be addressed.

Research has shown potential ......

There are numerous other issues with this route, including but not limited to: corona-generated noise when the line is active; disruption of environmentally sensitive areas, including wetlands and areas prone to severe soil erosion; destruction of native plant habitats, adversely affecting special-status plants and species; permanent loss of general wildlife habitat; disruption of fish habitats due to runoff and sediment delivery to streams, along with decreased riparian shade; decreased property values, leading to a loss of property tax revenue; adverse effects on cultural resources and historic viewsheds; severely impacted visual resources; as well as increased traffic and risks of electrocution, fire, toxic material spills, and tree felling during construction.