Fight isn't over - Delta Optimist
Fight isn't over: homeowners
Sandor Gyarmati, Delta Optimist, 12-Jul-2006
Costs trump concerns in decision
Ted Murphy, Editor, Delta Optimist, 12-Jul-2006
EMF at acceptable levels: commission
Sandor Gyarmati, Delta Optimist, 12-Jul-2006
MLA blasts council for not doing more
Sandor Gyarmati, Delta Optimist, 12-Jul-2006
Most cost-effective route chosen
Sandor Gyarmati, Delta Optimist, 12-Jul-2006
Commission is irresponsible in approving overhead lines
Bill Sharkey, Delta Optimist, 12-Jul-2006
Don't deliver power at the expense of people
Richard Johnson, Delta Optimist, 12-Jul-2006
Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines members (from left) Jack
Bulloch, Julie Berks, Cecil Dunn and Bernadette Kudzin are disappointed and angry with last
Friday's B.C. Utilities Commission decision to permit higher voltage lines on 100-foot towers
along the right-of-way through Tsawwassen. Photo by Kyle Hoobin
by Sandor Gyarmati
Delta Optimist
12-Jul-2006
The fight is far from over, say Tsawwassen residents outraged by a decision to put higher voltage power lines over their homes.
Following last Friday's announcement by the B.C. Utilities Commission that the B.C. Transmission Corporation's original proposal to install overhead lines is the most acceptable, homeowners wasted no time predicting a legal fight and some even suggested the possibility of civil disobedience.
"We're at first going to look at our legal options but at the end of the day when they go to people's yards they will find it very, very difficult to start construction," said Maureen Broadfoot, a spokesperson for Tsawwassen Residents Against Higher Voltage Overhead Lines (TRAHVOL).
Broadfoot and other homeowners said the commission's decision was clearly made long ago, and submissions made by her group and others, including studies regarding health risks associated with electromagnetic field exposure, were not considered seriously.
"We feel the whole process was a sham and it sends a message across the province in other communities that communities' input is just not welcome," she said.
BCTC, a provincial Crown agency, wants to nearly double the power along a right-of-way which begins at the Arnott station in Ladner and ends on the bluff in Tsawwassen.
The agency says 600,000 residents and business owners on Vancouver Island will need the additional power by 2008.
BCTC applied to replace one of the two 138 kV (kiloVolt) overhead lines with a 230 kV line underground line for a 3.7-kilometre stretch through several Tsawwassen neighbourhoods. The other single overhead line would remain in place for several more years.
Prior to the undergrounding proposal, the agency proposed replacing the existing overhead lines with higher voltage overhead lines on 100-foot steel poles. It met immediate resistance by the large group of homeowners who conveyed fears about the health risks and plunging property values.
Prior to last year's provincial election, the homeowners thought they got good news when BCTC announced it was pulling the overhead proposal, but the agency later claimed that plan hadn't been permanently scrapped and, in fact, remained an option, although not its preferred option.
TRAHVOL co-president Cecil Dunn said it's now obvious BCTC only halfheartedly withdrew that original proposal to help the Liberals' election campaign, and that the only deciding factor is money.
"It's disappointing to go through all of these processes and all of this time, and a year-and-half out of people's lives, only to find that basically the commission says they'll choose the most cost-effective," said Dunn.
"What they're missing is cost-effective is not cheap. There's all sorts of other concerns than just the dollar ... it certainly takes away from the credibility of this process."
On Monday, Dunn said his group was still going over the lengthy decision and discussing legal options. He said it's understandable why residents had such a heated response.
"We'd like to go through peaceful actions, and I know the way a lot of people were talking on Friday. They were so incredibly heartbroken and upset with this decision."
Bruce Barrett, BCTC's manager of major projects, previously said if significant changes were called for by the commission, his agency would withdraw its application.
During the six-week hearing, utilities commission chair Robert Hobbs and his two colleagues had to absorb thousands of pages of submissions.
In the first day of the hearing, the transmission corporation hinted the door was open to more options, but someone would have to pay. The commission was also told the municipality wasn't receptive to placing the wires underground in the street.
Also on the opening day, BCTC representatives were questioned about the viability of having additional power ready for Vancouver Island in time, as well as the estimated costs, because it hadn't calculated what would surely be a lengthy fight by Tsawwassen homeowners when it came to undergrounding the wires.
It was then pointed out that most of the affected homeowners indicated they would refuse to negotiate with BCTC for the underground rights, which it doesn't own.
The panel was also told the homeowners would certainly fight any expropriation in court if the underground option was approved.
In its decision, the utilities commission panel said it wasn't convinced of TRAHVOL's argument about health risks, and noted the lack of community opposition beyond the area of the power lines. The commissioners also noted TRAHVOL didn't state preferences for any option other than wanting the lines removed.
Those factors, combined with the much higher costs associated with undergrounding, convinced the panel that BCTC's original overhead proposal was best way to go from a cost perspective.
Bob Childs, a 53A Street homeowner with two young children, echoed the view of others that the commission's decision to consider the cheapest option shows the process, and the commission itself, has no legitimacy.
TRAHVOL co-president Neil Atchison agreed, adding the government has gone back from its political commitment.
"We're going to fight on. We do live in a democratic society and we have a legal structure and we have to use the tools that are available to us," he said.
TRAHVOL, which spent almost $300,000 in legal fees, had support from Delta council.
Local politicians asked Premier Gordon Campbell to ensure the regulatory approval process included a proper assessment of the option to route the lines down Highway 17. During the commission hearing, however, BCTC's Barrett pointed out the Highway 17 option had already met opposition from the Tsawwassen First Nation.
The commission's decision can be appealed directly to the commission in 30 days, and then also through the Court of Appeal.
But anyone filing an appeal can't argue the same case over again, said BCTC spokesperson Donna McGeachie.
McGeachie noted an appeal can also be filed with the provincial ombudsman, but only to argue there were procedural problems.
BCTC still requires an environmental approval certificate from the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
"We have to file an amendment because we're now dealing with an overhead instead of undergrounding," said McGeachie.
"But because we're dealing with the same right-of-way, it's unlikely there's significant changes, and, in fact, there's less of an environmental impact than the underground option would have been."
The public has until July 27 to file comments.
Dunn, whose group questioned why the environmental process began in advance of a decision by the utilities commission, noted they're skeptical the environmental assessment process will be any different.
An alternative power line proposal by Sea Breeze Power, a private company, was pulled during the utilities commission hearing.
Costs trump concerns in decision
by Ted Murphy -- Editor
Delta Optimist
12-Jul-2006
In the end, the decision on the Tsawwassen power lines upgrade boiled down to one overriding factor. It was right there on Page 63 of the decision released by the B.C. Utilities Commission last Friday: "The commission has ... concluded that the scientific evidence regarding EMF effects is inconclusive and does not support the theory that power line EMF is a health hazard."
With the health card pulled out from under them, Tsawwassen residents lost whatever hope they had of preventing higher voltage lines from being approved for a four-kilometre right-of-way that runs through the heart of town.
The utilities commission is quite right in suggesting there's not a consensus in the scientific community when it comes to the potential health effects of power lines. So without a definitive answer, do you err on the side of caution or cost effectiveness? Sadly in this case, it was the latter.
To be fair, the commission is using EMF guidelines set by groups as reputed as the World Health Organization. These aren't thresholds someone has just dreamed up.
Having said that, there are studies, and many of them, which do suggest a link between electromagnetic field exposure and cancers, particularly childhood leukemia. Many jurisdictions have imposed stricter guidelines on the siting of power lines because of such research. B.C. chooses not to be one of those places.
The rationale seems to be: Why spend more money to move power lines to another location when you can't definitively prove they're a health hazard? An expert for the B.C. Transmission Corporation, the provincial agency proposing the power lines upgrade, said as much in a submission to the recent utilities commission hearing: "Science cannot prove the absence of an effect, but it can determine through extensive testing that, with the continued failure to substantiate the occurrence of adverse effects, the possibility of a real risk becomes very small."
The flip side of that question is: Shouldn't you practice prudent avoidance if there's a chance, however slight, the lines could be harmful to human health? After all, you're playing this game with people's lives.
It's not surprising the commission decided against taking such a stance, opting not to err on the side of caution, given the precedent it would set and the costs that would be involved.
Instead, we carry on as usual, hoping the money we save today does not come with tragic consequences in the future.
EMF at acceptable levels: commission
by Sandor Gyarmati
Delta Optimist
12-Jul-2006
The public can be assured the most current and relevant information regarding electromagnetic fields will be made available by the B.C. Transmission Corporation, the agency promised.
Last Friday, after the B.C. Utilities Commission announced it supports BCTC's overhead power lines option in Tsawwassen, the corporation was quick to point out the review panel found EMF levels associated with the existing and proposed lines are well below established exposure guidelines.
The utilities commission, however, instructed BCTC to file a report every two years, or sooner if possible, on any major developments regarding EMF fields, risk assessments and changes in guidelines by such bodies as Health Canada and the World Health Organization.
BCTC spokesperson Donna McGeachie said the agency is pleased with the recommendation and will post the reports.
"The information will be on the record and available for everyone to see," explained McGeachie.
"So rather than various groups and people bringing forward information that they found from various sources, and kind of doing their own interpretation, they''ll be one central area where this is reported on."
McGeachie noted having the latest information and research readily available on the agency's website will help people have a fuller, compete understanding of the issue.
"It would be from reputable sources, because there's a lot of misinformation out there, and information gets misinterpreted," said McGeachie, noting one example is TRAHVOL's recent claims about Canadian Cancer Society's dire warning about electromagnetic fields.
"It's unfortunate there's a lot of information that gets taken out of context and starts to raise concerns unduly. The guidelines are in place and that's what the commission keeps coming back to," she said.
McGeachie pointed out the commission chose the overhead option because EMF levels would fall within acceptable, recognized levels, and thus the other more expensive alternatives couldn't be justified.
She noted the utilities commission made a similar ruling a a decade ago regarding the high voltage power lines that run along Boundary Road on the border between Vancouver and Burnaby.
A group of residents applied to have those lines put underground, and issues regarding health concerns and property values were also raised.
"The commission looked at it and said those lines could be put underground, but Vancouver would have to pay for a third, Burnaby would pay for a third and (B.C.) Hydro would have to pay for the other.
"Of course, the lines are still there because the cost was so great, no one could reach agreement on it. But they said there was no reason because the EMF levels were such that they were not considered a health hazard, so no one justified spending that amount of money to put them underground."
TRAHVOL met this week with representatives of the Fraser Health Authority to discuss the environmental review, which is the next step in the Tsawwassen power lines approval process.Co-president Cecil Dunn said while they remain skeptical residents' health concerns will be examined, they're hopeful the provincial Environmental Assessment Office will recommend a series of mitigation measures to reduce potential health risks.
The EAO is expected to reach a decision before the end of this year.
MLA blasts council for not doing more
by Sandor Gyarmati
Delta Optimist
12-Jul-0206
The decision by the B.C. Utilities Commission to support the B.C. Transmission Corporation's overhead power lines plan may have turned out much differently had Delta taken a more active role, according to Delta South MLA Val Roddick.
Expressing disappointment at the utilities commission decision, Roddick said Delta council, so far, has done little in offering anything more constructive when it comes to such issues as power lines, the South Fraser Perimeter Road and the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty
"I find that Delta council has got to get some confidence, that they can't just keep saying it's everybody else's fault. They need to go with these issues the way the rest of us have to do, and discuss them and work them out," said Roddick, noting the utilities commission had some criticism of both BCTC and the municipality.
"They're (power lines) in the streets everywhere else. Maybe this could have been an option and it (decision) talks a little about it," she said.
"This worries me, that because they (council) don't participate and just say boldly 'no' and that's the end of the story. Then the B.C. Utilities Commission goes back to the overhead lines, which nobody wanted in the first place, including BCTC."
The Liberal MLA pointed out municipal council years ago permitted the residential subdivision near the power lines, and thus the current council should meet with residents and the government to work out an alternative.
"Why isn't the municipality speaking with the Tsawwassen First Nation and saying, 'OK, how can we work together and maybe we could put it down Highway 17?'"
Roddick also noted she expects to get some blame, but at least she's prepared to sit down and try to discuss things and facilitate.
Saying the power line issue was to be discussed at her government's caucus Tuesday, Roddick is hopeful the door is still open to options.
"I'm disappointed they (commission) didn't even throw the community a bone ... I'm certainly going to work on it."
Angered at the MLA's comments, Mayor Lois Jackson said her council, in fact, has worked hard, meeting with residents, BCTC and the provincial government.
"I have no idea how our MLA could be so totally and 100 per cent uniformed," said Jackson.
"We have worked with BCTC and the people to find an alternate routing, and we did, it was down Highway 17, but guess what, the provincial government didn't want to go there."
Jackson said it would cost Delta millions to rip up municipal streets for miles to bury the lines there.
Noting Delta has also funded TRAHVOL to the tune of about $90,000, she pointed out the Tsawwassen neighbourhoods beside the power lines are old subdivisions, and homeowners shouldn't have anticipated a huge boost in electromagnetic fields over homes.
"That isn't our doing, that is the doing of the provincial government arm and I'm very disappointed in her (Roddick) in the fact that she's just so unknowledgable about what council is trying to do."
Delta North MLA Gentner was quick to react to last week's announcement by the commission, calling it a "well choreographed farce" which had a predetermined outcome.
"Before the last election the Liberals promised an alternative to the 230 kiloVolt line but once re-elected, (Premier) Gordon Campbell, (Energy Minister) Richard Neufeld and Val Roddick reneged on their promise. This is no surprise, the whole process has been a farce, just more broken promises," said the NDP MLA.
Gentner had introduced a private member's bill in the legislature proposing an amendment to the B.C. Utilities Act, asking to keep high voltage power lines away from people.
Members of TRAHVOL appeared at Delta council Monday, asking what local politicians will do as far as helping the homeowners with the appeal.
Saying Delta has worked closely with the residents to ensure there was no duplication of efforts, municipal CAO George Harvie said a staff report with recommendations will be ready in a couple of weeks.
Coincidentally, council this week was to also discuss a staff report containing Delta's feedback regarding the undergrounding plan to the Environmental Assessment Office, as part of the province's environmental review. However, with the undergrounding plan replaced with the overhead option, another staff report will have to be prepared, Harvie said.
Most cost-effective route chosen
by Sandor Gyarmati
Delta Optimist
12-Jul-2006
The B.C. Utilities Commission issued a 300-page report last Friday outlining its decision in favour of the B.C. Transmission Corporation's original overhead power lines proposal (Option 1) instead of burying the high voltage lines (Option 2).
The plan is part of BCTC's Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project.
The following is an excerpt from the report's executive summary that provides the rationale for the commission's ruling: "In this decision the Commission has concluded that VITR should be modified, and that Option 1 should replace Option 2 as the route through South Delta. The route options through South Delta and the Gulf Islands are considered and ranked against financial, non-financial and socioeconomic criteria.
"Although the Commission has approved the least cost route option, the non-financial and socioeconomic criteria are significant considerations relevant to the selection of the preferred route option."
In its conclusion, the report states, "Given the need for a project to provide adequate and reliable power to Vancouver Island customers, the Commission Panel concludes that it is in the public interest that the most cost-effective alternative be selected from amongst the competing alternatives..."
Regarding EMF concerns, the commission stated, "The Commission Panel concludes that EMF concerns do not warrant actions beyond the very low cost measures that BCTC has included in its VITR design."
As far as property values, the commissioners ruled, "The Commission Panel concludes that the evidence of the impacts of VITR on property values in Tsawwassen and the Gulf Islands supports a finding that the approved VITR will have no significant incremental impact on average property values over the long-term. If there are any short-term impacts, the Commission Panel concludes that they will decline over time and should be afforded little or no weight in this decision."
Residents who want to read the full text of the decision can check the B.C. Utilities Commission website at bcuc.com.
Commission is irresponsible in approving overhead lines
Bill Sharkey
Letters
Delta Optimist
12-Jul-2006
Editor:
The insensitivity and apathy of the provincial government, B.C. Utilities Commission and the B.C. Transmission Corporation is incredible.
What actions should responsible citizens take when they have exhausted the resources of the system, and the responsible authorities disregard valid quality research and evidence, accepted in other jurisdictions, to expedite a plan focused on economics while disregarding real social, economic and health concerns of the affected citizens?
I found it absolutely incredible the commissioners of the B.C. Utilities Commission would approved BCTC's submission to install a completely new high power transmission lines through urban Tsawwassen over 140 private properties, public parks and a school yard.
Just prior to the last election, after the minister of mines and energy saw the location of the lines, relative to the numerous homes, he wrote to the residents that the overhead line through Tsawwassen would not be recommended. Our MLA, Val Roddick, wrote to a number of residents that the new transmission line would not pass through urban Tsawwassen.
At this time, it was known the overhead line alternative was more economical, but we understood BCTC would develop one of the other two alternative viable routes. However, at the public information meetings, BCTC continued to disregard current research and used selective and incomplete information, and when confronted with valid current research, bullied and threatened the residents.
Many exceptional reports and first hand experiences and concerns were given to the utilities commission at its public meeting in Tsawwassen, which a few hundred people attended. Family after family expressed to the commissioners the devastating effect the proposed new power lines was having on house pricing, and potential health concerns for their children in their own back yard and houses.
I believe the commissioners have not been responsible to disregard the findings of the recent research and expert witnesses.
Bill Sharkey
Don't deliver power at the expense of people
Richard Johnson
Letters
Delta Optimist
12-Jul-2006
Editor:
It appears the B.C. Utilities Commission does not agree with the Canadian Cancer Society or the research used by the state governments and courts of Connecticut and California or the countries of Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and others, who all came to drastically different conclusions based on the same information related to the potential health concerns surrounding prolonged EMF exposure as a result of living in proximity to transmission lines.
Studies from Oxford University, the University of Toronto and statements by Yale researchers, among others, also apparently fell on deaf ears.
While it may be true that both the B.C. Transmission Corporation and BCUC did make efforts to communicate with the public, it is clearly doubtful if they ever intended on listening.
Delivering power at the expense of so many people is actually considered to be shameful in some parts of the world and I would have thought there would be more consideration for environmental impacts in B.C., but I guess I was sadly wrong.
I can only hope that we do not suffer the same fate in our similar fight in York Region, Ontario.
Richard Johnson
Posted by Arthur Caldicott on 15 Jul 2006