STAND. COM. REP. NO. 558

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 143
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 143 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UTILITY TRANSMISSION LINES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require that new forty-six
kilovolt or greater high voltage electric transmission systems in
residential areas, or near schools or licensed child care
facilities, be placed underground and insulated against
electro-magnetic field emissions. 

     The Life of the Land, Na Leo Pohai, Ho'olaulima O Palolo,
and an individual presented testimony in support of the measure.
Two individuals, not present at the hearing, submitted written
testimony in support of the measure.  The Department of Health
and the Department of Education presented testimony in support of
the measure's intent. 

     The Environmental Center of the University of Hawaii
presented comments and proposed an amendment to the measure.  The
Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the Consumer Advocate, the
Hawaiian Electric Company, the Hawaii Electric Light Company,
Maui Electric Company, and Kauai Electric presented testimony in
opposition to the measure. 

     Your Committee finds that there is growing public concern
about the potential adverse health effects of exposure to
electro-magnetic fields (EMF).  Last summer, a majority of the

 
a                                                     SB143 SD1  
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 558
                                   Page 2


members of an international committee convened by the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences concluded that power
line frequency EMF are possibly carcinogenic to humans.  Various
studies of EMF effects have found that EMF exposure can alter
heart rhythms and may lead to elevated cardiac risks, may
increase the risk of immunological and hematological disorders,
and can block the protective action of melatonin against the
growth of cancer cells.  Your Committee finds that this measure
is necessary to reduce the exposure of Hawaii's children to EMF.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by providing that
the requirements implemented by the measure shall apply to all
applications for construction of a forty-six kilovolt or greater
high-voltage electric transmission system, including those
approved by the PUC prior to the measure's effective date, unless
construction of the system has been completed.  Your Committee
also made technical, nonsubstantive amendments to the measure. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 143, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 143, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
a                                                     SB143 SD1