Mountain States Transmission Intertie – Quick Facts

Northwestern Energy, a South Dakota company, submitted an application under the Montana Major Facility Siting Act with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.  The draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected in October 2009. 

The application can be found at www.deq.mt.gov/MFS/MSTIindex.asp

Maps can be found at Interactive Map with Resources Information

Citizen Concerns:

Lack of notification to landowners and other residents about the project and its proposed routes

Health effects from the Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)

Loss of property use from physical structures, maintenance roads, right-of-ways

Devaluation of Property Values

Violation of Property Rights, especially related to use of Eminent Domain for this project

Visual impacts

All MT generated electrical power will be shipped out of state to NV and CA

Noxious weeds

Fighting fires under these lines is dangerous and life threatening, fire prevention is hazardous

Emergency communication systems do not work around these lines

Possibility of more high voltage transmission lines through our area

Why is Northwestern Energy’s industry more important than local industry? (ie  Ranching)

Why do NWE’s rights outweigh citizen’s rights?  And private property rights?

Who does the Montana Major Facility Siting Act protect – Montanans or out-of- state interests?

NWE takes an easement through private property (eminent domain) and we still pay the property     taxes.

Imposing Eminent Domain for this project violates private property rights.

Public projects should use public lands

Effects

Physical structures do NOT provide any shielding from magnetic fields

EMF s interfere with pacemakers, defibrillators, radio, television, cordless phones, cell phones

Aviation interference

Apiaries: Electrical fields have been shown to cause bees to leave their hives (NWE required to notify within 1000 feet of the hives – owners would need to move the hives!)

Loud noise generation

Bright strobe lights

Health Effects

Chronic fatigue, heart problems, headaches, Immune system suppression, Leukemia, brain tumors, birth defects, miscarriages, prostate and breast cancer

Right of Ways (ROW)

Range – 220 feet (110 from center) to 409 feet depending on EMF fields

MFSA criteria: EMFs are not to exceed 1000 volts/m at edge of ROW so NWE solution to stay within “safe” levels is to just extend the ROW

EMFs generated within the ROW range from 13,000 to 1,500 volts/m

DEQ wants to grant a 250 ft centerline certificate for NWE to negotiate placement with landowners

FHA Rules prohibit the issuance of insured loans for homes located adjacent to transmission power lines.  (12 - 60 kV or greater, as they are considered hazardous)  FHA Rules 1912 4150.2-2J

Tower Info

Guyed V steel lattice, Single Circuits structures: all 125 feet tall.  Double Circuit:185 feet tall.

Land area permanently disturbed per structure: 22,500 sq. feet (.52 acres)

4 to 6 structures built per mile

Loss of Property

Loss of property to structures and acreage within the ROW from unsafe levels of EMFs

Construction of access/maintenance roads – minimum 14 feet wide 

Loss of Property Enjoyment & Value

The economic value of the private lands along the route is associated with 1) agricultural productivity and 2) rural development value: which is closely tied to quiet enjoyment, scenic vistas, wildlife issues and recreational opportunities.

There will be direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the proposed route on these economic values.

Who Benefits? (Pro-project)

Provide a transmission route for wind-generated energy in Montana to Nevada and California

Additional property tax revenue to the counties (MT and ID) the line passes through

And who doesn’t?

All electrical power will be shipped out of state; this line will not be used to provide power to MT – it is an EXPORT line.

The people of Montana and Idaho will ultimately pay for this through adverse health effects, decreased property values, loss of property use and enjoyment, impacts on ranching & farming operations, spread of noxious weeds.

Consider the REAL costs of the MSTI proposed routes:

-          Loss of grazing land and farm ground

-          Loss of aesthetic values, scenic vistas, and Open Space

-          Loss of property value

-          Fire hazards

-          Hardship to private landowners who are the stewards of the land

-          Stress and worry of associated risks to children, grandchildren and livestock

Protect Our Land ~ Exercise Your Rights

Let us join together to protect environmental and recreational quality and resources, aesthetic beauty, private property rights, and quality of life for ourselves and every generation.  We all have the right to a Clean, Healthy and Safe environment.

What can YOU do?

1. Sign the petition asking NWE and DEQ to remove these routes from consideration.
2. Contact local, state, and national elected legislators – let them know what you think!
3. Write comments to DEQ – now and ESPECIALLY during Draft EIS comment period
4. Copy your comments and send to all government agencies and elected officials
5. Join the Association to form a team who is going to seriously fight this project
6. Stay informed and involved – volunteer to help MOVE MSTI – call 782-5164