Join the July 9th Clark County work session to hear PacifiCorp’s plans. Find details at www.movethelineeast.com  

PacifiCorp has proposed a 230kV high voltage transmission line to run from Merwin Dam near Woodland, WA south through Yacolt, East Battle Ground, Hockinson, East Vancouver, Brush Prairie, Green Mountain, Green Meadows, West Lacamas Lake, Camas, and Prune Hill to the Columbia River over to Troutdale.

PacifiCorp’s proposed 230kV transmission line from Swift Dam to Troutdale OR is dangerous and unjustified. The fire danger, health risks, and the lack of adherence to important safety guidelines that this line poses cannot be disregarded.

It is vital to note that the easement is inaccurate. In some areas, due to discrepancies in survey data, it cannot be accurately ascertained exactly where the easement lies. Errors in the placement of the easement on some parcels renders the already too narrow path even narrower, requiring PacifiCorp to encroach on land outside the easement. Recent surveys show part of the easement route lies on parcels that have no easement in the deed.

PacifiCorp does not have rights to the full route and must pursue more land use rights potentially through the use of eminent domain in order to close easement gaps in the route around Camas and for substation placement. PacifiCorp should be required to investigate alternative routes. They currently have no plans to do so. This needs to be regulated. There are wider, established routes with transmission lines already in place along the I-5 corridor. There is also a route through the Gifford Pinchot Forest just to the east that would not plow through neighborhoods and environmentally sensitive areas which BPA found to be the preferred route for a similar transmission line in 2009.

The easement was obtained in the 1950’s when the route was drastically 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) and yet the route runs over homes as close as 10 feet. Environmental Research Vol 178, Nov 2019 shows exposure to magnetic fields increases risk of leukemia, breast cancer, and brain cancer. Lou Gehrig's Disease aka amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also linked to EMF exposure. 

Additionally, to control vegetation along lines, PacifiCorp uses numerous herbicides for line maintenance. Many people along the easement use wells for their drinking water and/or have streams on their property. Monoclonal gammopathy of unspecified origin (MGUS) is a presumed condition for ALL veterans exposed to toxic chemicals, a diagnosis with a statistically significant increased risk of the condition leading to Multiple Myeloma with continued herbicide exposure, specifically those used by PacifiCorp. These are all serious public health issues that need to be addressed.

The facts clearly show that the easement PacifiCorp is attempting to use is outdated, inaccurate, undersized, and poses significant public health and safety concerns which render this project unachievable.

What's at stake:

• Dozens of homes that sit directly under the proposed route & hundreds more adjacent
• Health effects from electro-magnetic fields
• Increased wildfire risk which will decrease homeowners insurance coverage and/or increase premiums
• Substantial wildlife and environmental impacts
• Decreased property values and economic takings 
• Dramatic landscape alterations and visual impacts 

Find out more by joining the Facebook group: Stop the High Voltage Powerline Route through Clark County neighborhoods.

There are alternative routes available: The impacts of a project to benefit taxpayers should be borne by public lands rather than involuntary condemnation of neighborhoods. Public lands should be first priority; open lands second. PacifiCorp should be required to use commercial timber land 5 miles east of the easement where land has already been roaded and clear-cut for timber management. In 2009, BPA concluded "after three years of public outreach, environmental analysis, and technical study" the easement would affect too many properties and the best alternative is the more easterly route through public land. Some land to the east is already owned by PacifiCorp.  A second alternative is for PacifiCorp to partner with BPA to upgrade the 300 ft wide line running to the west of the easement along the established route of Lewis River Highway to I-5.

We need to fight the installation of this power line that will plow through our neighborhoods.

Sign the petition today!