UTILITIES NOT CLOSING BOOK ON MAGNETIC FIELDS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 8, 1992                   TAG: 9202100196
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
UTILITIES NOT CLOSING BOOK ON MAGNETIC FIELDS
A LETTER by Kenton Chittum (Jan. 19) about power lines and magnetic fields contained both erroneous information and false accusations.
Chittum claims that "Most of the time and money spent by the utility companies, electronics industry and the U.S. military has been to discredit any studies that adversely affect them."
Appalachian Power and other utilities have not spent time trying to "discredit any studies that adversely affect them," for several reasons. First, no organization has spent more time and money on independent research studies than the utilities (and this includes support from Appalachian), because we want to know the facts, whatever they may be.
Second, no studies that are done on magnetic fields "adversely affect" the utilities, as long as they are legitimate studies. The utilities are interested in any research that might answer questions about magnetic fields, whatever the outcome. These studies are for the benefit of everyone, including the utilities and the public.
Chittum further suggests: "Everyone involved with the approval and construction of any power lines should first read Paul Brodeur's book, `Currents of Death'." We suggest that anyone seriously interested in magnetic fields should read from more balanced sources written by knowledgeable persons, like the Environmental Protection Agency study on Electromagnetic Fields, the Carnegie Mellon study or the Virginia Department of Health Annual Report on EMF.
Finally, Chittum suggests that "Instead of `no,' Appalachian should be saying `maybe'." In fact, Appalachian has never said "no." We have said that we have continued to look at all of the evidence, there is far from a consensus that a risk exists, and therefore, no responsible party has recommended any changes in the construction of home wiring, distribution lines or transmission lines.
Appalachian Power and all utilities will continue to investigate any questions about magnetic fields and will continue to support and fund independent research on the subject for as long as necessary. DANE GILES Lab Supervisor Appalachian Power Co. ROANOKE

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB