Federal

The USA has no Federal exposure limits for ELF EMFs.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publish recommended occupational exposure limits, but these have no legal force.

The International Commission on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES)/IEEE publish exposure limits, and they are an American-based organisation so that their limits are sometimes seen as American, but again, they do not have formal sttus in any US jurisdiction that we are aware of.

State

We are aware of the following six States which have exposure limits, mostly applying specifically to power lines:

State Area where limits applies Field Limit Florida Edge of right-of-way Electric 2 kV m-1 230 kV lines Magnetic 15 μT 500 kV lines 20 μT Anywhere 69-230 kV lines Electric 8 kV m-1 500 kV lines 10 kV m-1 Minnesota Anywhere Electric 8 kV m-1 Montana Edge of right-of-way May be waved by landowner Electric 1 kV m-1 Road crossings Electric 7 kV m-1 New Jersey Edge of right-of-way Electric 3 kV m-1 New York Edge of right-of-way Electric 1.6 kV m-1 Magnetic 20 μT Public road crossings Electric 7 kV m-1 Private road crossings Electric 11 kV m-1 Anywhere Electric 11.8 kV m-1 Oregon Accessible or inhabited areas Electric 9 kV m-1

In addition, the following States have versions of “prudent avoidance” (similar to what tend to be called "precautionary policies" in Europe) applied to new power lines:

California: requirement to include EMF reduction measures in new power-line projects up to 5% of project cost, plus specific provisions for schools

Colorado, Maryland: prudent avoidance decided through a specific siting case which set precedent and was subsequently applied to all new siting applications

New Jersey: more of a practice than a policy

Connecticut, Hawaii: formal policy

Ohio: requires utilities to “prudently address” EMF issues

Pennsylvania: staff handling siting applications expect evidence of prudent avoidance but has never been set down as formal policy

This information is based on our best understanding but we welcome corrections or additions - please contact us if you have better information.