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long-term cumulative increases in stationary-source TAC concentrations would be also be considered a
<br /> significant and unavoidable cumulative impact.
<br /> In addition,exposure to TACs from mobile sources, specifically diesel exhaust PM,is of growing concern within
<br /> the San Joaquin Valley. There is a major transportation corridor(i.e.,I-205) in the project study area that involves
<br /> the operation of diesel-fueled vehicles.Agricultural activities in the area also result in the operation of heavy
<br /> diesel-powered equipment.Thus,background diesel PM concentrations within the Mountain House area could be
<br /> relatively high. Sensitive receptors, such as inhabitants of residential dwelling units proposed for construction
<br /> under the proposed project,could be exposed to substantial diesel PM emissions given the site's proximity to
<br /> these nearby transportation corridors. Consequently,this cumulative impact is considered significant and
<br /> unavoidable.The proposed project would result in a cumulatively considerable incremental contribution to this
<br /> cumulatively significant impact from College Park and related projects.
<br /> 6.3.12 NOISE
<br /> Noise is based on the proximity to a receptor and is primarily a localized issue. Construction and stationary source
<br /> noise is highly localized,while traffic noise is less so but still tied to surface-street and freeway corridors.Noise
<br /> abatement is directly proportional to the distance from the source emission. It has import primarily at the local
<br /> level and practically at the very small scale.Noise generation is also proportional to urban growth; the many `
<br /> facets of urban expansion(e.g.,people, residents' vehicles, emergency vehicles,domestic machinery,industrial
<br /> facilities, commercial and commuter rail, entertainment venues,food/beverage establishments, schools, local
<br /> airparks) all contribute to noise generation. —
<br /> Regionally,it is difficult to ascertain the impact of noise,although baseline noise levels can be determined for any
<br /> location. hi general, as lands convert from agriculture to urban/commercial/industrial,noise-generating sources
<br /> are multiplied. hi the future, as the region continues to grow and,perhaps more importantly, as the level of
<br /> vehicular traffic is correspondingly increased, ambient noise levels are also expected to increase.Therefore,
<br /> regional growth will continue to increase ambient noise conditions.
<br /> The proposed project would generate construction noise, stationary-source noise,and traffic noise increases at
<br /> existing adjacent sensitive receptors, and would result in the development of new noise-sensitive uses in areas
<br /> where existing and future projected ambient noise levels exceed applicable thresholds(see Section 4.13, "Noise").
<br /> Because daytime construction noise is exempt from the County's noise standards, and because mitigation in this
<br /> EIR prohibits nighttime construction, the project would not result in construction noise that exceeds applicable
<br /> standards. Also, construction noise is highly localized and temporary.For these reasons,the project would not
<br /> contribute considerably to cumulative construction noise, and a less-than-significant cumulative impact would
<br /> occur with respect to construction noise.
<br /> The commercial, office, and industrial uses under the proposed project, as well as landscape maintenance
<br /> activities under the proposed project,would result in stationary-source noise that could exceed applicable County
<br /> standards at existing and proposed nearby noise-sensitive land uses.Mitigation is identified in Section 4.13,
<br /> "Noise,"to mitigate this stationary-source noise,and stationary-source noise is localized; however,the stationary-
<br /> source noise to be generated at the periphery of the proposed project could potentially add to existing and future
<br /> stationary-source noise to be generated off-site but adjacent to the project site.This includes future off-site
<br /> Mountain House development on the north side of Grant Line Road and at the Mountain House Business Park,
<br /> and future stationary-source noise that could be generated by future off-site uses east of Mountain House
<br /> Parkway. Therefore,while the proposed project would not result in significant stationary-source noise by itself
<br /> EDAW College Park at Mountain House Specific Plan III Draft EIR
<br /> Cumulative Impacts 6-14 San Joaquin County
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