SU0013248 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Noise Guidelines and Standards Noise guidelines and standards have been developed by federal, state, and local agencies. The standards most applicable to the proposed project are the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards, the California Office of Noise Control standards, and County of San Joaquin General Plan. The HUD guidelines, presented in Table 3.6-2, set standards for acceptable day-night sound levels (Ldn) for new residential construction sites. The Office of Noise Control guidelines, presented in Table 3.6-3, provide criteria for acceptability of noise levels for various land uses. The County Noise Ordinance (Chapter 16, Section 9-3800) states that exterior noise levels of 65 dBA Ldn shall not be exceeded at the property line in residential areas, areas zoned residential, or property that abuts schools, hospitals, homes for the care or the aged and infirm, and rest homes. Existing Noise Sources and Lerels In San Joaquin County, noise is primarily generated by vehicular traffic, trains, and occasional aircraft flyovers (Sedway Cooke Associates, 1989). In isolated instances, industrial noise sources contribute to a steady background noise level. Based upon 1978 noise measurements, the County estimated day and night background noise levels (CNEL) in small urban communities with one or two major roads to be 34-37 dBA (Sedway Cooke Associates, 1989). "Country" areas of the County were estimated to have CNELs of 29-37 dBA. The Council of Governments prepared a map identifying "critical' and "problem" noise routes (see Figure 3.6-1). "Problem" noise routes are those with 100 to 300 trucks or 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles per day. "Critical' roads are those with more than 300 trucks or 10,000 vehicles per day on an annual average. State Route 88 through Clements is designated as a "critical' noise route and County Road J12 (Jahant Road) to the north of the project site is designated a "problem" noise route. In homes bordering on critical noise routes, conversation, television viewing, sleep, and other everyday activities become extremely difficult due to noise interference (Sedivay Cooke Associates, 1989). Roadway noise contours (boundaries of noise of a specified level from the roadway) were prepared for County roads for 1985 and 2005 projected noise levels (Sedway Cooke Associates, 1989). The noise contours for roadways in the project 82