SU0004094 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

4.Minor Revisions to the Draft Environmental Impact Report V shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to evaluate outdoor activity area and interior ►� noise levels to determine if roadway traffic associated with the project is resulting in exterior noise levels that exceed 65 dBA DNL or interior noise levels that exceed 45 dBA DNL (the exterior and interior noise level standards contained in the San Joaquin County V Development Title,respectively). For interior noise measurements, residences with air- conditioning units will be evaluated with windows closed; residences with no air conditioning units will be evaluated with windows open if that is the normal operating condition. In those cases where interior noise levels exceed 45 dBA DNL,the Applicant will identify and implement building treatments or sound insulating features to reduce interior noise to 45 dBA DNL or less. Sound insulating features may include treatments such as installation of air-conditioning,upgrading windows and doors(including seals), and eliminating noise flanking paths. Sound insulation would ensure that interior noise level standards contained in the San Joaquin County Development Title are met,except where affected property owners do no want sound insulation. r The construction of 6 to 8-foot solid fences or sound walls may be feasible (especially for some residences along Haul Route 3)and may be able to substantially reduce noise from haul trucks at some of the residences along the haul route. When the acoustical consultant r, identifies residences where fences or sound walls could achieve a 10 dBA or greater reduction in exterior noise levels,or reduce exterior noise levels to below 65 dBA LDN,the applicant should fund the construction of the solid fences or sound walls.This probably would not eliminate the significant noise increase at all the residences,but it would substantially reduce the increased noise and provide relief to the residences from the higher unmitigated noise levels. However,for the residences on Segment 5 (residence R9)and Segment 8(residence RIO),fences or sound walls would probably not be practical or r feasible. In these locations the homes are set back a considerable distance from the road and in order to reduce traffic noise to a less-than-significant level, sound walls would need to be too massive to be practical. Residence RIO on Segment 8 is also subjected to considerable noise from traffic on I-5, so any sound wall on Blewett Road would be ineffective in reducing noise from I-5. I Furthermore,given the effect they would have on the rural character and aesthetic value of the area, fences and sound walls may not be desired or feasible for all the residences potentially affected by noise from project haul trucks. In addition to the issue of feasibility, the height,mass, and linear extent of fences and walls needed to effectively reduce noise impacts from the haul route options on sensitive receptors raises the possibility that such barriers would result in impacts on the visual character of the existing landscape and on scenic views of the Coastal Range Mountains and the San Joaquin Valley.The fences and walls would be large-scale features with simplified linear forms that could appear visually obtrusive as well as obstructing long-range views. OWN 4.6 Air Quality The following impact discussions and mitigation measures have been revised. r L Cement Vernals Quarry Mining and Reclamation Project 443 ESA 1203015 LFinal Environmental Impact Report June 2008