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INTRODUCTION The DSS aggregate mining and processing facility is located east of Interstate 5, between the California Aqueduct and Delta Mendota Canal, in southern San Joaquin County, California. The site is bounded by Koster Road on the east and is approximately one-half mile south of Blewett Road. Figure 1 is an aerial photograph of the project area(taken prior to commencement of DSS activities on the site), which illustrates the locations of the current plant processing and mining activities,as well as the locations of the nearest off-site residences. Figures 2 and 3 are photographs of current processing equipment and mining areas,respectively. In order to lessen the impact on the California energy grid during peak hours and to take advantage of reduced energy costs during ofF peak hours,DSS is proposing to reschedule its hours of muting and processing operations. Currently the hours of mining and processing operations are reported to be for a sixteen hour block of time from 5 AM to 9:00 PM. The hours of mining and processing operations are proposed to be rescheduled,while still maintaining the sixteen hour block of time,to start at 1:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Due to the inherent noise generation of aggregate mining and processing facilities, DSS has requested Bollard&Brennan,Inc.to conduct a noise evaluation to determine whether or not the re- scheduling of its hours of operation would adversely affect the existing residences in the project vicinity. This report contains the data, analysis methodology, and conclusions of that evaluation. It should be noted that a comprehensive noise analysis was prepared for the DSS facility in 1997 as part of the Environmental Impact Report required for this project. Mr. Paul Bollard, the prepared or this analysis, also prepared the 1997 Elk analysis while employed at Brown-Buntin Associates, Inc. Although very early morning hours of operation were not included in the original application, much of the information contained in that study is still considered to be applicable to current conditions, and this report makes use of that information when appropriate. Appendix A provides definitions of acoustical terms used in this report. Unless otherwise stated, all sound levels are reported in terms of A-weighted sound pressure levels, in decibels (dB). A-weighting de-emphasizes very low and very high frequencies of sound in a manner similar to the human ear. Most community noise standards utilize A-weighting, as it provides a high degree of correlation with.human annoyance and health effects. Environmental Noise Evaluation Proposed DSS Quarry Rescheduled Hours of Operation Page I