Laserfiche WebLink
The Table 5 data indicate that ambient noise conditions at the measurement sites varied, with <br /> average existing noise levels generally near or below the County's daytime and nighttime <br /> average (Leq) noise level thresholds of 50 dB Leq and 45 dB Leq, respectively, and computed <br /> Ldn values well below the County's 60 dB Ldn standard applied to residential uses. A notable <br /> exception is the data collected on October 2, 2008, in which the daytime ambient noise <br /> environment is believed to have been heavily influenced by almond harvesting activities. <br /> Average and maximum noise levels registered during the afternoon of October 2 were <br /> considerably higher than those collected during the other days of the sample. In fact, inspection _ <br /> of Appendices B-6 and B-12 reveals that local almond harvesting activities likely occurred <br /> during the noon to 5 pm hours, dramatically affecting the noise measurement results for that <br /> day. Because the data collected during the apparent almond harvesting activities near the noise �- <br /> monitoring sites is clearly anomalous, average and maximum daytime noise levels for October 2 <br /> were recalculated with the noise levels measured during those hours omitted. The recalculated <br /> noise levels for that day are included as the last rows of data for each site in Table 5. <br /> With respect to measured Leq values for individual hours during which the Munn & Perkins <br /> asphalt plant was operating (not averages for the complete daytime or nighttime periods), the <br /> Appendix B data indicate that noise levels varied. For example, on Sunday, September 28'h <br /> 2008, the Munn & Perkins asphalt plant operated during the hours of 7 am through 2 pm. <br /> Because these operations occurred during daytime hours (7 am — 10 pm), the average (Leq) <br /> and maximum (Lmax) noise level standards applicable to these operations at the nearest <br /> residences are 50 dB Leq and 70 dB Lmax. Examination of Appendix B-2, which contains the <br /> complete listing of noise measurement data for September 28'r' at measurement Site "A", as <br /> well as a visual indication of when the asphalt plant was in operation, reveals that average noise <br /> levels during the period during which the plant was operating ranged from 40 to 46 dB Leq. <br /> This range of noise levels is below the County's 50 dB Leq standard. In addition, measured <br /> maximum noise levels during that same period ranged from 49 to 62 dB Lmax during this <br /> period. also below the daytime 70 dB Lmax standard of the County. A similar finding of <br /> compliance w0 the County noise standards was made for this day of operations (September <br /> 28"') at noise measurement Site B with the exception of the 2 pm hour, during which time a <br /> clearly anomalous event resulted in an elevated Leq of 56 dB. <br /> This information pertaining to noise levels measured during individual hours on this Sunday is <br /> critically important because Sunday's are typically the quietest days of the week due to reduced <br /> traffic and human activity. Because the Munn & Perkins asphalt plant operations, which <br /> generate steady-state noise levels while the plant equipment is operating, satisfied the County's <br /> requirements on this Sunday period of low ambient conditions, it is reasonable to conclude that <br /> during periods when the County's noise level standards were exceeded during asphalt plant <br /> operation, those exceedances were caused by other local ambient noise sources and not the <br /> Munn & Perkins asphalt plant <br /> Environmental Norse Anafysis <br /> Munn&Perkins Expanded Hours of Operations— San Joaquin County <br /> Page 13 <br />