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III. Environmental � g Setting P, Impacts, and Mitigations H. Noise Existing Noise Environment Transportation-related noise sources,primarily automobiles,buses,and trucks,determine ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project site. The primary sources of traffic-noise are Austin Road,French Camp Road and Mariposa Road,with I-5 and Highway 99 contributing to background noise levels. Haul trucks are the major source of noise along access roads,outside the site. At the landfill,noise is primarily generated by haul trucks,landfill equipment operations, and earth moving activities. A'seagull gun'is used, along with a tape of seagull distress sounds, at the landfill to keep birds away from freshly dumped material. The Noise Element of the City of Stockton General Plan contains noise contour and measurement data for various locations in the City. Highway 99,from Charter Way to South City Limits,currently generates a noise level of 60 dBA,Ldn, at 866 feet from the road, and would generate a 60 dBA,Ldn,noise level at about 2,000 feet under future traffic conditions. The project site is more than 5,000 feet away from Highway 99,and so, noise from traffic along this route is less than 60 dBA, Ldn. The noise contribution from I-5 would be even less than that from Highway 99. Noise was measured by ESA at several locations in the project area. The results of these measurements are shown in Table III.H.I. Two long-term noise measurements(24-hours or more)were done to the north and south of the landfill,along Austin Road,to determine traffic- . generated noise levels from either haul-route direction. These long-term noise measurements are plotted as a graph, and shown in Figures III.H.3 and III.H.4,to show hourly noise fluctuations during the day. As shown by these noise measurements,traffic-generated noise levels along Austin Road are above the City-recommended standards for residential land uses (60 dBA,Ldn). Noise was also measured,close to the project site,for the Forward,Inc.Landfill Permit Modification EIR; these short-term noise measurements taken between 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. show noise levels of 55-61 dBA,Leq,at the two residential units(9621 and 9690 Austin Road) along Austin Road. Sensitive Receptors Some land uses are considered more sensitive to ambient noise levels than others,due to the amount of noise exposure(in terms of both time and insulation from noise)and the types of activities typically involved. Residences, motels and hotels, schools,libraries,churches, III.H.5