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E Caroli Mortensen January 13, 2012 Page 9 L` The Landfill Expansion Project is reasonably foreseeable and consequently, the environmental impacts of all of the landfill's proposed operations must be analyzed. Inasmuch as the Landfill Expansion Project was not contemplated in 2003, the 2003 DEIR certainly did not address these environmental impacts. 2. The Increase in Sunday Operations Will Have Potentially Significant Impacts on Area Noise Levels. According to the CEQA Guidelines, a project would result in a noise impact if it would: (a) expose persons to or generate noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance; or (b) result in a substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project. CEQA Guidelines, Appendix G XII (a) and (d). Accordingly, the 2010 DEIR states that a noise impact from any new landfill operation would be potentially significant if it would cause noise levels at any of the noise sensitive land uses to exceed the maximum allowable noise exposure levels identified in the San Joaquin County Code. 2010 DEIR at IV.0-2. The County Code identifies maximum allowable noise exposure levels of 65 dB Ldn for outdoor residential uses and 45 dB Ldn for indoor residential uses. Id. at IV.0-4. It is imperative to evaluate the existing environment when analyzing a Project's potential environmental impacts. The SWFP ND did not analyze the noise effects that would result from the SWFP Revisions and therefore unfortunately also did not describe the existing (Sunday) background noise environment. A description of existing ambient noise levels is particularly important in this instance because, on the vast majority of Sundays, residents near the landfill currently enjoy quiet conditions because the landfill is restricted from operating. On those 42 Sundays per year, the landfill's noisy equipment is not running and no landfill -related trucks travel along area roadways. Indeed, Forward's 2003 CUP likely limited the number of Sundays the landfill could operate in order to protect the quality of life of nearby residents. There are at least 20 residences located on Austin Road and French Camp Road and some of the outdoor activity areas of these residences are as close as 25 feet from the roadways' centerline. See 2010 DEIR at IV. C. -hand IV. C-15 footnote to Table trucks travel along roadways, especially two-lane roadways, there is an elevated risk of vehicular accidents. These impacts have not been analyzed. SHUTE MIHALY &—WEINBERGERu_P