Sec. 1001.19. Exhibit 19: noise and vibration

Exhibit 19 shall contain:

A study of the noise impacts of the construction and operation of the facility, related facilities and ancillary equipment. The name and qualifications to perform such analyses of the preparer of the study shall be stated. If the results of the study are certified in any manner by a member of a relevant professional society, the details of such certification shall be stated. If any noise assessment methodology standards are applied in the preparation of the study, an identification and description of such standards shall be stated. The study shall include:

(a) A map of the study area showing the location of sensitive sound receptors in relation to the facility, related facilities and ancillary equipment (including any related substations). The sensitive sound receptors shown shall including residences, outdoor public facilities and areas, hospitals, schools and other noise-sensitive receptors.

(b) An evaluation of ambient pre-construction baseline noise conditions, including A-weighted/dBA sound levels, prominent discrete (pure) tones, at representative potentially impacted noise receptors, using actual measurement data recorded in winter and summer and during day and night as a function of time and frequency using a suitable and suitably calibrated sound level meter (SLM) and octave band frequency spectrum analyzer, or similar equipment. The ambient pre-construction baseline sound level should be filtered to exclude seasonal and intermittent noise.

(c) An evaluation of future noise levels during construction of the facility and related facilities including predicted A-weighted/dBA sound levels at potentially impacted and representative noise receptors, using computer noise modeling.

(d) An estimate of the noise level to be produced by operation of the facility, related facilities and ancillary equipment assuming wind-induced background noise or stable atmospheric conditions, as appropriate, and not assuming any attenuation of sound that transiently occurs due to weather or temperature.

(e) An evaluation of future noise levels during operation of the facility, related facilities and ancillary equipment including predicted A- weighted/dBA sound levels, , prominent discrete (pure) tones, and amplitude modulated sound, at potentially impacted and representative noise receptors, using computer noise modeling, and an analysis of whether the facility will produce significant levels of low frequency noise or infrasound.

(f) A statement in tabular form of the A-weighted/dBA sound levels indicated by measurements and computer noise modeling at the representative external property boundary lines of the facility and related facilities and ancillary equipment sites, and at the representative nearest and average noise receptors, for the following scenarios:

(1) Daytime ambient noise level - a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of sound exceeded for 90 percent of the time during the daytime hours (7 am - 10 pm) of a year (L₉₀).

(2) Summer nightime ambient noise level - a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of sound exceeded for 90 percent of the time during the nightime hours (10 pm - 7 am) during the summer (L₉₀).

(3) Winter nightime ambient noise level - a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of sound exceeded for 90 percent of the time during the nightime hours (10 pm - 7 am) during the winter (L₉₀).

(4) Worst case future noise level during the daytime period - the daytime ambient noise level (L₉₀), plus the noise level from the proposed new sources modeled as a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of sound exceeded for 10 percent of the time by such sources under normal operating conditions by such sources in a year (L₁₀).

(5) Worst case future noise level during the summer nightime period - the summer nightime ambient noise level (L₉₀), plus the noise level from the proposed new sources modeled as a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of sound exceeded for 10 percent of the time by such sources under normal operating conditions by such sources in a year (L₁₀).

(6) Worst case future noise level during the winter nightime period - the winter nightime ambient noise level (L₉₀), plus the noise level from the proposed new sources modeled as a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of sound exceeded for 10 percent of the time by such sources under normal operating conditions by such sources in a year (L₁₀).

(7) Daytime ambient average noise level - a single value of sound level equivalent to the energy-average ambient sound levels (Leq) during daytime hours (7 am -10 pm).

(8) Typical facility noise levels - the noise level from the proposed new sources modeled as a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of the sound exceeded 50 percent of the time by such sources under normal operating conditions by such sources in a year (L₅₀).

(9) Typical future noise level during the daytime period - the energy- average ambient sound level during daytime hours (Leq), plus the noise level from the proposed new sources modeled as a single value of sound level equivalent to the level of the sound exceeded 50 percent of the time by such sources under normal operating conditions by such sources in a year (L₅₀).

(g) A description of the noise standards applicable to the facility, including any local requirements, and noise design goals for the facility at representative potentially impacted noise receptors, including residences, outdoor public facilities and areas, hospitals, schools, other noise- sensitive receptors, and at representative external property boundary lines of the facility and related facilities and ancillary equipment sites.

(h) A tabular comparison of the noise standards applicable to the facility, including any local requirements, and noise design goals for the facility, and the degree of compliance indicated by computer noise modeling at the representative external property boundary lines of the facility and related facilities and ancillary equipment sites, and at the representative nearest and average noise receptors.

(i) An identification and evaluation of reasonable noise abatement measures for construction activities, including a description of a complaint- handling procedure that shall be provided during the construction period.

(j) An identification and evaluation of reasonable noise abatement measures for the final design and operation of the facility including the use of alternative technologies, alternative designs, and alternative facility arrangements.

(k) An evaluation of the following potential community noise impacts: hearing damage (as addressed by applicable occupational safety and health administration standards); indoor and outdoor speech interference; interference in the use of outdoor public facilities and areas; community complaint potential; the potential for structural damage; and the potential for interference with technological, industrial or medical activities that are sensitive to vibration or infrasound.

(l) A description of post-construction noise evaluation studies that shall be performed to establish conformance with operational noise design goals.

(m) An identification of practicable post-construction operational controls and other mitigation measures that will be available to address reasonable complaints, including a description of a complaint-handling procedure that shall be provided during periods of operation.

(n) The computer noise modeling values used for the major noise-producing components of the facility shall fairly match the unique operational noise characteristics of the particular equipment models and configurations proposed for the facility. The software input parameters, assumptions, and associated data used for the computer modeling shall be provided.