NOISE Pollution Ordinance Language Sierra Club SECTION

SECTION 13. Noise, Acoustic, and Vibration Performance Standards

• A.Applicability. This Section applies to all LLDC buildings, cooling equipment, generators, generator testing, primary generation, Stationary Combustion Turbines, turbine inlets, exhaust stacks, bypass stacks, HRSGs, duct burners, gas compressors, black-start equipment, bridge-power units, temporary/mobile/rental generation, substations, transformers, switchgear, BESS, ventilation, construction equipment, fuel/gas infrastructure, and related sources.
• B.Maximum sound limits. Unless the existing zoning ordinance is more protective, sound from the LLDC and associated sources shall not exceed 45 dBA daytime and 40 dBA nighttime at any Sensitive Receptor property line or receiving property line designated by the governing body. The governing body may impose lower limits based on existing ambient conditions, zoning district purpose, or proximity to Sensitive Receptors.
• C.Tonal, impulsive, and low-frequency penalties. A 5 dBA penalty shall be applied to measured or modeled sound containing prominent tonal, impulsive, or low-frequency characteristics, including transformer hum, fan tones, engine tones, exhaust tones, or discrete-frequency noise demonstrated through one-third octave band analysis or other accepted method.
• D.Facility-wide cumulative modeling. Compliance shall be demonstrated on a facility-wide cumulative basis and not through per-unit manufacturer data alone. Modeling shall include all normal operating sources, maximum routine operation, primary generation, emergency generation, redundant units, N+1/N+2/2N scenarios, black-start operation, bridge-power operation, testing, commissioning, startup/shutdown, temporary/mobile/rental generation, turbine inlets, exhaust stacks, bypass stacks, HRSGs, duct burners, gas compressors, cooling systems, transformers, substations, fuel/gas equipment, roof equipment, and foreseeable phase buildout.
• E.Baseline study. The applicant shall fund a baseline ambient sound survey before major construction, including weekday/weekend, daytime/nighttime, and representative weather conditions at property lines and Sensitive Receptors.
• F.Predictive study The applicant shall submit predictive acoustic modeling prepared by a Qualified Acoustical Professional, including one-third octave band analysis, tonal assessment, low-frequency assessment, topography, buildings, barriers, meteorology, phasing, and mitigation.
• G.Testing, emergency, turbine, and redundancy scenarios. Modeling shall separately evaluate generator testing/exercising windows, simultaneous testing caps, commissioning, emergency operation, turbine startup/shutdown and ramping, N+1/N+2/2N redundancy, black-start sequences, bridge-power operation, temporary/mobile/rental generation, and primary generation operation. No operating scenario may be approved unless it complies with the sound limits after penalties.