Controlling noise impact in the community from power plant operations-recommendations for ambient measurements

摘要

There is no uniform methodology in the U.S. for assessing environmental noise impact from power plant or other stationary sources. In fact, methods vary greatly from state to state and local community to local community. Impact analysis is based on an incremental change to existing ambient conditions at some sites, while at others; compliance with state or local noise emission limits is considered sufficient noise impact analysis. Permitting authorities may set the acceptable incremental change to existing conditions arbitrarily, and ambient noise measurement requirements to define existing conditions are inadequately defined at best. The cumulative effect of permitting successive projects is rarely addressed in any formal manner. There is no accepted method or model for predicting noise levels at sensitive receptors. This paper discusses the collection of ambient data to establish existing conditions based on extensive experience in siting power plants gained over the past 30 years. Later papers are planned to discuss the modeling and impact analysis phases of an environmental noise assessment.