 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
41. Noise: The pit is located on a hill. Operations on the pit floor will be clearly visible from residences. In this way, the proposed pit is different from many others in Ontario. Perimeter berming, which is generally a primary and permanent noise control feature, would be ineffective in providing acoustic shielding from those residences.
42. Noise: The mitigation plan involves shielding the processing plant from all residential receptors. It is not clear how the simultaneous shielding of this equipment from different directions can be reliably accomplished.
43. Noise: Even with shielding, it is likely that the processing equipment will exceed expected levels indicated in the report because of the low levels of background sound in the area, especially those receptors downwind under prevailing conditions.
44. Noise: The report provides no discussion of the sound from backup beepers associated with the trucks and loaders operating on the site. Back up beepers are designed to be as audible as possible. Since they are considered to be safety devices, they are exempt from assessment. Nonetheless, they are a source of community complaints.
45. Noise: The report has identified an increase in road traffic sound levels on Regional Road 23. The Region of Waterloo has a requirement for the installation of sound barriers or berms when the sound levels increase to a certain level. A complete study of the current road traffic sound levels on Regional Road 23 and Regional Road #86 is required, including the mitigation required to address the increased sound levels caused by the applicants operation.
46. Noise: The report makes theoretical assumptions that a % of trucks will go north and % of trucks will go south when leaving the pit. In real life operation, future contracts will have all of the truck traffic travel in one direction towards the contract location. Contract locations will change so will the resulting truck routes. The increase in road traffic sound levels should be studied assuming 100% of the daily traffic travels on one truck route.
- Truck Route 1: truck traffic south on Regional Road 23
- Truck Route 2: truck traffic north on Regional Road 23 then west on Regional Road #86
- Truck Route 3: truck traffic north on Regional Road 23 then east on Regional Road #86
- Truck Route 4: truck traffic north on Regional Road 23
47. Noise: The report has calculated the receptor sound levels and berm heights based on 1.5m reception above the ground. Pit operation is proposed at early hours, 24 hour operation under permit, residents work shift work and resident’s convalescence at home, sufficient mitigation for residences to protect upstairs windows is required.
48. Noise: The report has calculated the receptor sound levels and berm heights based on 1.5m reception above the ground. Some homes have outdoor patios located on the second floor; sufficient mitigation for residences to protect outdoor patios is required.
49. Noise: Topography of the valley where this pit is proposed results in unique noise abatement issues. This report has not taken this local characteristic into account.
50. Noise: The proposed pit location is beside a river. Noise will reflect and carry a greater than normal distance off of water increasing noise levels for not just the surrounding homes but also those further down the river. This report has not taken the river into account.
