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<br />6.2A <br />Page 29 <br /> <br />Impact NOI-2c: Noise levels caused by nighttime tunnel construction would generate noise <br />levels beyond the time limits and in excess of the noise limit increases established by the <br />City of Newark's noise policy. <br /> <br />Tunnel construction activities may extend beyond the workday hours allowed by the City of <br />Newark (7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays only). During these hours, construction activities would <br />not be subject to the City's noise limits. However, construction activities occurring beyond <br />established workday hours would be subject to the City's noise policy that limits noise increases <br />to 6 dBA above the ambient noise level at the property line. Nighttime activities could include <br />operation of two cranes, tunnel ventilation fan, front-end loader, and stationary equipment. <br />Ventilation fans are required at all times that workers are underground, which would be up to 24- <br />hours a day, cranes would be operated at night to raise and lower workers as necessary, and <br />pumps would be operated as often as necessary (up to 24-hours per day) to maintain dry working <br />conditions underground. This equipment could generate noise levels of 37 to 54 dBA (Leq) at the <br />closest residential property line with direct line-of-sight approximately 1,650 feet away for a <br />combined noise level of 56 dBA (Leq). The estimated combined noise level of 56 dBA (Leq) <br />would increase the ambient noise level by more than 6 dBA at the property line, and thereby <br />generate noise levels in excess of noise increase limits established by Newark's noise policy, <br />resulting in a significant impact. <br /> <br />. Mitigation Measure NOI-2: Noise reduction techniques and time limit restrictions. <br /> <br />Impact NOI-2e: Noise levels from equipment used for pipeline and tunnel construction <br />could exceed the City of Newark General Plan's Noise Element. <br /> <br />The City of Newark's Noise Element contains weekday limits on noise for construction <br />equipment by type, as measured 50 feet from the piece of equipment. Unmitigated weekday <br />noise levels at 50 feet would exceed Newark's noise limits for construction equipment, resulting <br />in a significant impact. <br /> <br />. Mitigation Measure NOI-2: Noise reduction techniques and time limit restrictions <br /> <br />Impact NOI4: Operational noise could exceed local noise ordinances. <br /> <br />The Project proposal includes new backup power sources at the Hayward Fault Valve Lot East <br />and Hayward Fault Valve Lot West consisting of high-pressure hydraulic power. At these two <br />valve lots, a battery backup power would be included to operate the hydraulic compressor in the <br />event of power failure. The battery must be kept at an optimum temperature to maintain its shelf <br />life; therefore, air-conditioning equipment would be required. Residential receptors are located <br />within 170 feet of the Hayward Fault Valve Lot East and within 10 to 40 feet of the Hayward <br />Fault Valve Lot West. These air conditioners would be a new permanent noise source for <br />adjacent residents, but noise increases would be similar to those associated with residential air <br />conditioning systems, which would typically be le~s~t~~~,sigl1jf:icant:Jlo~~Y~~~~~:t1,(;~"l1()i~~.., <br />.. .... ::leVelsthatwoiild be jirodiiced by the' installation of-the discussed equipment' are 'notknown'at. ,. <br />this time, this would be a potentially significant impact. <br /> <br />Propane-fueled permanent emergency generators would be installed at the Newark and <br />Ravenswood Valve Lots, while a portable generator connection would be installed at the <br />Redwood City Valve Lot. Residential uses with direct line of sight are located approximately <br />2,000 feet from the Newark Valve Lot, 900 feet from the proposed Ravenswood tunnel shaft <br />location, and 100 feet from the Redwood City Valve Lot. Emergency generators can generate <br />noise levels of81 dBA at 50 feet, but these noise levels can vary with the size of the generator. <br />At these distances, the proposed generators could produce noise levels of approximately 50 to 75 <br /> <br /> <br />19 <br />