Laserfiche WebLink
<br />6.2A <br />Page 43 <br /> <br />In addition to increased noise in the tunnel shaft vicinity, there would be a short-term noise <br />increase north of the shaft when the SFPUC's pipeline is connected to the Alameda County <br />Water District pipeline and when grout injection pipes are installed. Construction-related noise <br />levels at the center would exceed the 60 dBA significance threshold. Therefore, because much of <br />this equipment would need to be operated at night - ventilation fans are required at all times that <br />workers are underground, which would be up to 24-hours a day, cranes would be operated at <br />night to raise and lower workers as necessary, and pumps would be operated as often as <br />necessary (up to 24-hours per day) to maintain dry working conditions underground - resulting <br />noise levels would represent a significant and unavoidable noise impact on nearby sensitive <br />receptor (including captive wildlife). <br /> <br />. Mitigation Measure NO/-Ia: Noise Control Measures <br />. Mitigation Measure NO/-Ib: Construction Contract Specifications <br /> <br />Impact NOI-le would be partiaIJy mitigated through the actions described in Mitigation Measure <br />NOI-la as well as Mitigation Measure NOI-lb. However, residential receptors with direct line of <br />sight to the shaft construction and associated nighttime construction activities could still <br />occasionally be exposed to an exceedance of the 50 dBA sleep interference criterion, with the <br />Ohlone Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center being occasionally exposed to an <br />exceedance of the 60 dBA criterion. <br /> <br />Impact NOI-lf: Noise disturbance from helicopter operations could result in a substantial <br />temporary increase in existing ambient noise levels in the Project vicinity, depending on <br />helicopter ffight patterns, helicopter type, and flight altitude. <br /> <br />As part of the Project-related upgrades to existing PG&E facilities, PG&E would install a fiber <br />optic cable between the Ravenswood and Ames Substations. Because these towers are located in <br />coastal marsh and waters, a helicopter would be required to transport the cable, equipment, and <br />construction personnel to each tower location. Since helicopter activity would progress along the <br />cable alignment, exposure of any particular residential receptor would be less than two weeks. <br />However, since specific flight paths and landing areas are yet to be developed, a potential for <br />disturbance to nearby residential receptors remains. In addition, the type of helicopter used by <br />the contractor could be quieter or louder than the type of helicopter assumed in this analysis. <br />Therefore, because of these uncertainties and potential variations, helicopter noise disturbance <br />could result in a significant impact. <br /> <br />. Mitigation Measure NO/-Ie: Helicopter Noise Control Measures <br /> <br />Implementation of Mitigation Measure NOI-Ic, helicopter noise control nleasures, would reduce <br />potential noise disturbance impacts from helicopter operations. As flight paths are developed, a <br />qualified acoustical consultant must be retained to assess potentially affected noise sensitive <br />receptors and provide recommendations, as part of Mitigation Measure NOI-Ic, which if feasible <br /> <br />. . ~~;~~~i~i~~1~1~h~~~se;~ri6W.~J~rif:~.~citW~f~~m~~~~tr6:\h~~6iJeeI;n~iict~&el~\~~lh~h~.. . <br /> <br />significant levels, it may remain significant and unavoidable. <br /> <br />Impact NOI-lg: Daytime truck and vehicle traffic increases on the Ravenswood Valve Lot <br />access road during tunnel construction and staging would create a substantial temporary <br />increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity. <br /> <br />Based on traffic estimates, tunnel construction at the Ravenswood Valve Lot would generate an <br />average of 150 truck trips and 160 worker vehicle trips to and from the construction site per clay, <br />or up to a maximum of 20 truck trips and 65 worker vehicle trips during the Project's peak traffic <br />generation hour. Based on these maximum hourly volumes and FHW A noise-modeling <br /> <br />33 <br />