APPENDIX 12 NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENT USING HEALTH CANADA GUIDELINES

Transcription

1 APPENDIX 12 NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENT USING HEALTH CANADA GUIDELINES

2 Suncor Energy Inc. - i - Noise Health Canada TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION ASSESSMENT APPROACH HEALTH CANADA METHOD PREDICTION MODELLING Construction Operation Receptors RESULTS Construction Operations WORKERS CAMP IMPACTS Approach Existing Noise Project Levels ABBREVIATIONS AND REFERENCES ABBREVIATIONS REFERENCES...12 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Construction Noise Sources for the Voyageur South Project...3 Table 2 Location of Receivers Included in the Noise Assessment...6 Table 3 Construction Noise Model Results...6 Table 4 Environment Impact Assessment Noise Model Results...7 Table 5 Outdoor Worker Camp Operation Noise Levels, Baseline...9 Table 6 Indoor Worker Camp Construction Noise Levels, Voyageur South Project...9 Table 7 Indoor Worker Camp Operation Noise Levels, Voyageur South Project...10

3 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada 1 INTRODUCTION Health Canada has published draft National Guidelines for Environmental Assessment: Health Impacts of Noise (May 2005). These guidelines consider: characteristics of the noise level; construction noise impacts; operational noise impacts based on increased levels of annoyance in the population; impact on special land uses such as schools, hospitals and senior s residences; and sleep disturbance impacts such as for workers camps. This appendix presents a discussion of construction and operations noise results based on the May 2005 version of the guideline, for reference only. The primary regulatory requirement for noise remains the Alberta Energy and Utility Board Directive 038: Noise Control (EUB 2007).

4 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada 2 ASSESSMENT APPROACH 2.1 HEALTH CANADA METHOD The Health Canada criteria selected as an additional reference for the assessment of Voyageur South Project are contained in the draft National Guidelines for Environmental Assessment: Health Impacts of Noise (May 2005) from Health Canada (referred to in this report as Draft National Guidelines (Health Canada 2005). The guidelines consider the percentage of the exposed population that could be highly annoyed by increased noise levels caused by projects. Impacts are considered significant and requiring mitigation where: a source of noise may cause the percentage of the population that are Highly Annoyed (HA) by noise to increase by 6.5% as determined by the function: HA=100/(1+exp[ *log{10 0.1*Leq24h *10 0.1*Ln }]) or the specified impact or impulse noise indicator (HCII) exceeds 75 dba using the function: Note: HCII=10log( Leq *10 0.1Ln ) L eq24 is the 24 hour equivalent noise level calculated according to CAN/CSA-ISO1996-1:05; and L n is the night time average sound level according to CAN/CSA-ISO1996-1:05. To determine the HA and HCII noise indicators, this assessment used the data developed for the primary assessment (Volume 3, Section 5 of the EIA). The noise sources and treatment of these sources in propagation calculations is the same for both the EUB and Health Canada methodologies. The difference in the assessment approaches resides in the identification of sensitive receptors, time periods assessed and the criteria used to determine impacts. In addition, Health Canada requires a more detailed examination of construction noise. For construction noise, this appendix provides relevant source data and prediction results. All modelling for construction noise was conducted in a manner consistent with the predictions for operational noise.

5 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada For operational noise, this secondary assessment will use the data developed in Volume 3, Section 5 of the EIA and detailed information presented in Appendix PREDICTION MODELLING Construction The sources and assessment scenarios for construction noise were based on generic information and assumptions regarding the equipment needs for a large industrial facility. A final list of construction equipment and detailed scheduling information cannot be determined until the contracting/procurement stage of a project, which typically occurs after the environmental permitting process is complete. A list of expected noise sources and details regarding the number, type, sound power output and data origin are provided in Table 1. Table 1 Construction Noise Sources for the Voyageur South Project Construction Phase (a) Quantity Equipment Description Type of Noise [# of units] Sound Power (per unit) [db] Reference/ Data Source Piling Piling rigs with hydraulic drivers highly impulsive (b) Field Measurement (c) Dump Truck intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Hoes/excavators continuous Cowan 1994 Civil Dozers intermittent CadnaA Set 2003 Welding machines - diesel continuous/intermittent CadnaA Set 2003 Backup alarm intermittent tonal SAE J Power generator, 1 MW continuous CadnaA SET 2003 Cranes (crawler) intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Cranes (RT's) intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Highway Trucks intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Structural Heavy haul vehicles - SPMT's intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Man lifts (100kW) intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Compressor - pneumatic tools continuous/intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Backup alarm intermittent tonal SAE J Power generator, 1 MW continuous CadnaA SET 2003 Cranes (crawler) intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Cranes (RT's) intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Heavy haul vehicles - SPMT's intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Man lifts intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Equipment Highway Trucks intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Modules Welding machines - electric continuous/intermittent Neitzel 1998 Welding machines - diesel continuous/intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Compressor - pneumatic tools continuous/intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Backup alarm intermittent tonal SAE J Power generator, 1 MW continuous CadnaA SET 2003

6 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada Table 1 Construction Phase Piping Construction Noise Sources for the Voyageur South Project (continued) (a) Quantity Equipment Description Type of Noise [# of units] Sound Power (per unit) [db] Reference/ Data Source Cranes (crawler) intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Cranes (RT's) intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Highway Trucks intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Man lifts intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Welding machines - diesel continuous/intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Compressor - pneumatic tools continuous/intermittent CadnaA SET 2003 Backup alarm intermittent tonal SAE J Power generator, 1 MW continuous CadnaA SET 2003 (a) A source type of continuous/intermittent was assigned to sources that are considered continuous (e.g., a diesel engine), but are expected to be utilized in an intermittent manner. (b) Includes a 12 db penalty on impulsive sources. (c) Noise level taken from Golder measurements on file from other operators in the Oil Sands Region. Since schedules and the exact nature of the Voyageur South Project construction activity will not be known until later in the planning/design process, all sources were treated as continuous in the modelling, with the exception of Pile Driving, which was treated as an impulsive source. Construction focuses on facilities construction only mine pit/cell construction is considered part of normal operations. The noise sources were split evenly between the cogeneration and extraction facility areas as identified in the Voyageur South Project description (Volume 1, Section 3).

7 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada Operation As described in Volume 3, Section 5.2 of the EIA, the assessment approach is to determine the increase of noise at identified receptors attributable to the South Voyageur Project over the Baseline noise levels. This is the ambient noise plus noise from all currently approved projects. The Application is the addition of predicted noise from the Voyageur South Project to the Baseline to indicate the change in noise level attributable to the Voyageur South Project. Two scenarios are modelled and predicted. Scenario A, which is the period of operation when the largest mine fleet will be active on-site (year 2012), and Scenario B, which is the period of operation when sound emitted by the Voyageur South Project will be in the closest proximity to sensitive receptors (the Hunter/Trapper sites) (year 2018) Receptors The methods used for predicting levels for the Baseline is described at Volume 3, Section 5.5 of the EIA and includes a description of the model and its inputs with the prediction results in Volume 3, Table The approach for predicting the change in noise levels between the Baseline and the Voyageur South Project (the Application ) is described in Volume 3, Section 5.6, including the inputs used for the Application, with the results shown in Volume 3, Table Additional information on the model application and sources used for the operational noise levels are found in Appendix 11. The Health Canada approach requires that noise be considered for sensitive locations such as residences, camp sites, recreational areas, institutions such as schools or medical facilities, and spiritual areas such as churches or First Nation spiritual sites. There are no permanent receptors in the area, but there are seasonal hunter/trapper cabins for which predictions are made to indicate the change in noise levels in areas adjacent to the Voyageur South PDA. There are three Hunter/Trapper cabins, as described in Volume 3, Section 5.2 of the EIA, and listed in Table 2.

8 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada Table 2 Location of Receivers Included in the Noise Assessment (a) Receiver Distance [km] (a) Location Hunter/Trapper Cabin G 1.8 northeast Hunter/Trapper Cabin R 3.3 west Hunter/Trapper Cabin S 0.5 southwest Direction(a) The distance and direction are relative to the Suncor footprint including the Voyageur South Project. The only other sensitive noise receptor based on Health Canada requirements are the Suncor worker camps. Noise levels for the worker camps are addressed separately, as on site noise and noise control requires that noise be assessed at the indoor level to determine potential for sleep disturbance. 2.3 RESULTS Construction Predicted noise level results for construction activity are presented in Table 3 (Construction ). The predictions indicate continuous and impulsive noise levels over any one hour period. The impulsive noise level is an equivalent one hour maximum during pile driving. Table 3 Construction Noise Model Results Name Hunter/Trapper Cabin G Hunter/Trapper Cabin R Hunter/Trapper Cabin S Continuous Noise Baseline Construction During Pile Driving Baseline Construction For the purpose of determining the HA and HCII indicators, the change in Construction noise levels compared to the Baseline noise levels was used. While these are identified as one hour averages, they were taken to be equivalent to 8-hour and 24-hour L eq values as a worst case. Construction activity is variable, and is expected to be lower than the calculated values most of

9 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada the time as it is unlikely all equipment will always be operating at maximum output. The dose response function for the percentage of the population HA (from CAN/CSA-ISO1996-1:05 and Section 3.2 of the Draft National Guidelines [Health Canada 2005]) was applied to the change in noise level due to the construction of the proposed Voyageur South Project at the Hunter/Trapper Cabin S where the greatest change was identified from the Baseline. The only change from the Baseline occurs during pile driving. A derived value for the pile driving scenario was a L eq24h = 37 dba and L n = 35 dba. Applying the function for these values, the increase of the percentage of the exposed population HA indicator was less than 1%. This is in practice a theoretical value as the receptor location represents one seasonal camp location only. Noise level changes for the other Hunter/Trapper cabins were less than for Cabin S and so would result in an even smaller increase in the HA function value. The impact indicator HC11, as described above, was also applied for Hunter/Trapper Cabin S for the Construction, resulting in a value that was greater than 25 dba, less than the 75 dba impact indicator Operations Consequently no significant noise impacts will occur from the construction of the Voyageur South Project. The EIA results for predicted noise levels for operations activity used in this analysis are provided in Table 4. A comparison with Volume 3, Section 5.5, Tables and show that for Hunter/Trapper Cabin G, there is no change in noise level between the Baseline and Application cases; for Hunter/Trapper Cabin R the level rises from 35 to 36 dba (Leq 24 hours) from the Baseline to Application cases. For Hunter/Trapper Cabin S, the change from the Baseline to Application cases is from 35 to 39 dba (Leq 24 hours). These results are the same for both Scenario A and Scenario B. Table 4 Environment Impact Assessment Noise Model Results Name Scenario A (2012) Scenario B (2018) Baseline Application Baseline Application Hunter/Trapper Cabin G Hunter/Trapper Cabin R Hunter/Trapper Cabin S

10 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada The dose response function for the percentage of the population HA (from CAN/CSA-ISO1996-1:05 and Section 3.2 of the Draft National Guidelines [Health Canada 2005]) was applied to the change in noise level due to the operation of the Voyageur South Project at the Hunter/Trapper Cabin S where the greatest change from the Baseline was identified. A derived value for both scenarios was a L eq24h = 39 dba and L n = 35 dba. Applying the function for these values, the increase of the percentage of the exposed population HA was less than 1%. This is in practice a theoretical value as the receptor location represents one seasonal camp location only. Noise level changes for the other Hunter/Trapper Cabins were less than for Hunter/Trapper Cabin S, and thus they would result in an even smaller increase in the HA function value. The impact indicator HC11, as described above, was also applied for Hunter/Trapper Cabin S for the Application, resulting in a value that was greater than 25 dba less than the 75 dba impact indicator. Consequently no significant noise impact will occur from the operation of the Voyageur South Project. 2.4 WORKERS CAMP IMPACTS Approach Worker camps are considered noise sensitive receptors by Health Canada; however, the analysis of these locations requires a departure from the dose-response formulae as the primary issue for camps is sleep disturbance rather than nuisance noise. Results presented are the highest expected noise levels from Suncor operations only at any time of day. Existing and planned Suncor activities are scheduled to run 24 hours per day, seven days per week; therefore, an assessment of potential sleep disturbance must consider both the daytime and nighttime sleep periods. In the Canada Labour Code, the Oil and Gas Occupation Safety and Health Regulations (SOR/94-165) limit the noise level in sleeping quarters to 75 dba. Guidelines from other jurisdictions or agencies indicate that for continuous noise sources, acceptable indoor noise levels for sleep range between 25 and 35 dba (WHO 1999; ASHRAE 1999). Indoor noise levels at the camps will depend on the building structures/materials used. At the Suncor Millennium/Borealis camps, building construction varies from insulated industrial trailers with double glazed windows to a multi-level concrete and steel frame building. The lowest amount of attenuation expected is

11 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada from the industrial trailers, which are generally a Sound Transmission Class of 27 (STC 27) (Owens Corning 1986). Octave band data for the STC 27 rating for industrial structures was used to calculate indoor noise levels at the camps. This analysis provides the expected outdoor and indoor sound levels from Suncor operations at the camps, as well as indicating if indoor sound levels fall within recommended guidelines for sleep of 25 to 35 dba Existing Noise There are three workers camps in the Voyageur South Project area, known as the Millennium/Borealis and Voyageur Village camps (see Project Description Volume 1, Section 11). The Millennium and Borealis camps are grouped together for this assessment, due to the results of the analysis of noise at the camps for the Baseline, as presented in Table 5. Table 5 Outdoor Worker Camp Operation Noise Levels, Baseline (a) (b) Camp Location Outdoor Noise Level (a) Indoor Millennium/Borealis Voyageur Village 50 to 57 (b) 50 to 57 (b) Suncor operations run 24/7 on a continuous basis. Predicted sound level represents value from the eastern to the western boundary within the new camp area, previously identified as Voyageur Village. The eastern location is 700 m closer to the Voyageur Upgrader facility than the western location Project Levels Predicted noise levels at the camps were taken from the construction and operations prediction models created for the assessment. Construction noise levels with and without pile driving are presented in Table 6. Operation noise levels are presented in Table 7. Table 6 Indoor Worker Camp Construction Noise Levels, Voyageur South Project Camp Location Outdoor Without Pile Driving Indoor Within Guidelines [Y/N] Outdoor With Pile Driving Indoor Within Guidelines [Y/N] Millennium/Borealis Y N Voyageur Village Y Y

12 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada Table 7 Indoor Worker Camp Operation Noise Levels, Voyageur South Project Camp Location Outdoor Scenario A (2012) Scenario B (2018) Indoor Within Guidelines [Y/N] Outdoor Indoor Within Guidelines [Y/N] Millennium/Borealis Y Y Voyageur Village Y Y The results show that indoor noise levels due to Suncor operations are expected to be within acceptable levels for sleep. The Millennium/Borealis camps may experience elevated indoor noise levels (36 dba) during pile driving; however, this is not expected to be detrimental to sleep as the value is very close to recommended levels. Noise levels at the Millennium/Borealis camp are predicted to be close to the upper range of the guideline once the Voyageur Upgrader is in operation. These values are considered to be conservative as the calculations do not take into account the barrier effect of buildings and structures on the Suncor sites. The above analysis does not consider noise from in-camp sources or from Highway 63. Should these sources result in a noise related complaint or indoor noise issue, Suncor internal policy is to respond to the needs and concerns of workers through an existing process.

13 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada 3 ABBREVIATIONS AND REFERENCES 3.1 ABBREVIATIONS # Number % Percent ASHRAE CadnaA db dba EIA EUB exp HA HCII ISO km L eq L eq24h log m MW SAE SOR STC WHO American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Computer Aided Noise Attenuation Decibel A-weighted decibel Environmental Impact Assessment Alberta Energy and Utilities Board exponent Highly annoyed Impulse noise indictor International Organization for Standardization Kilometre Equivalent continuous sound level 24-hour equivalent continuous sound level Base 10 logarithm Metre Megawatt School of Audio Engineering Steam to oil ratio Sound Transmission Class World Health Organization

14 Suncor Energy Inc Noise Health Canada 3.2 REFERENCES ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 46, Section CadnaA SET Computer Aided Noise Abatement SET - Manual Version 3.2. DataKustik GmbH. Munich, Germany. Cowan P.J Handbook of Environmental Acoustics. Van Nostrand Heinhold. New York, NY. 180 pp. EUB (Alberta Energy and Utilities Board) Directive 38. Noise Control. Health Canada Noise Impact Assessment Orientation Document For Project Triggering CEAA (Draft). Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada. Labour Canada Canada Labour Code, Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations. SOR/ Canada Labour Code pg 9 Neitzel, R., N. Seixax, M. Yost and J. Camp An Assessment of Occupational Noise Exposures in Four Construction Trades. MS Thesis, Department of Environmental Health. University of Washington. Seattle, WA. Owens, Corning Noise Control Manual: Guidelines for Problem Solving in the Industrial/Commercial Acoustical Environment. Society of Automotive Engineering J Alarm-Backup-Electric Laboratory Performance Testing Standard. WHO (World Health Organization) Guidelines for Community Noise, Chapter 4, Table 4.1. Geneva.