For inspection purposes only. Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Site Survey Completed by: Mr. Stephen Stapleton Environmental Scientist

Transcription

1 MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE AT THE ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS (IRELAND) LTD. (GOFF RECYCLING) SITE AT ROSSLARE, CO. WEXFORD, IN ACCORDANCE WITH WASTE LICENSE REGISTER NO. W For the Attention of: Mrs. Phoebe Dillane Main Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Site Survey Completed by: Mr. Stephen Stapleton Environmental Scientist Environmental Officer. Advanced Environmental Solutions (Ireland) Ltd., Bord na Móna Offices, Prepared by: Mr. Shaun Russell Acoustic Consultant (IOA) Report No: ECS5273 Monitoring Date: 7 th & 8 th September 2016 Report Date: 17 th November 2016 This report shall not be reproduced except in full, without the approval of BNM Environmental.

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In accordance with the requirements of the company s Waste Licence (Register No. W ), Advanced Environmental Solutions (AES) Ltd., are required to conduct noise monitoring at seven locations at their site in Rosslare, Co. Wexford on an annual basis. The site was subsequently visited by an Acoustic Consultant from BNM Environmental on 7 th and 8 th of September to conduct the annual monitoring survey for The acoustic assessment and subsequent report are in accordance with International Standard Organisation (ISO) 1996 Acoustics Description and Measurement of Environmental Noise Part 1, 2, and 3, in addition to the Environmental Protection Agency 2012, Guidance note for Noise: Licence Applications, Surveys and Assessments in Relation to Scheduled Activities (NG4). Triplicate noise monitoring was conducted at seven monitoring locations, i.e. five boundary locations and two noise sensitive locations for 30 minute intervals in accordance with the EPA guidance (NG4). Boundary Locations Monitoring location N1 (beside main office) exceeded the Waste licence limit for the first two of the triplicate monitoring events. These exceedences were due to the proximity of the noise meter to passing site and external road traffic. Monitoring location N4 (South Eastern corner behind the main office) exceeded the waste licence limit on one occasions. These exceedences were due to the proximity of the noise meter to passing site and external road traffic. Monitoring location N5 (Outside the recycling shed), exceeded the licence limit on two occasions and Glen fuels truck passing within 1 meter of the noise meter. All remaining boundary locations were within the Waste License limit of 55dB (A) for daytime noise. Tonal noise was not detected at any of the boundary monitoring locations. Noise Sensitive Locations The average sound pressure levels recorded at the noise sensitive locations (N6/N7) ranged from db(a), which exceed the Waste Licence limit of 55 db(a) for daytime noise emissions. The dominant source of noise at these locations was due to passing traffic on the nearby country road. Tonal noise was not detected at any of the noise monitoring locations. The result of the noise monitoring survey suggest that activities within the AES facility were not causing nuisance noise to the receiving noise sensitive locations on the days and times the survey took place. This report is certified as accurate and representative of the sampling and associated analysis carried out. Respectively Submitted, Mr. Shaun Russell Acoustic Consultant (IOA) Page 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Measurement Parameters 2.2 Tonal and Impulsive Characteristics 2.3 Standards and Guidance 2.4 Site information 3.0 INSTRUMENTATION EQUIPMENT USED 4.0 RESULTS 5.0 DISCUSSION APPENDICES Appendix 1: Map indicating noise monitoring locations Appendix 2: Certificates of Calibration Appendix 3: 1/3 Octave Spectrum Analysis for NSL s Page 3

4 1.0 INTRODUCTION Noise monitoring was carried out at the AES site in compliance with the requirements of their Waste Licence (W ). Condition 6.12 of this Licence states that; The licensee shall carry out a noise survey of the site operations annually. The survey programme shall be undertaken in accordance with the methodology specified in the Environmental Noise Survey Guidance Document as published by the Agency. (i) The licensee shall implement noise attenuation measures to ensure compliance with the noise limits specified in this licence. Schedule B of the Waste Licence stipulates the following noise emission limit values for the facility; Day time 55dB(A) Night time 45dB(A) BNM Environmental was contracted to conduct this noise assessment and subsequently visited the site to conduct the annual noise monitoring event. As the AES Ltd. facility only operates during the daytime hours ( hours) it was not deemed necessary to conduct a night time monitoring event. The following noise parameters were analysed for at the 5 boundary and 2 noise sensitive locations; LAEQ (30minutes) LA10 (30 minutes) LA90 (30 minutes) LAFmax (30 minute) Frequency Analysis (1/3 Octave band analysis) This report presents details of both the methodologies employed and results obtained. Page 4

5 2.0 METHODOLOGIES 2.1 Measurement Parameters LAeq Values LAeq(t) values represent the A weighted continuous equivalent sound level over a specified time (t). This value expresses the average levels over time and is a linear integral LAFMax Values The maximum RMS, A-Weighted sound pressure level occurring within a specified time period LA90 and LA10 Values The LA90 and LA10 values represent the A weighted sound levels exceeded for a percentage of the instrument measuring time. LA10 indicates that for 10% of the monitoring period, the sound levels were greater than the quoted value. LA10 is a good statistical parameter for expressing event noise such as passing traffic. The LA90 represents post event sound levels and is a good indicator of background noise levels. 2.2 Tonal and Impulsive Characteristics For the purpose of this report, tonal noise is characterised in accordance with Section 5.1 of the EPA s NG4 document, which indicates that a noise source is tonal if a 1/3 octave band exceeds adjacent bands by; 15dB in low/frequency 1/3 octave bands (25Hz to 125Hz); 8dB in middle/frequency bands (160Hz to 400Hz), and; 5dB in high/frequency bands (500Hz to 10,000Hz). An impulsive noise is of short duration (typically less than one second), it is brief and abrupt, its startling effect causes greater annoyance than would be expected from a simple measurement of sound pressure level. For example an instantaneous bang/thud that maybe associated with pile driving, hammering etc. 2.3 Standards and Guidance The acoustic assessment and subsequent report are in accordance with International Standard Organisation (ISO) 1996 Acoustics Description and Measurement of Environmental Noise Part 1, 2, and 3, in addition to the Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Noise Survey Guidance Document Revision 4 (NG4). Page 5

6 2.4 Site information All measurements were taken at 1.5 m height above local ground level and 3.5 m away from reflective surfaces The survey was completed on the 7 th and 8 th September The weather conditions during the survey were cool and light showers/dry, with a gentle breeze (<5ms/sec) Table 2.1 describes the locations of the monitoring positions for the annual noise monitoring assessment All noise measurements were carried out for thirty minute durations Sampling Locations Table 2.1 presents details of the noise monitoring locations. Map locations provided in Appendix 1. Map Reference No. N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 TABLE 2.1 : LOCATION OF NOISE MONITORING MEASUREMENTS Location Type Boundary Boundary Boundary Boundary Grid Co ordinates (ITM) Note , , , , Boundary Noise sensitive Noise sensitive , , , Geographical location from the site centre South Western corner beside the main office North Western corner North Eastern corner South Eastern corner behind the main office Outside the recycling shed Across from entrance to Kilrane Business Park On the road opposite the main office Note 1 The grid location of each monitoring location was logged with a handheld Garmin GPS 60. The units of measurement are Irish Transverse Mercator (ITM). Page 6

7 3.0 INSTRUMENTATION EQUIPMENT USED The following equipment was employed during the acoustic assessment on the 7 th and 8 th of September Bruel & Kjaer Real Time Noise Analyzer Type 2250 Light Model No: 2250 Light Serial No Microphone: Bruel&Kjaer4950 Certificate and Calibration: 18 th November 2014 Calibrator Type: B&K 4231 Serial No: Date of Certificate and Calibration: 8 th December 2015 On Site Calibration. The instrument was calibrated to 94 db (A) immediately before sampling and was subsequently checked after the measurement periods with no drift in calibration level noted. A handheld Garmin GPS60 was used to record the grid coordinated of each environmental noise monitoring location. A handheld anemometer (Kestrel 2500) was used to take on site weather measurements on the day of monitoring. Certified current annual calibration certificates are provided in Appendix 2. Note: The monitoring equipment was manned throughout the sampling period and comments/notes taken to assist the interpretation and assessment of results Page 7

8 Report No. ECS RESULTS The results of the noise monitoring survey carried out at the AES Ltd. Facility on the 7 th and 8 th of September 2016 are presented as follows: Table 4.1: Table 4.2: Table 4.3: Weather data taken from Met Éireann station, i.e. Johnstown Castle On Site Weather Data Recordings / Observations Site Boundary Noise Monitoring Results TABLE 4.1: WEATHER DATA FROM MET ÉIREANN JOHNSTOWN CASTLE Date Rainfall (mm) Max. Temp ( 0 C) Min. Temp ( 0 C) Mean Wind Speed (m/sec) 07/09/ /09/ In addition to the Met Éireann Data, on site weather data was measured using a hand held Kestrel 2500 anemometer. The results of on site weather data recordings are presented in Table 4.2 below. Date 07/09/16 08/09/16 TABLE 4.2 ON SITE WEATHER DATA RECORDINGS / OBSERVATIONS Rainfall Light showers Light Showers Temperature ( 0 C) Pressure (hpa) Mean Wind Speed (m/s) Wind Direction South South Table 4.3 presents the results of the triplicate noise monitoring survey carried out at the AES Ltd. Waste Management Facility during normal daytime activities. Map locations provided in Appendix 1. Page 8

9 Report No. ECS4902 TABLE 4.3: SITE BOUNDARY NOISE MEASUREMENT RESULTS (DAY TIME) 7 th & 8 th September 2016 Map Ref N1 N2 N3 N4 Date Start Time Duration LA eq db(a) LA 10 db(a) LA 90 db(a) LAF Max db(a) 07/09/16 14: /09/16 07: /09/16 11: /09/16 14: /09/16 08: /09/16 12: /09/16 15: /09/16 09: /09/16 13: Comments/Observations Summary Site: Idling Trucks at shed door Banging of door into shed by reception. Reversing beacon on trucks. Staff singing and talking in canteen. Rattling chains on skip trucks. Background: Grinding and Air Murphy s garage. Passing traffic on local road-dominant Source. Lorry s entering/ exiting Glen Fuels and Baku GLS Freight yard. Birdsong and dog barking. People talking in garage. Site: Power washing of Skips. Lorry s entering/exiting site and weighbridge + associated rattling chains. Staff communications faintly audible. Loading and unloading of Skips. Revers beacons and plant machinery audible from shed. Background: Occasional traffic on local road (90m). Intermittent cutting & grinding from Murphy s garage. Road traffic occasionally audible in the distance (N25). Occasional truck movement in Baku GLS Freight yard. - Dominant Source. Bird calls Site: Segregation of material in recycling shed. Lorry s entering/exiting yard: reverse alarms, chains rattling, and revving engines. Power washing skips. Truck beeping horn. Background: Occasional passing traffic on nearby country road (15m). Distant traffic in background (N25). Occasional truck movement in Baku GLS Freight yard- Dominant Source. Noise from Murphy s garage. Seagulls. Kids playing in school yard faintly audible. 07/09/16 08/09/16 13:44 17: Site: low level hum of operations within shed 1. Traffic entering/exiting site including chains rattling on skips. Pieces of metals being moved around work yard. Works audible in shed Background: Occasional dog barking. Heavy traffic on local road - 08/09/16 11: Dominant Source Birdsong and dog barking. Tanker filling in Glen Fuels audible. Note: Results in red bold text represent an exceedance of the Waste Licence. Page 9

10 Report No. ECS4902 TABLE 4.3 continued: SITE BOUNDARY NOISE MEASUREMENT RESULTS (DAY TIME) 7 th & 8 th September 2016 Map Ref N5 N6 NSL N7 NSL Date Start Time Duration LA eq db(a) LA 10 db(a) LA 90 db(a) L AF Max db(a) 07/09/16 15: /09/16 09: /09/16 13: /09/16 16: /09/16 10: /09/16 14: Comments/Observations Summary Site: Loading of waste into trucks. Front loader moving in Shed three audible. Front load entering and exiting shed 3. Load and unloading of skips from trucks. Idling truck engines. Reversing beacon. Banging of gate in yard. Traffic entering and exiting site. Background: noise from Murphy s garage.occasional passing traffic on local road, including Baku GLS Freight trucks. Glen Fuels truck filling tanker 4 meters from meter..- Dominant Source Site: Continuous low level hum from waste reception shed, audible during periods of low passing traffic. AES trucks entering/exiting site with skips and associated rattling chains and reversing alarms. Trucks. Track machine/front loader moving between Shed 1 and 2 during run 3. Trucks idling on weighbridge. Door into canteen banging. Background: Traffic on local road - Dominant Source. Occasional birdsong and dog barking. 07/09/16 16: Site: loader moving between sheds. Truck revving engines. Traffic entering and exiting site. Machinery in waste reception shed 08/09/16 10: audible. Rattling skips and idling truck engines. Van deliveries to AES Site. Reversing beacons. Background: Intermittent passing traffic on local road, tanker 08/09/16 14: entering Glen Fuels visible- Dominant Source. Occasional birdsong and dogs barking Page 10

11 5.0 DISCUSSION Noise monitoring was undertaken at 5 boundary locations and 2 noise sensitive locations, at the AES Ltd. facility in Rosslare, Co. Wexford. The monitoring of noise emissions was carried out as part of the requirements of the EPA Waste License W Noise emissions arising from normal daytime site operations should not result in exceedance of the noise limit of 55 db(a) at any of the nearest noise sensitive locations. Table 4.3 presents daytime noise measurements undertaken at the seven monitoring locations for the 2015 monitoring event, 5 boundary locations and 2 locations offsite, across the road from the main office. Daytime Noise Measurements Boundary Locations: During the noise survey the site boundary LAeq (N1 N5) ranged from 49 db(a) at N3 to 67 db(a) at N5. N1 is located at the South Western corner of the site beside the main office. The LAeq levels recorded were 61, 56 & 54dB (A), two of which exceed the Waste Licence limit of 55dB(A). These exceedences were attributed to the close proximity of this location to passing site traffic and external road traffic. The main source of on-site noise included trucks entering/exiting the site with chains rattling, reversing alarms and idling engines on the weighbridge.. External sources of noise included passing traffic nearby (15m) on the local road (a large percentage of which were articulated lorry s traveling to and from the Baku GLS Freight depot) and works carried out at Murphy s garage (cutting and grinding). Tonal noise was not detected at this location. N2 is located at the North Western corner of the site. The LAeq values at this location ranged from db(a), all of which are within the Waste Licence limit of 55dB(A) with the exception to Run 3. Onsite observations indicate that the main sources of noise audible included the power-washing of wheelie bins and the movement of AES trucks in the yard. External noise sources included; occasional traffic on local road, movement of trucks in Baku GLS Freight yard and intermittent cutting and grinding from Murphy s garage where repairs were being carried out. Tonal noise was not detected at this location. N3 is located at the North Eastern corner of the AES facility. The LAeq levels recorded ranged from db(a). The main sources of noise from the facility originated from the segregation of material in the recycling shed and trucks/lorries entering/exiting the yard with associated reversing alarms, rattling chains and revving engines. External noise sources included the occasional passing traffic on the nearby country road (15m) and movement of trucks in Baku GLS Freight yard. Road traffic was faintly audible in the distance during quiet periods of low site activity. No tonal noise was detected at this location. N4 is located on the South Eastern corner of the site behind the main offices. The LAeq recorded was 54 db(a) for all readings. The dominant source of noise at this location was due to passing traffic (8m). Audible site activity included the low level hum of operations within the main reception shed, and site traffic (mostly lorry s) entering the site with associated reversing alarms and rattling chains. No tonal noise was detected at this location. Page 11

12 N5 is located in the middle of the site, just slightly north of the recycling shed. The recorded LAeq ranged from db (A), with two readings exceeding the Waste Licence limit for daytime noise (55dB (A)). Onsite observations indicate that the main sources of on-site noise was due to a track machine segregating waste within reception shed and lorry s idling on weighbridge before entering Shed 3 with associated reversing alarms and rattling chains on skips. External noise sources which were dominant and contributed largely to the exceedances included passing Glen fuels trucks and tankers filling at the diesel pumps and noise at Murphy s garage. Tonal noise was not detected at this location. Noise Sensitive Locations: The average sound pressure levels recorded at the noise sensitive locations (N6/N7) ranged from db(a), which exceeds the Waste Licence limit of 55 db(a) for daytime noise emissions. N6 is located off site, across the road from the entrance to the Kilrane Business Park and South West of the AES Recycling facility and N7 is located outside a house situated directly across from the main office. The dominant source of noise at these locations was due to passing traffic on the nearby country road, including articulated trucks from Baku GLS Freight. It was noted that there was a continuous low level hum from waste segregation within the main reception shed which was only occasionally audible during periods of low passing traffic. There was also occasional traffic entering/exiting the AES site with associated rattling chains and reversing alarms. Tonal noise was not detected at these noise sensitive locations. Page 12

13 Appendix 1 Map Indicating Noise Monitoring Locations Page 13

14 AES Rosslare Page 14

15 Appendix 2 Certificates of Calibration Page 15

16 Page 16

17 Page 17

18 Appendix 3 1/3 Octave Spectrum Analysis for NSL s Page 18

19 [db] Project 006 N6 (Round 1) Cursor values X: 630 Hz LAeq: 52.3 db [db] k 2k 4k 8k 16k A31.5k Z [Hz] Project 013 N6 (Round 2) Cursor values X: 630 Hz LAeq: 47.8 db k 2k 4k 8k 16k A31.5k Z [Hz] [db] 80 Project 020 N6 (Round 3) Cursor values X: 630 Hz LAeq: 56.8 db k 2k 4k 8k 16k A31.5k Z [Hz] Page 19

20 [db] Project 007 N7 (Round 1) Cursor values X: 630 Hz LAeq: 53.5 db k 2k 4k 8k 16k A31.5k Z [Hz] [db] Project 014 N7 (Round 2) Cursor values X: 630 Hz LAeq: 50.4 db [db] k 2k 4k 8k 16k A31.5k Z [Hz] Project 021 N7 (Round 3) Cursor values X: 630 Hz LAeq: 56.2 db k 2k 4k 8k 16k A31.5k Z [Hz] Page 20