Compressor Noise on state forest land

Transcription

1 Compressor Noise on state forest land Mission, Recreation policy Compressor station siting, guidelines Monitoring

2 Bureau of Forestry Mission Managing state forests under sound ecosystem management, to retain their wild character and maintain biological diversity while providing pure water, opportunities for low-density recreation, habitats for forest plants and animals, sustained yields of quality timber, and environmentally sound utilization of mineral resources.

3 State Forest Recreation Policy: State Forest lands should provide the citizens of the Commonwealth with the opportunity for the types of healthful, dispersed outdoor recreation that can only be obtained from large forested areas. State forest visitors should be assured of a high-quality outdoor experience.

4 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum Planning tool (recreational zones) Retain wild character Assure high-quality outdoor experience

5 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum The ROS land-use classes: Primitive Remoteness: greater than 1 mile from a motorized road/trail/railroad Size: greater than 1,000 acres Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Remoteness: greater than ½ mile from a motorized road/trail/railroad Size: greater than 500 acres Semi-Primitive Remoteness: greater than ¼ mile from a motorized road/trail/railroad Size: greater than 250 acres Semi-Developed & Developed Remoteness: none Size: none

6 Activities on SFL

7 Compressor Station Siting Guidelines (p. 41) items to consider: 1) ROS not in primitive or semi-primitive 2) 55 db(a) at 300 ft 3) Ecological, recreational, and other setbacks 4) Cluster infrastructure / limit footprint 5) Location in landscape; distance sound travels 6) Vegetative screening 7) Façade colors Noise Studies indicate anticipated sound levels

8 Old guideline noise level Quantify existing ambient noise level L eq for 7 days during leaf off conditions 300 feet from compressor 10% increase permitted

9 Old guideline noise level Where the old noise level came from: to allow consideration for other noise sources at the site. 300 ft was based on pad size given 50db(A) ambient noise level, 55 db(a) would be acceptable Why it changed Feedback that it was confusing / unclear

10 New guideline noise level Ldn of 55 db(a) at 300 ft More straightforward FERC

11 Ordinances County ordinances vary by County db(a) level Frequency Location Distance from building, pad edge, property line Monitoring / enforcement Interest in Bureau of Forestry monitoring data, and guideline

12 Bureau of Forestry Monitoring To develop and implement an integrated comprehensive approach to track, detect, and report on the potential effects of oil and gas development on state forest land and to; Improve management practices Provide credible information

13 Why Monitor Noise? It relates to the Mission, and policies Wild character, quality experience Complaints (social monitoring specialist) Guideline We expect MANY more compressors

14 Noise Monitoring Sound Logging Meters - protocol Calibrate the noise meter 300 ft from compressor in acceptable weather 24hrs, 1 reading every 5 seconds, 2 times/yr Raw data Calculations Ldn (louder) L90 = confidence?

15 Sound meter

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18 Compressor Measurements Sound Meter Data District Leased Tract Ambient Ldn db(a) Winter 2013 Leq db(a) Summer 2013 Leq db(a) est <

19 Example issue: Property owner complaint Attenuation underway Noise monitoring measurement Measurement at the site of the complaint Is it somehow louder further away? How loud is annoying 2 compressor stations Additional attenuation scheduled Next measurements this winter

20 Monitoring - Next Steps Mitigation completed or underway On-going measurements Possible research: How good is our data? How loud is acceptable? People (social research, and/or complaints) Wildlife Other considerations?

21 Questions?

22 Elzinga, Caryl L, Daniel W Salzer, and John W Willoughby. Measuring & Monitoring Plant Populations. [Denver, Colo.]: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 1998.

23 Elzinga, Caryl L, Daniel W Salzer, and John W Willoughby. Measuring & Monitoring Plant Populations. [Denver, Colo.]: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 1998.