peter joseph barrypeter joseph barry page 7 report number: 3200-14-04 version 1 4.0 monitoring...

Unit 5 Caherdavin Business Centre,

Ennis Road,

Limerick

Peter Joseph Barry LARCH HILL STUD

NEWTOWNRATHGANLEY

KILCOCK

CO. MEATH

Annual Environmental Noise Report

Noise Survey 2014

Permit Number: WFP/MH/08/0004/02

Report Reference Number: 3200-14-04

Version: 1

Date of Issue: 13-10- 2014

Report Compiled by: Robert O’Brien

Air I Noise I Water I Soil I Environmental Consultancy

www.axisenv.ie

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AXIS environmental services Environmental Air Quality Survey Peter Joseph Barry

Report Number: 3200-14-04 Version 1

Report Content

1.0 Executive Summary ………………………………………………………. 3

2.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………. 4

3.0 Methods Employed ………………………………………………………. 5

4.0 Monitoring Locations ………………………………………………………. 6

5.0 Noise Measurement Data ………………………………………………………. 8

6.0 Conclusions ………………………………………………………. 14

Report Date

13-10-2014 Site Contact: Kevin McCabe

Report Issued By

Mark Mc Garry

Version No: 1

Signed:

Client: Peter Joseph Barry

Composting Facility

Notes:

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1. Executive Summary

Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility is required as part of permit WFP/MH/08/0004/02; Conditions

6 and 7 to carry out a noise survey of the installation on an annual basis. AXIS environmental services

were commissioned to complete the survey after proposal acknowledgment and acceptance by Enrich

Environmental Limited's Environmental Department.

The purpose of the survey was to monitor environmental noise at predetermined locations and assess

the sites compliance against Schedule A limits.

All operations at Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility were running as normal throughout the

survey. There was interference attributed to traffic movements on the local access route, connecting

the R125 to the R156 during the survey. Other sources of noise were recorded at each individual

location which are summarised in the report.

The impact of road noise was a significant interference on the survey at certain locations. As outlined

in the Standard ISO 1996 and the associated noise guidance document issued by the Agency in 2012,

where traffic noise is interfering with noise measurements, it is acceptable to assess noise compliance

against the LA90 for the monitoring period. This is a statistical measurement of the noise level

exceeded for 90% of the time which would largely be associated with the facility under assessment.

The survey was carried out in strict accordance with the standard ISO 1996 Parts 1 – 3, Acoustics –

description, measurement and assessment of environmental noise. Reference was also made to the

EPA guidelines NG4 “Guidance Note for Noise: Licence Applications, Surveys and Assessments in

Relation to Scheduled Activities” April 2012, in conjunction with the frequently asked questions issued

by the Agency in August 2012 and the current site permit requirements.

Six points were monitored for the noise survey, four of which were located near or at noise sensitive

locations. N1 and N2 are boundary monitoring points which are located within the confines of the site

and are in close proximity to all activities in operation.

Due to the proximity of Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility to a local access route, connecting the

R125 to the R156, and air traffic routes, there was significant background interference from traffic

movements throughout the day and night time surveys. This resulted in LAeqT broadband levels

exceeding the night limits for the following points: N3, N4 and N5.However when the interference

from traffic was removed, all monitoring points were determined to comply in full with the conditions

of the permit.

There was no tonal or impulsive noise observed at any of the locations for the duration of the

assessment.

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2. Introduction

As part of compliance monitoring at Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility, an annual noise survey is

to be carried out at nearest noise sensitive locations in the vicinity of the plant. Meath County Council

and Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility have agreed the monitoring points chosen to meet the

requirements of the license.

The permit WFP/MH/08/0004/02 outlines Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility requirements under

Conditions 6 and 7, which have been documented as follows:

2.1 Condition 6:

6.1) The permit holder shall take adequate precautions to prevent undue noise, fumes,

dust, grit, untidiness and other nuisances during the course of the works which

would result in a significant impairment of, or a significant interference with,

amenities or the environment beyond the site boundary. If unacceptable levels

occur, the permit holder shall abide by the Councils abatement requirements, which

may include immediate cessation of operations.

6.2) No specified emission from the facility shall exceed the emission limit values set out

in Schedule A: Emission Limits, in Appendix V of this permit. There shall be no other

emissions of environmental significance

6.7) There shall be no clearly audible tonal component or impulsive

2.2 Condition 7:

7.1) The permit holder shall carry out such monitoring and at such locations and

frequencies as set out in Schedule B: Monitoring in Appendix V of the permit.

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Table 1: Schedule B: Noise Monitoring

Location

Measurement Frequency

N1

30 minute Day & Night survey to

include 1/3rd octave measurements

Annually

N2



Annually

N3



Annually

N4



Annually

N5



Annually

N6



Annually

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3.0 Methods

Monitoring was carried out in strict accordance with ISO 1996 Parts 1 – 3, Description and

Measurement of Environmental Noise. Reference was also made to the EPA guidelines NG4 “Guidance

Note for Noise: Licence Applications, Surveys and Assessments in Relation to Scheduled

Activities”April 2012, in conjunction with the frequently asked questions issued by the Agency in

August 2012.

Table 3: Equipment Details

Meter No 2 Meter No 3

Manufacturer Cirrus Optimus Green Cirrus Optimus Green

Model CR:171B CR:172B

Serial Number G061082 G061817

Firmware V2.3.1156 V2.4.1529

Calibrator CR:515 Acoustic Calibrator CR:515 Acoustic Calibrator

Microphone B&K4180 - 1893453 B&K4180 - 1893453

Windshield Type UA:237 90mm Foam Windshield UA:237 90mm Foam Windshield

Calibration Date

Noise Meter 03rd February 2014 - 2015 05th September 2013 - 2014

Certificate Number 191936 198890

Calibrator 05th September 2013 - 2014 05th September 2013 - 2014

Certificate Number 203513 210439

On site SLM calibration

Prior to Survey 93.7 93.7

Calibration Offset -0.31 0.0

Post Survey 93.7 93.7

Frequency Weighting A - Broadband A - Broadband

Meter Response Time Fast Fast

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4.0 Monitoring Locations

4.1 N1 Day Time Survey

Noise monitoring point 1 is located at the south-west boundary of the Peter Joseph Barry Composting

site. The main source of noise at this point was the regular movement of plant vehicles.

Other sources of noise during the survey included voices from site personnel and birds chirping in

local vegetation and background traffic on the R125

4.1.1 Night Time Survey

The main source of noise during the night time survey was cattle grazing in nearby field ~10m from

noise monitor. Other sources of noise were from birds chirping and sheep grazing.


This monitoring point was located at the northern boundary of the site close to bio-filter shed. There

were several sources of noise at this monitoring point including plant vehicles operating by

composting area and noise from bio-filter area

Other sources of noise were trees rustling in the wind.


During the night time survey the sources of noise included a slight humming sound from the biofilter

shed, traffic from local access road, sheep in nearby field and noise from a tractor operating in nearby

field.


Noise monitoring point 3 is located west of the Peter Joseph Barry Composting site in a field up from

the main entrance. This point can be considered a noise sensitive location and is required to be below

the recommended guidance of 55dB(A). The main source of noise at this location was the regular

movement of vehicles on the local access route.

There was minimal noise emanating from plant vehicles on Peter Joseph Barry Composting. Birds

could be heard chirping in nearby vegetation as well as the vegetation itself rustling in the breeze.


The main source of noise during the night time survey was movement of cars on the aforementioned

local access route. There was no noise audible from the Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility site

during the monitoring period.


This monitoring point was located at the entrance to the Peter Joseph Barry Composting site, at an

approximate distance of 30 meters form a residential dwelling, so it can be considered a noise

sensitive location. The greatest source of noise at this location was from the regular movements of

traffic on the local access route connecting the R125 to the R156.

Other sources of noise during the survey were birds chirping in nearby vegetation.

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The main source of noise during the night time survey was the movement of vehicles on the local

access route. There was also noise emanating from a nearby residential house where the resident was

cutting his lawn. No noise was audible from Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility at this location

during the monitoring period.


Noise monitoring point 5 was located north-east of thePeter Joseph Barry Compostingsite near several

residential dwellings. This monitoring point is a noise sensitive location. The greatest source of noise

during the monitoring period was the movement of traffic on the local access route connecting the

R125 to the R156.


During the night time noise survey the most prevalent source of noise was passing traffic and a

nearby resident cutting his lawn.


This monitoring point was located west of Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facilitysite up from the

intersection that connects the R125 to R156, at an approximate distance of 60m from a residential

dwelling, so it can be considered a noise sensitive location. The greatest source of noise during the

day time survey was traffic movements on the local access route in which the noise meter was located

near.


During the night time monitoring period the main source of noise came from people talking very close

to noise meter and from cars passing on the R125.

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5.0 Summary of Daytime Noise Measurements

Noise Monitoring Location:

N1 (Internal Boundary Monitoring Point)

Period: Time

Measured Noise Levels

(dB re. 2 x 10-5 Pa)

Comments

LAeq

LAFMAX LA90

Daytime:

13:58 37.9 55.6 34.5 There are several sources of

noise being heard at this site.

Plant operations as well as plant

vehicles are creating some noise.

Background traffic can also be

heard on the nearby R125. Birds

can be heard chirping in the

surrounding area and there are

facility personnel conversing

occasionally.

- - - -

- - - -

Arithmetic Average (dB): 38 56 25

Daytime Criterion, dB LAr,T: 55 - -

Evening: - - - - This site is not required to

monitor noise emissions during

the evening period. The site is

not defined as a new or revised

licence since the guidelines were

issued in 2012.

Arithmetic Average (dB): - - -

Evening Criterion, dB LAr,T: - - -

Night Time:

20:00 32.9 61.5 22.7 The main source of noise during

the night time survey was cattle

grazing in nearby field ~10m

from noise monitor. Other

sources of noise were from birds

chirping and sheep grazing.

- - - -


Night time Criterion, dB LAr,T: 45 - -

Weather Conditions:

Daytime: Evening: Night Time:

Temperature (OC) 18 - 19

Wind Speed (m/s) 0 – 1.4 - 0.3

Wind Direction: SW - SW

Precipitation: 0 - 0.0-0.1mm

Tonal Noise Assessment

Daytime: Run 1: None - -

Night Time: Run 1: None - -

Compliance Status – this is not a noise sensitive location therefore limits would not apply

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N2 (Internal Boundary Monitoring Point)

Period: Time


(dB re. 2 x 10-5 Pa)

Comments

LAeq

LAFMAX LA90

Daytime:

45.1 57 44.1 This monitoring point is located

next to the biofilter unit and as a

result there is some noise from

the biofilter pumps as well as

fans. Vehicle can be heard

moving around the site also.

Wind is occasionally rustling the

trees.

- - - -

- - - -








issued in 2012.



Night Time:

20:14 37.5 61.5 30.7 During the night time survey the

sources of noise included a slight

humming sound from the biofilter

shed, traffic from local access

road, sheep in nearby field and

noise from a tractor operating in

nearby field.

- - - -


Night time Criterion, dB LAr,T: 45 - -

Weather Conditions:



Wind Speed (m/s) 0 – 1.4 - 0.3






Compliance Status – this is not a noise sensitive location therefore limits would not strictly apply

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N3 (NSL Monitoring Point)

Period: Time


(dB re. 2 x 10-5 Pa)

Comments

LAeq

LAFMAX LA90

Daytime:

15:44 47.8 66.1 45 The main source of noise is

background traffic movements on

adjacent roads. Facility

operations are barely audible at

this location. Birds and occasional

dogs barking are also a source of

noise. Some rustling of leaves in

an occasional breeze.

- - - -

- - - -








issued in 2012.


Night Time:


the night time survey was

movement of cars on the local

access route. There was no noise

audible from the Peter Joseph

Barry Composting Facility site

during the monitoring period

- - - -


Night time Criterion, dB LAr,T: - - 45

Weather Conditions:



Wind Speed (m/s) 0 – 1.4 - 0.3






Compliance Status – this would be considered a noise sensitive location therefore limits outlined in the

permit would apply. Due to interference from external noise sources it is appropriate to use the LA90 to

assess Enrich against its permit limits – the site complies with both day and night time criteria.

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Period: Time


(dB re. 2 x 10-5 Pa)

Comments

LAeq

LAFMAX LA90

Daytime:

15:09 48.6 67.6 38.2 Regular traffic can be heard on

both the R125 and R156. Birds’

chirping is audible in nearby

vegetation. There is some noise

from the facility including traffic

and personnel.

- - - -

- - - -








issued in 2012.



Night Time:


the night time survey was the

movement of vehicles on the

local access route. There was also

noise emanating from a nearby

residential house where the

resident was cutting his lawn. No

noise was audible from Peter

Joseph Barry Composting Facility

at this location during the

monitoring period.

- - - -



Weather Conditions:



Wind Speed (m/s) 0 – 1.4 - 0.3









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Period: Time


(dB re. 2 x 10-5 Pa)

Comments

LAeq

LAFMAX LA90

Daytime:

16:21 53.4 80.8 32.9 There is no noise audible from

Enrich at this monitoring point.

All noise recorded in the

immediate area is caused is

natural or associated with traffic

movements.

- - - -

- - - -








issued in 2012.



Night Time:

20:51 50.5 74.8 30.9 During the night time noise

survey the most prevalent source

of noise was passing traffic and a

nearby resident cutting his lawn.

- - - -



Weather Conditions:


Temperature (OC) - 19

Wind Speed (m/s) - 0.3

Wind Direction: - SW

Precipitation: - 0.0-0.1mm







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Period: Time


(dB re. 2 x 10-5 Pa)

Comments

LAeq

LAFMAX LA90

Daytime:

16:33 53.5 80.8 32.9 All noise is associated with

natural and traffic movements in

the immediate locality. No noise

from the Enrich facility. - - - -

- - - -








issued in 2012.



Night Time:

21:27 52.9 76.6 31.6 During the night time monitoring

period the main source of noise

came from people talking very

close to noise meter and from

cars passing on the R125.

- - - -



Weather Conditions:


Temperature (OC) - 19

Wind Speed (m/s) - 0.3

Wind Direction: - SW

Precipitation: - 0.0-0.1mm







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6.0 Conclusions

Six locations were monitored for broadband and 1/3rd Octave frequency as part of this annual

environmental noise survey at Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility. The boundary monitoring

points N1 and N2 are not subject to compliance limits as these are not noise sensitive locations.

Each point was monitored for 30 minute periods during the day and night time survey. Night time in

the permit is considered all other times outside the range 8 am to 8 pm.

The findings of the survey would indicate that the noise sensitive locations were not significantly

affected or impacted by sources of noise at Peter Joseph Barry Composting Facility.

The monitoring point N3, located near a noise sensitive location, had elevated Leq noise levels during

the Night time [51 dB (A)] noise survey. This was mainly due to the vehicular movements along the

local access route. The guidance for a location like this is to use the LA90 for assessment of noise from

the composting site, to reduce the impact of interference from traffic movements, in which case noise

levels at N3 are shown to be within limits under the requirements of the permit.

The monitoring point N4, which is located near a noise sensitive location, had elevated noise levels

during the Night [45 dB(A)] noise survey. This was mainly due to the movement of traffic on the

aforementioned local access route. Due to the interference from traffic on the road the guidance

recommends using the LA90 for assessment of noise emanating from the composting facility. The

volumes of road traffic can be observed by the peaks on the broadband graphs listed in the appendix

of this report.

The monitoring point N5, which is located at a noise sensitive location, had elevated Leq noise levels

during the Night [51 dB(A)] noise survey. This was mainly due to the regular movement of vehicular

traffic on the local access road and from air traffic. The LA90 statistical measurement indicated that this

monitoring point was within the permit limits during the survey.

The monitoring point N6, which is located at a noise sensitive location, had elevated Leq noise levels

during the Night [53dB(A)] noise survey. This was mainly due to people conversing close to the meter

as can be seen from the consistent peaked line on the graph listed in the appendix of this report.The

LA90 statistical measurement indicated that this monitoring point was within the permit limits during

the survey.

There was no tonal or impulsive noise associated with the facility determined at any monitoring

location; therefore there are no requirements to apply penalties to the broadband measurement.

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Appendix I Graphical Display of Raw Data

Tonal Noise:

The appropriate level differences vary with frequency. They should be greater than or equal to the following

values in both adjacent one third octave bands:

· 15dB in low frequency one third octave bands (25Hz to 125Hz);

· 8dB in middle frequency bands (160Hz to 400Hz), and;

· 5dB in high frequency bands (500Hz to 10,000Hz)

This is the definition outlined by the EPA in the guidance note issued in 2012: NG4.

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Appendix II Site Map

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Appendix III Calibration Certificates

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Glossary of Terms

Note: Not all terms were used in the description of noise for this noise survey.

Ambient noise The totally encompassing sound in a given situation at a given time, usually

composed of sound from many sources, near and far.

Acoustic shadow An acoustic shadow is an area through which sound waves fail to propagate, due to

topographical obstructions or disruption of the waves via phenomena such as wind

currents.

Background noise The steady existing noise level present without contribution from any intermittent

sources. The A weighted sound pressure level of the residual noise at the

assessment position that is exceeded for 90 per cent of a given time interval, T

(LAF90,T).

Broadband Sounds that contain energy distributed across a wide range of frequencies.

Competent person Individual possessing a combination of technical knowledge, experience and skills as

outlined in Section 2.0 and who can demonstrate both practical and theoretical

competence.

Criterion noise level The long term mean value of the noise level that must not be exceeded. This is

generally stipulated in the IPPC/Waste licence and it may be applied to a noise

source, a boundary of the activity or to an NSL in the vicinity of the site.

dB Decibel. The scale in which sound pressure level is expressed. It is defined as 20

times the logarithm of the ratio between the RMS pressure of the sound field and

the reference pressure of 20 micro pascals (20 uPa).

Facade level The noise level at a location 1m from the facade of a building is described by the

term facade level, and is subject to a higher noise level than one in an open area

(free-field conditions) due to reflection effects.

Free field These are conditions in which the radiation from sound sources is unaffected by the

presence of any reflecting boundaries or the source itself. In practice, it is a field in

which the effects of the boundaries are negligible over the frequency range of

interest. In environmental noise, true free-field measurement conditions are seldom

achieved and generally the microphone will be positioned at a height between 1.2

and 1.5 metres above ground level. To minimise the influence of reflections,

measurements are generally made at least 3.5 metres from any reflecting surface

other than the ground.

Hertz (Hz) The unit of sound frequency in cycles per second.

Impulsive A noise that is of short duration (typically less than one second), the sound pressure

level of which is significantly higher than the background.

LAeq,T This is the equivalent continuous sound level. It is a type of average and is used to

describe a fluctuating noise in terms of a single noise level over the sample period

(T).The closer the LAeq value is to either the LAF10 or LAF90 value indicates the

relative impact of the intermittent sources and their contribution. The relative

spread between the values determines the impact of intermittent sources, such as

traffic, on the background.

LAFN The A-weighted noise level exceeded for N% of the sampling internal. Measured

using the “Fast” time weighting.

LAr,T The Rated Noise Level, equal to the LAeq during a specified time interval (T), plus

specified adjustments for tonal character and/or impulsiveness of the sound.

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LAF10 Refers to those A-weighted noise levels in the top 10 percentile of the sampling

interval; it is the level which is exceeded for 10% of the measurement period. It is

used to determine the intermittent high noise level features of locally generated

noise and usually gives an indicator of the level of road traffic. Measured using the

“Fast” time weighting.

LAF90 Refers to those A-weighted noise levels in the lower 90 percentile of the sampling

interval; it is the level which is exceeded for 90% of the measurement period. It will

therefore exclude the intermittent features of traffic and is used to describe a

background level. Measured using the “Fast” time weighting.

LAFmax The maximum RMS A-weighted sound pressure level occurring within a specified

time period. Measured using the “Fast” time weighting.

LAFmin The minimum RMS A-weighted sound pressure level occurring within a specified

time period. Measured using the “Fast” time weighting.

Lden Is the 24 hour noise rating level determined by the averaging of the Lday with the

Levening plus a 5 dB penalty and the Lnight plus a 10 dB penalty.

Low background noise An area of low background noise is one where the existing background noise levels

measured during an environmental noise survey are as follows:

oAverage Daytime Background Noise Level ≤40dB LAF90, and;

oAverage Evening Background Noise Level ≤35dB LAF90, and;

oAverage Night-time Background Noise Level ≤30dB LAF90.

Low frequency noise LFN - noise which is dominated by frequency components towards the lower end of

the frequency spectrum; see Appendix VI for a more detailed discussion.

LpA (dB) An ‘A-weighted decibel’ K a measure of the overall level of soundacross the audible

frequency range (20Hz – 20kHz) with A-frequency weighting (i.e. ‘A–weighting’) to

compensate for the varying sensitivity of the human ear to sound at different

frequencies.

Noise Any sound, that has the potential to cause disturbance, discomfort or psychological

stress to a person exposed to it, or any sound that could cause actual physiological

harm to a person exposed to it, or physical damage to any structure exposed to it, is

known as noise.

Noise sensitive location NSL – any dwelling house, hotel or hostel, health building, educational

establishment, place of worship or entertainment, or any other facility or other area

of high amenity which for its proper enjoyment requires the absence of noise at

nuisance levels.

Octave band A frequency interval, the upper limit of which is twice that of the lower limit. For

example, the 1,000Hz octave band contains acoustical energy between 707Hz and

1,414Hz. The centre frequencies used for the designation of octave bands are

defined in ISO and ANSI standards.

Rating level See LAr,T.

RMS The RMS (Root Mean Square) value of a set of numbers is the square root of the

average of their squares.

SEL (LAX or LAE) Sound exposure level – a measure of the A-weighted sound energy used to describe

noise events such as the passing of a train or aircraft; it is the A-weighted sound

pressure level if occurring over a period of 1 second, would contain the same

amount of A-weighted sound energy as the event.

Sound pressure level Sound pressure refers to the fluctuations in air pressure caused by the passage of a

sound wave. It may be expressed in terms of sound pressure level at a point.

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Specific noise level A component of the ambient noise which can be specifically identified by acoustical

means and may be associated with a specific source. In BS 4142, there is a more

precise definition as follows: ‘the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure

level at the assessment position produced by the specific noise source over a given

reference time interval (LAeq, T)’.

Time weighting One of the averaging times (Fast, Slow or Impulse) used for the measurement of

RMS sound pressure level in sound level meters.

Tonal Sounds which cover a range of only a few Hz which contains a clearly audible tone,

i.e. distinguishable, discrete or continuous noise (whine, hiss, screech, or hum etc.)

are referred to as being ‘tonal’.

1/3 octave analysis Frequency analysis of sound such that the frequency spectrum issubdivided into

bands of one–third of an octave each.

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